Summer Experiences
Learning is not contained solely to the classroom. Summer is a great time for students and families to extend learning.
Summer Program
Colleges and universities often offer summer program experiences for students of various ages. Programs can range from brief on-campus experiences to day long programs to weeklong residential programs where students stay on campus and get a taste of life on a University campus. To give you a sense of the variety of offerings you can visit a list of summer programs offered by the University of Arizona. Summer program costs can sometimes be prohibitive, however students and families are encouraged to inquire about whether there are program scholarships that can help reduce the cost, especially for families coming from lower economic backgrounds.
Another great resource for summer opportunities for youth of various ages can be your local parks and recreation department. Such summer offerings can often allow students to try new activities or to return to activities that they are already passionate about.
Summer Reading
Books open up the world! A quick search online can help you find recommended reading lists that are appropriate to a student’s reading level and you can find options at higher grade levels that can also challenge someone who is an advanced reader. You also can find “college reading lists.” Oftentimes these books may be used in college entrance exams or could be commonly found in first-year college courses. Reading diverse literature is often encouraged. Don’t just pick up that comic book, consider a science magazine or Monica Guzman’s I Never Thought of it That Way, which was featured as the 2024-2025 Common Book Read for the University of Arizona’s WA Franke Honors College.
Preparation
Summer can often allow students time to practice for college entrance exams. ACT and SAT both offer resources to practice for each college entrance exam. Khan Academy has a College Admission section of their website and also provides an overview and some study materials for college entrance exams. You may also decide to take some time to brush up on your academic skills by reviewing their courses. Get ready for next year’s math class or learn a new coding language! The choice is yours.
Campus Visits
Colleges and university campuses are often far less busy during summer months. This opens the opportunity for students and families to visit and explore these campuses. You may decide to visit your local campus. Have lunch, take a stroll on campus, consider visiting a campus museum, or engaging in the science center. Don’t forget to inquire about a formal tour. You will be introduced to the campus’s buildings, history and often connect with current students.
Going on a vacation? Scope out the colleges and universities in the area that you are traveling to. They may or may not be on your list, but you never know you could discover a campus of interest and allow you to better understand a college or universities out of state admission requirements and processes.
Traveling across the country can be expensive, but there are other ways to explore a college campus. Colleges and universities have great video and virtual tours, where you can feel like you are on the actual college campus, but you can explore the campus from the comfort of your home or the local library.