Summer programs offer valuable education, travel opportunities

By Alan Safferson and Lauren Hargarten
Students may have recently received a flurry of brochures and letters in the mail inviting them to attend summer programs at colleges. Many diverse programs are available to high school students. From George Mason University to Brown University, there are many opportunities for students to travel to colleges around the country while learning and having fun.
Many of the programs claim to offer students an adventure while they learn new things and get a better picture of college life. According to Career Center Specialist Kathy Michelman, "[Summer programs are] a good way to get a feel for that particular college."
Students can participate in numerous activities during these programs, including several hands-on classes and real world experiences. A plethora of workshops are also available for students to learn how to do many tasks, such as writing a thesis paper, which will benefit them in both high school and college.
Typically students stay in dorms at the college for a week or more and pick classes that they would like to attend. Many programs offer a lot more than just ordinary learning. There are opportunities to tour the city and visit local attractions. For example, in the Johns Hopkins University program, students spend time touring Baltimore. Also, students who attend the program at Brown are offered the chance to visit other local colleges, including a tour of Harvard University. The summer college programs allow students to gain numerous experiences that they otherwise would never have the chance to do.
According to guidance counselor Mitch Aydlette, there are many reasons for students to participate in these programs. Aydlette explained, "Personal satisfaction, career and practical interests, or to explore something that could be a possible major," are some major reasons for students to attend the programs. He added, "It doesn't look bad on your college resume, either."
Some of the summer programs can be expensive. However, many of the programs offer scholarship opportunities so that they can attend at a reduced cost.
Some of the more popular programs for Robinson students, which were listed by Aydlette, included the programs at the University of Maryland, University of Virginia, George Washington University, Princeton University, and Johns Hopkins University. Other programs which are not directly affiliated with a specific college, such as the National Youth Leadership Conference and Lead America, were also popular choices.
According to the summer session section of the Boston College website, www.bc.edu, "a university experience builds confidence and encourages students to reach a more informed judgment with respect to future courses of study."
However, when choosing a program, "It's not the fact that you went to the Cornell program, it's what you got out of it, were you touched in some way," said Aydlette. He expressed that the most important part is that the program is right for you. Aydlette said, "It depends on the person, what you're into."

By Stephanie Axelrod |  May 18, 2007; 8:54 AM ET
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