Excited to be on a college campus this summer?
College summer programs for high school students are great for many reasons. They give students the opportunity to take more difficult classes in the subjects they are interested or even explore classes that aren’t offered in high school. On top of that, they are able to make new friends from all over the country and get to experience what life is like on a college campus.
But, before you get caught up with all that the summer program has to offer, we want to remind you of a few things you can take advantage of when you’re on the college campus. Being on campus over the summer is a perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the college and connect with key people in-person.
1. Talk to the Admissions Office
Since you’re already on campus, go to the admissions office! Introduce yourself and talk to someone on the admissions team. Ask them questions about the application process and the school’s culture. It’s always good to have a contact in the admissions office in case any complications come up in your application process and you need to reach out to someone in the office. Build a relationship with an admissions officer.
2. Reach Out to Professors
Have a subject you’re interested in? Email the professors in the major department you’re interested in and see if you can schedule a time with them to chat. Talk to them in person and learn more about what it’s like to major in the subject, what the potential career paths are, and if there are any research opportunities you can get involved in. At this point, you may not be certain what you’d like to study yet, so explore and find out what it’d be like if you did major in something that piques your interest now.
3. Connect with Current College Students
Since it is summer, there won’t be that many college students on campus. Having said that, there will still be a handful who are taking courses on campus over the summer or conducting research. Some may even be your camp supervisor or your TA! Talk to them about what it’s like to be a student there. What’s the campus culture like? What do they like/dislike about the school? It doesn’t even have to be specific to the college. It might be more helpful for you to learn more about how they approached the college selection process in general.
4. Check Out the College Town
Don’t just focus on the campus. Check out the neighborhood you’re in. Imagine if you did go to school there. Would it be easy to grab dinner off-campus? What are some go-to spots? Are things conveniently located? Are there good outdoor spots you can access if you’re into outdoor activities? Since you are there on a summer program, you may not have as much free time to do this, but keep your eyes open! It’s a great opportunity to notice things you care about while you’re there.
5. Explore the City
The perks of being a part of a summer program is that there are usually built-in activities that allow you to see what the surrounding or nearby city has to offer to the students who attend college there. It may be a field trip to a museum or theater, a day at a farmer’s market, or a hiking trip. It’s important to know what your immediate surrounding is around campus, but it’s also good to know what your other options are if you wanted to step away from campus and engage in city life.
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