LIFE

Think you’re too young to start prepping for college? Think again. College is amazing, but getting into the school of your dreams can be super hard. Rise above the competition by securing a spot in an ah-mazing summer program this year. Not only will participation in a program help you gain a better understanding of what type of job you may want in the future, but you’ll also make tons of friends and learn plenty of tips to help ya score that dream school acceptance letter.

The application

Many high school summer programs get a bunch of applicants. The competition can be fierce, but there are a few ways to give yourself an edge:

1. Don’t wait, apply now

From now until you’re a college grad looking for your first job, timing is everything. Even though summer feels like forever away, this is the time of year that you should be scoping out programs and putting together your resume/portfolio. Another tip: know your due dates. Don’t miss your shot just because you forgot to set a calendar reminder.

2. Ask for feedback

9 times outta 10, the application will ask you to submit a portfolio or write an essay to prove yourself. Don’t just send it in the second you finish. Ask your mom or teachers to proofread and, if you can,  get opinions from other people who know stuff about the field. 

3. Work your resume

We know what you’re thinking: you’re only 15, so there’s hardly anything on your resume. Truth is, it’s all about the way you put it together. If you’re applying for music camp, don’t put your part time job at Burger King at the top of your resume. Instead, list your solo with the church choir. Oh, and even if you feel like something isn’t a big deal, like being a tour guide for new students, add it anyway. Sometimes it’s not what you did that impresses the people looking at your app, but what you gained from it. Being a tour guide, for example, doesn’t directly correlate to being a candidate for a soccer camp, but if you took charge, acted as a leader and befriended new students, it will make the directors think that you could be a great team player.

The perfect program for you

Now that you’ve got the smarts to kill the competition, it’s time to find the summer program that’s the best fit for you. First, think about what you want to learn more about and what you’re interested in. Think of summer programs as a test. You love science, but do you really wanna be a scientist? Try a summer science camp. By the end of the summer, you’ll have a better idea of what you wanna major in when actual college apps roll around.

In the meantime, here are a few of our fave programs to get ya started on your search:

For the mathlete

Math Camp

Cambridge, MA

http://www.mathcamp.org/

For the scientific sista

Student Science Training Camp

Univ. of Flordia

Gainesville, FL

http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/students/sstp/

For the art lover

Rhode Island School of Design Precollege

Providence, RI

http://ce.risd.edu/programs/pre-college-program-1

For the sporty chick

Bentley University Summer Athletic Camps

Waltham, MA

http://bentleyfalcons.com/information/camp-overview

For the writer

High School Journalism Institute

Indiana University

Bloomington, IN

http://journalism.indiana.edu/programs/hsji/

For the musician

Peabody Preparatory

The Peabody Institute

Baltimore, MD

http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/preparatory/resources/summerprogs.html

For the fashionista

The Fashion Institute of Technology’s Precollege Programs

New York, NY

http://www.fitnyc.edu/5915.asp

Have you ever done a summer program? Got any advice to help girls get in?  Let us know in the comments! 

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