Summer might seem like a time for kicking back and unwinding after the school year, but it’s actually a great opportunity to start building that resume to help you impress colleges, potential employers and scholarship committees with a resume of your experiences and activities! Your plans can be more than simply getting a summer job; there are a number of activities that can help you stay active and gain valuable experience over the summer months. Work, volunteer, travel, attend camp or take classes! All of these experiences will help you get to know yourself better and will prepare you to make decisions about your future!
Here are a few ideas to consider:
AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE PATHWAY
http://www.museumofflight.org/Education/Aeronautical-Science-Pathway
A fast track to a high demand career as a Professional Pilot or in a field of Aviation Operations Management! Earn high school and college credit FREE while taking a full schedule at your resident high school if you so choose.
AMY MCQUADE CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
https://www.eastsideaudubon.org/youth-education
Eastside Audubon offers four scholarships to the Ground to Sound STEM Challenge Camp. Campers conduct field studies to learn how saving Puget Sound starts in the woods, waters, and trails surrounding the Center while working with their teams to learn about the natural environment. Contact: Marie Hartford, Registrar at mhartford@lwsd.org .
DIGIPEN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
www.projectfun.digipen.edu
2 - 4 week programs. These courses introduce students to a variety of fun and engaging topics in video game programming, art and animation, game design, engineering, and sound and music design — all while reinforcing their knowledge of core academic subjects like math, physics, art, and writing.
EVERGREEN BOYS STATE (Junior Boys)
http://evergreenboysstate.org/Opening in a new window
This program takes place in late June at Warm Beach Conference Center in Stanwood, WA. If selected to attend the local Post 3 of the American Legion Auxiliary will pick up the cost of this AWESOME leadership development opportunity! Also, this camp looks very favorable if students are interested in applying to any of the military academies! Limited to the first 300 students...apply today!
EVERGREEN GIRLS STATE (Junior Girls)
http://www.evergreen-girlsstate.com/
This program is held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg around the middle of June. The local American Legion Auxiliary pays the $275 for selected girl(s) to attend each year (there is also a $115 registration fee to be paid by the participant). Evergreen Girls State is a great leadership camp that is focused on citizenship. Students must have an interest in the government process and be involved in community service. Girls who attend Evergreen Girls State are then eligible to apply for further American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships! Also, this camp looks very favorable if students are interested in applying to any of the military academies!
GAME EXPERIENCE: VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT
https://game.experienceamerica.com/
Have you ever wanted to learn what’s it’s really like to create a game from start to finish? Here’s your chance! Discover the truth behind the fast-growing gaming industry and how it works. During our camps, you get an exceptional and expert-level learning experience taught by pros with accredited industry experience. Our camps are taught by professionals who have already made it in the industry you want to be a part of.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PAGE PROGRAM
http://leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx
Paging presents students with a unique educational opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Selection as a page is a great honor. Page duties are varied. They range from ceremonial tasks such as presenting the flags to operational chores like distributing amendments during legislative sessions. Each job is vital to the efficient operation of the Legislature. As the week-long experience draws to a close and pages return to their schools and communities, it is hoped that pages will share their experiences and observations with others in an effort to contribute to a more universal understanding of the legislative process.
MULTICARE NURSE CAMP
http://www.multicare.org/nurse-camp/Opening in a new window
Are you a current high school sophomore or junior wondering what it would be like to be a nurse or allied health professional? MultiCare’s Annual Nurse Camp is your opportunity to explore these exciting careers — and thanks to gracious donations from a variety of community organizations and businesses, including MultiCare Health System, the MultiCare Nurse Camp is free. Apply now!
MUSEUM OF FLIGHT APPRENTICE PROGRAM
http://www.museumofflight.org/Education/Explore-programs/map
The Museum Apprentice Program (MAP) is a FREE year-round program that provides high school students with unique and exciting volunteer opportunities. During this program, students work on projects related to the museum field, education, oral histories, living history, documentary making and public service. Students who join MAP will learn about exhibit design, practice presentation and teaching techniques, and delve into aviation and space related topics.
MUSEUM OF FLIGHT PRIVATE PILOT GROUND SCHOOL
http://www.museumofflight.org/Education/Ground-School
This unique course provides the opportunity for students to explore the world of aviation while creating a base of aeronautical knowledge that pilots need to successfully pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot written exam.
NEW MARKET SKILLS CENTER
https://www.tumwater.k12.wa.us/nmsc
Several exciting programs to choose from such as Video Game Programming, Culinary Arts, Drone Technology, Automotive Technology, School of Rock, and many more. Students receive 0.5 elective or CTE credit for each summer school session. Incoming freshmen through incoming seniors can attend.
