Preparing For Your Summer School Experience

For most high school students, summer school could be the first time that they leave home to live on their own for a little while in a new country. Perhaps the one thing that all parents and students would want from this experience is for those few weeks to be as well utilised and as memorable an experience as possible, while making sure that there are no mishaps during the process either.

Application Readiness

Remember that like you there must be others who aspire to have this experience. Summer school programmes have limited admissions so, it is important to submit applications early, particularly for the competitive summer programmes. This can be done during your winter break, or before it as well when you have ample time to send out applications. This also allows students to get any logistical components of the process taken care of in a timely manner.

Also Read: Summer Schools: A Peek Into What Your Freshman Year Will Be Like

Academic Preparation

If the chosen summer school programme is focused on one or two particular subject areas, it is a good idea for you to brush up on the highest level of that subject you have learnt at school up to that point. This will allow you to better absorb any content being covered during summer school, and also participate more in those classes. If any summer school courses have tests or assignments, having a good base will allow you to perform better and also contribute effectively to any group efforts.

Being Organised And Social Outside The Classroom

A big benefit of summer school is the chance to live on an actual college campus with other high schoolers, experience student life with them, and follow an efficient routine. Most programmes have a large component set outside the classroom, so being involved regularly and trying to integrate into the social group is a good way to get the most out of the overall experience. Staying fit and healthy is important too as the 2-6 weeks of summer school can be very hectic.

Also Read: Summer Schools: Programmes In UK High School Students Must Apply To

Parent Support And Involvement

While parents should allow their children to be independent during most parts of the application process, they should make sure to stay aware of any application deadlines (especially priority deadlines). Parents should be fully aware of the cost of the programmes and decide early if they need to apply for scholarships. This will avoid any confusion when it is time to confirm enrolment.

Parents should also be aware about whether a student visa is needed or whether their child can attend their chosen summer course on a standard tourist visa. While most summer programmes will include campus accommodation, it is vital to double check if some do not offer accommodation. It is recommended that students choose residential summer programmes as renting apartments for the short term is very difficult for international citizens. Some parents may choose to travel to the country where the student is attending the summer programme, at least to drop them. In these cases, it is recommended that the parent try to avoid visiting the student after settling them in unless absolutely necessary.

Also Read: Summer Schools In The USA – Top Competitive Programmes For High School Students

The time you spend during these interactions with your faculty, fellow students and over all the community in which you will live for the duration of your study is going to be memorable. This is what will set the foundation for higher education trajectory as well as shape you into a confident and able youngster.

Rikhil Parsram, is Head of Undergraduate Services at OnCourse Vantage. A graduate of Bentley University in Finance and Psychology, with 10 years of experience advising students on how to navigate college admissions, discover their academic interests, and make important decisions for their future careers.