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.

Sophomoric Year

Sophomore year in college was when, for the first time in almost twenty years of formal education, I got my first grade below a B. This was rather late in the normal scheme of things, since this often happens when a student is a sophomore in high school. Hence, the word "sophomoric", which means you think you know it all when, in reality, you don't know nothin! You may wonder why they even use the word "sophomore" to describe the second year of high school or post secondary study. From personal experience, I believe it must have stemmed from teacher observations of their students dating from when Socrates lectured young people under the cypress trees. (In his case, they may have been hemlock!)
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor (PHEW!) reports that high school dropout rates increase as grade level increases. When I was a school counselor, I frequently saw an uptick sophomore year when students turned 16 and could legally drop out. It is so important for students to have a goal towards which a high school diploma is a necessary step. IES reports that in 2006-7, over 600,000 high school students out of around 14 million dropped out. That's definitely a dead end, especially in these economic times.
Since high school sophomores are often sophomoric, they usually don't see the link between current courses and a career. It is especially important at this time to flesh out a dream and keep it alive. Career interests should be identified and they should be explored through high school course selection. Career Days and College Fairs should not exclude underclassmen in an attempt to focus on juniors and seniors trying to decide on a college/major.
Since many sophomores won't be old enough for summer jobs, this is the perfect summer for exploration through a pre-college program. As I've mentioned previously, I've used and like Peterson's Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers. Another that might be of interest is the Kaplan Yale Daily News Guide to Summer Program .
If you have a specific college in mind, see if it offers any pre-college summer programs. Many do. Check the school's website. Websites are especially good resources, as they are usually current. Two that I like are: http://www.studenteducationprogram.com/precollege.html and http://www.bc.edu/sites/genpulse/pass/summer_pulse.htmlThis last one is out of Boston College and lists sources of information on summer programs with descriptions.
This post was long enough to make up for missing last week!!!

Blog Management

I've just added a new feature to my blog through which I can link to Amazon.com so that you may learn more about the books I mention. I'm checking to see if a book mentioned previously, The Occupational Outlook Handbook and the book mentioned in today's blog, Peterson's Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers will appear and how they will look. This is a learning process for me as well. Thank you for your patience.

Part VI - Enrichment and Exploration

     Once someone has a career interest in mind, one of the best ways to explore/develop that interest is enrollment in a pre-college program.  When you Google "pre-college programs", you get over NINE MILLION results.  "Pre-college programs in health careers" results in over eight million and even narrowing the search to "free pre-college programs" yields over six million. (I found quite a few that were not "free".) This can seem daunting and students should seek help from their guidance counselors.  You can also check your state's Department of Education website.  If you are interested in a specific college, you can look for pre-college programs at that school.  I would recommend perusing Peterson's Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers.   Once you find a program that interests you, check out the website for information and application updates.
     I helped many of my middle and high school students find summer and school year programs which they found very helpful and motivational.  Here are just a few about which I have first hand knowledge.  I will blog about others that are available when we get to the high school segments.

• New Jersey Institute of Technology - Newark, NJ  The Center for Pre-College Programs offers a wide range of summer programs in science, math, engineering and technology.  The courses are designed for students who are entering fifth grade to those entering twelfth.  Program fees range from $350 to $700.  The district for which I worked provided scholarships for a number of qualified students.  My students, and also my nephew, got a lot out of these programs.  (Having an aunt who's a guidance counselor can really ruin your summer plans!)  More information can be found at:  www.njit.edu/precollege/
• Fashion Institute of Technology - New York, NY  The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers classes for middle and high school students.  This Fall they're offering courses in marketing, design, sewing and many other areas.  My daughter and my niece attended different Saturday Live classes and really enjoyed them.  I enjoyed bringing them into the city, chatting over bagels and then wandering around on my own while they were in class.  (FIT has a very interesting museum and the flower district in spring and Macy's flower show are cool as well!)  Neither girl went into fashion, nor did they decide to go to college in Manhattan, but process of elimination is also a learning technique.  FIT also has a Sunday Live program.  One course currently costs $391 for out of state residents and meets for 11 weeks.  The workshop classes are less expensive.  http://www.fitnyc.edu/
• New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Newark, NJ  NJPAC offers programs for students ages 11-18 who are interested in music, dance and theater.  Information can be found at http://www.njpac.org/  At the home page go to "Education" and then "Arts Training".  Programs for the 2010-2011 school year are full but auditions will be held in Spring 2011 for the following year.
• Douglass Residential College - New Brunswick, NJ  This is the women's college of the Rutgers University system.  The Douglass Science Institute is a four year summer residential program to which young women who are entering ninth grade and are interested in math, science and engineering may apply. www.rci.rutgers.edu/~dougproj/DPPreCollege.html

     These are just a few of the over NINE MILLION possibilities.  The experience can be invaluable.

CLARIFICATION :  I realize that some information I gave on accessing the BLS "What Do You Like?' site may be confusing.  It's such a good site, especially for younger students, I want to be sure you can find it!!!  Either go to http://www.college.gov/, click "Why Go?" on the home page and then click "Find Your Passion"  and go to "What Do You Like?" on the next page OR go to http://www.bls.gov/, scroll down on the home page and click "Career Information for Kids".

NOTE TO HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS:  The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered on Wednesday, October 13 and Saturday, October 16.  You cannot register online.  You must see your counselor to take this test which is a must if you're even thinking about college!  If you take it, you will also have free access to the College Board's My Road program which is a good planning tool I previously blogged about.

SENIORS!  LATE REGISTRATION FOR THE OCTOBER 9 SAT IS SEPTEMBER 24
You can register online at http://sat.collegeboard.com/