SEATTLE FILM INSTITUTE
http://seattlefilminstitute.com/content/teen-filmmakers-program
A variety of classes and workshops for teens interested in film & video production.
SEATTLE YMCA BOLD & GOLD BOYS & GIRLS OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CAMP
www.ymcaleadership.com
Six scholarships (NOMINATION based), for one or two week backpacking, rock climbing or rafting expeditions.
UW SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
https://www.summer-camp.uw.edu/
UW Summer Youth Programs are designed for curious children and teens who want to keep learning over summer break. Every summer, we offer a variety of educational camps and courses to pique your child’s interests — from screenwriting to engineering and everything in between. Choose from half-day and full-day options. Most programs are held at the UW campus in Seattle. High school students also have the option of taking courses in downtown Seattle or Bellevue.
WASHINGTON BUSINESS WEEK
www.wbw.org
A week-long summer program that places high school students in a dynamic simulation where they compete as industry professionals, sharpen communication skills, and face real-world challenges.
WESTERN AEROSPACE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Click Here For More Info
For students who are Juniors in the Fall - designed for high school students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pathways through the exploration of space and space travel.
CONSIDER TAKING A PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM
An increasing number of selective colleges are beginning to scrutinize how applicants spend their summers during high school. Some parents, in response to this trend, have blown thousands of dollars on summer programs that may provide for an enriching experience, but do little to distinguish their child from the rest of the applicant pool. Today, the majority of competitive colleges offer at least one pre-college program inviting high school students to explore campus, visit with faculty, and even take courses during the summer months. Most summer programs are nothing more than “cash cows” and will accept any high school student able to pay the bill. Participation in these summer programs will be viewed by your prospective colleges as evidence of wealth, rather than evidence of any special ability—even if these programs happen to be offered on an Ivy League campus. As such, they do NOTHING to improve your admission prospects.
However, there is a growing minority of selective summer programs that select high achieving high school students strictly on the basis of merit. A number of these programs are offered for free or at a relatively low costs, and will prove an impressive addition to your college application. The following is a list of top summer programs for high school students:
Bank of America Student LeadersOpening in a new window
Boston University - Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)Opening in a new window
Canada/USA MathcampOpening in a new window
Carnegie Mellon - Summer Academy for Math + Science (SAMS)Opening in a new window
Center for Excellence in Education - Research Science Institute (RSI)Opening in a new window
Cronkite Institute for High School Journalism: Summer Journalism InstituteOpening in a new window
Foundation for Teaching Economics - Economics for Leaders (EFL)Opening in a new window
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion CampOpening in a new window
Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSIM)Opening in a new window
Indiana University – Young Women’s InstituteOpening in a new window
Jackson Laboratory – Summer Student ProgramOpening in a new window
JCampOpening in a new window - For Journalism students
LaunchXOpening in a new window
Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Minority Introduction to Science and Engineering (MITES)Opening in a new window
MathILy – Bryn Mawr CollegeOpening in a new window
MDI Biological Laboratory Summer Research FellowshipOpening in a new window
Michigan Math and Science ScholarsOpening in a new window
Michigan State University – High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP)Opening in a new window
MIT Research Science InstituteOpening in a new window
Monell Center Science Apprenticeship ProgramOpening in a new window
National Institutes of Health Summer Internship in Biomedical Research (SIP)Opening in a new window
NIH Summer Internship in Biomedical ResearchOpening in a new window
Ohio State University – Ross Mathematics ProgramOpening in a new window
Princeton University Summer Journalism ProgramOpening in a new window
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)Opening in a new window
Simons Summer Research ProgramOpening in a new window
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SuMaC)Opening in a new window
Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)Opening in a new window
Texas Tech University – Clark ScholarsOpening in a new window
University of Iowa Secondary Student Training ProgramOpening in a new window
University of Notre Dame - Leadership SeminarsOpening in a new window
University of Pennsylvania – Leadership in the Business WorldOpening in a new window
Yale Young Global ScholarsOpening in a new window
Note that participation in one of these “best summer programs” is not essential to earn admission into a selective college. For example, spending your summer at a local job or internship, or completing a for-credit college course, can prove just as impressive. However, students seeking an exciting summer experience outside their area, while improving their college applicant profile in the process, are advised to explore the above.
Students seeking assistance with their summer program search, and with their college applications, are encouraged to meet with us in the College and Career Readiness Center or with your Counselor.