If Spring Training Is Almost Over, Can Summer Be Far Behind?

Although the area of the country in which I live has had an usually mild winter, the beginning of baseball season always seems to mark the long awaited countdown to summer. Most students look forward to a season away from school and homework but many parents are looking for ways to entertain their children and enrich their development. Truth be told, many are just looking for something for the kids to do while they're at work! Have you noticed all the summer camp advertisements and open houses?

In addition to camps geared to specific talents and interests, pre-college programs are offered by many schools for students in middle/high school. Students who are interested in a certain college or university may go to its website to see which programs are available. In my blog way back on September 22, 2010, I reviewed four such programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Douglass College and the Fashion Institute of Technology as well as one at the New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts. There are hundreds, if not thousands, more. Peterson's publishes a guide entitled, Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers .
The Kaplan Yale Daily News Guide to Summer Programs is worth a look as well.

In finding information about summer programs, websites can be particularly helpful, as they are usually more current and updated more frequently. I like one out of George Washington University - www.usummer.com. Clicking on the "Summer Programs" tab will bring you to a directory of hundreds of programs not exclusive to GWU.

CAUTION: Many motivated students look at a summer program as a way to enhance their application to an exclusive or highly competitive college. As with many things, it's not WHAT is done as much as HOW it is done. An expensive or even self-sacrificing summer program really does little if you've gained no insight from it. If you travel to some exotic place to dig water wells and all you come away with is you didn't really like the food, you will not produce as good an application essay as the one about how you loved teaching the neighborhood kids to throw a curveball.