Summer? But it’s the winter solstice!

It’s that time of year again, yep! I mean summer planning. Oh, did you think I was referring to the yuletide? Regrettably, even with all the winter events taking place this time of year, every summer program registration is now gearing up. So, whether we want to think about what we’re doing six months from now or not, we have to.

For underclassmen, summer can be a great time to explore career options through camps and activities that are related to a field they’re considering. This can be an engineering camp, art class, or writing program. For upperclassmen, this may look like a shadowing experience within a field they’ve pinpointed as one they’re considering: a law firm, medical establishment, etc.

Upperclassmen may also want to find a summer pre-college program hosted on a college campus to get the feel for what a college experience may look like. Pre-college programs include taking a college class for credit or not-for-credit, depending on what you want to get out of it. 

Then, of course, there’s the classic summer job. A summer job is a great way to gain real-world experience while also earning some money to save up for college. A summer job can be the kind that comes with a W2 or can be something a student puts together on their own: babysitting, car wash business, etc.

Whatever your summer plans entail, it’s time to start thinking about it while you clean up your wrapping paper and decorations. Applications are open for a number of opportunities, and there are usually deadlines in February/March.