Spring 2004
Choosing for Summer Wisely

By E. Arthur Blair, Senior Writer

You’ve made it through another Northern New England winter, turned the corner on Jack Frost and are looking forward to the warm and summery days ahead. What are your plans for this summer once school let’s out? If you’re considering doing little more than going to the beach, hanging with friends and maybe bagging groceries at your local Shaw’s, then think again. Don’t sell yourself short on a summer that could be rich with new experiences and worthwhile pursuits. The key is to start planning now for the summer, and there’s no shortage of programs and activities to fit your personality, interests and budget.

Lots to Choose From
The first step in selecting a summer program or activity is to find out what’s out there. Some typical programs for high school students include: summer camps, employment, internships, travel adventures, college course camps, fine arts programs, volunteering, and visiting colleges, among others.

Take a weekend to take stock of your interests, your college plans and possible majors, and those activities that you think would be both fun and worthwhile from a learning or experiential perspective. Make a list of those activities or academic subjects that excite you. Don’t base your decision just on what you think will look good on a resume for admissions purposes, because your time is precious.

Three of the best places to start are your high school guidance office, your local library and even your local Chamber of Commerce where career shadow programs and internships can be had. The Internet is also an indispensable research tool for investigating summer programs available in your area and of your interest. Doing just a simple Google search for “high school summer program” provides Websites on an array as wide as Shakespeare drama; a B.U. program in which teens choose two academic seminars from creative writing, persuasive speaking, business, visual arts, law and science; and sports camps. There are offerings at Dartmouth College, UNH and other area colleges. Allen’s Guide on the Web at www.allensguide.com offers numerous suggestions from film, writing and acting camps to SAT Prep and “learning vacations.”

Moira McKinnon, College Admissions Director at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, indicates that Berwick has amassed an extensive library of offerings that their students can utilize to better prepare themselves for a summer full of opportunities of work, fun and learning. When coming to terms on whether to get a summer job or engage in a nonpaying activity she says, “We encourage our students to find a balance, to take a short course or intern at a law office or other career path that interests them to find out how things work and what the atmosphere is.”

She mentions the truly varied programs that Berwick students have pursued, including working for Habitat for Humanity, taking an engineering course at the University of Notre Dame, working with the Conservation Corp, and doing language immersion exchange programs in Europe as well as other travel adventure experiences in Paris, Guatemala, Greece and Rome. Another student attended a program at the Maine College of Art to build her art portfolio while another went to study film creation.

Counting the Costs
Some summer programs are affordable, but others may be pricey. You may decide to work for half the summer and then take a two- or three-week break to do something that allows you enjoyment and growth. However, don’t make your choice based on what you think will impress a college admissions officer, but what truly interests you and you think is worthwhile. Think of where your interests may lie beyond college and try to land an internship-type job in a similar business.

Visit Colleges
Dr. Susan Daigneault, Dover High School Guidance Director, encourages juniors to visit colleges over the summer to try and winnow down the list of those schools from which you’ll ultimately choose. Much of the information for setting up visits can be found on www.collegeboard.com where there is a section for high school students listing summer activities, jobs and college campus programs, as well.

Daigneault stresses the importance of seeking to be mindful of expressing your unique qualities and interests if considering ambitious colleges. “If you’ve done something that’s a bit unique, with structure, it might be just the thing to set you apart from the other many students with great SAT scores and GPAs trying to get that pre-med slot at a top-tier university,” she says.

Summer Courses
In the admissions preparation process, McKinnon recommends academic camps run at area universities like Dartmouth and Tufts by companies such as Education Unlimited that offer students computer training, essay writing workshops and SAT preparation. Camps also give you a chance to get a feel for living on campus with other students and faculty.

Another Seacoast area company offering SAT preparation, education adventure travel and tutoring by UNH doctoral students is Top-Tier Academic’s Seacoast College Prep and Tutoring Center, http://www.top-tier.info, where high school students can sign up for a trip to follow the Lewis and Clark Trail from St. Louis to Seattle or take a “Great Books” course, among other offerings.

Regardless of what you ultimately plan on doing this summer, start thinking about it now and you won’t be sorry. Also, don’t forget to leave some time to relax, hang with your friends and family and read a good book. “Carpe Aestivum Tuo”– Make the most of your summer.