For most students, summer vacation offers a time of relaxation and rest before the start of another jam-packed school year. For others, though, summer marks the beginning of new adventures and opportunities otherwise unnoticed during days full of classes and nights full of homework. What are your students doing this summer? Read on for a glimpse into the possibilities of summer break.
Summer Camp Programs
Many private-independent schools offer summer camp programs ranging from the artistic to the academic. Boarding schools especially are in a great position to offer sleepaway camps, as they already possess overnight accommodations. Other schools offer programs only to current students or those recommended by current families as a fun recruitment activity.
Of course, summer programs aren’t held at school alone. Students can choose day camps or overnight camps, wilderness camps or theater camps, and even secular or denominational camps. For a list of some phenomenal summer camps, check out Top Education Degrees’s “50 Most Amazing Summer Camps in the U.S.” or—for those desiring “beautiful locations and top-notch facilities”—Forbe’s “America’s Priciest Summer Camp” list, where camp tuition can be more than $10,000 for a single session.
College Visits
When there’s no class to keep you from travelling long distances, summer can be a great time to visit universities and colleges. Today, many students focus on finding the right “fit” for their higher education plans, and the way a college comes across on paper might be very different than the impression they offer on a tour. Zola Schneider encourages the visit in her book Campus Visits & College Interviews, as it’s a great opportunity to ask questions of “real” people.
Besides, as Dave Berry at College Confidential points out, “it’s sometimes easier to combine visits with summer vacation plans.” So don’t be surprised if your upper school students return this fall with stories of beautiful beaches—and interesting campus tours.
Get a Job!
Forget about the money summer jobs earn for students—college admission counselors look highly on employment during a student’s high school years.
According to The College Board, “working teaches students about responsibility,” as well as demonstrating “maturity, […] independence, and initiative.” Others on College Confidential’s forum agree:
- “Admission officers want to see that you aren’t just the student who does nothing but sleep, do the minimum amount of schoolwork to get good grades, and relax. Because they want a student who at least shows they can be dedicated to something they are not legally required to do. A part-time job may not be academic, but it does show that you can dedicate yourself.”
- “Colleges want to see what you do with your time. Absence of information means all you do is play video games and grow mold, so a part-time job is as good as most other [extra curriculars].”
- “[One student] used to do a lot of odd jobs and errands for an elderly couple who lived next door, gratis. He mentioned that on his app and at least one scholarship he received mentioned that specifically as something that impressed them.”
For students looking to expand their repertoire of college admission topics (and earn some extra money), show them MoneyCrasher’s “12 Great Summer Jobs for High School Students” and AOL Jobs’s “Best-Paying Summer Jobs” based on forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Hint: Pharmacy technicians and lifeguards are great picks.)
Summer break is a time to explore, whether that’s opening a new book or travelling to new places. Get ready to hear some wild tales when your students return to school this fall!
Additional ISM resources:
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 1 No. 8 Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Summer Program Leaders
ISM Monthly Update for Admission Officers Vol. 8 No. 2 Student-Led Conferences
Private School News Vol. 13 No. 4 The New SAT Exam: What You Need to Know
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 37 No. 11 Redesign a Benefit-Oriented Summer Program
I&P Vol. 28 No. 11 How High-Achieving Students Search for a College
