It’s well known that colleges receive more applications than places. US News reports that Stanford University, for example, has an overall acceptance rate of just 4%. This means your application needs to be really strong to secure a place at your top choice of college.
With that in mind, will a high school summer programme help you to get into your ideal college? And what else is important in your college application?
Will a Summer Programme Help with Your College Admissions?
Yes, summer programmes look good on a college or university application and can help with admissions. They can demonstrate dedication to a subject, initiative and reading beyond the school curriculum. Our students find that an academic summer school like Oxford Scholastica is the perfect way to demonstrate all three.
Additionally, summer programmes can provide practical exposure, help your application stand out and make up for weaknesses or gaps in other areas of your application. These are just a few of the many benefits of summer school and studying abroad.
5 Benefits of Summer Programmes for College Applications
In this section, we’ll dive deeper into some of the benefits of summer programmes on your college admissions.
1. Boosting your academic performance
The 2019 NACAC State of College Admissions Report found that high school grades and admissions test scores have long been the most important factor college admissions boards consider. So, why do grades matter so much? Mostly because they indicate ‘effort, grit and determination’, as well as suggesting that you’ll be able to keep up with the higher level study required at university.
At the Oxford Scholastica Academy, expert tutors and individual attention strengthens our students’ academic performance. This is true whether you’re at the top of your class or you want to improve your grades. You’ll also have the time and space to explore your subject beyond your school’s curriculum and outside the classroom, introducing you to the kind of advanced ideas that will help you achieve the grades you want.
Although grades are very important, they are by no means the only measure used by admissions teams. As Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education point out, ‘adding summer academic programmes [] to an already powerful college application will help bring that application to the very top of the pile.’
2. Making your college application stand out
Just as a prospective employer wants to know what you’ve done in between jobs, colleges are interested in what you got up to during the summer. ‘Colleges want to understand, what have you been doing with yourself? What happened during that gap?’ says Mark Kantrowitz on CNBC, senior vice president and publisher at Edvisors Network.
3. Experiencing the summer school advantage
There’s even something known as the ‘summer school effect‘ reports The Guardian. According to their research, 76% of children who attend a summer school progress to an elite university, compared to 55% of children with similar academic and social backgrounds who don’t attend a summer programme.
4. Addressing college application gaps and weaknesses
Another great benefit of doing a high school summer programme is that it can help make up for weaknesses or gaps in other areas of your application. This is particularly true if you have evidence of impressive performance during your summer programme, for example a Letter of Recommendation from your tutor at the end of an Oxford Scholastica programme.
5. Exploring new subjects and gaining practical experience
Of course, you might not even know what you want to study at college yet, which is why we offer a wide range of courses which probably aren’t offered at your school. How do you know if you want to study these subjects? Taking one of these summer courses will give you the chance to try out new subjects before committing to a three- or four-year degree.
Adding practical experience to your application will also demonstrate to admissions officers that you’re ready to commit to a subject you are serious about. For example, one of the key aspects of a medical school application is evidence of relevant medical work experience. During our Oxford Medicine summer course, you’ll meet with patients at a hospital, take their histories and diagnose their conditions. Not only will you learn a lot from this experience, but you’ll also be able to mention it in your applications as evidence of your commitment to the field.
Best Summer Programmes for College Applications
What kind of high school summer programmes are best for college admissions and how do I choose a summer school?
Ideally, it should be a focused course from one of the best summer schools in the world that reflects your intended field of study. Let’s say you’re interested in becoming a software engineer, then a computer science summer course will look really good on your application. Oxford Scholastica’s Computer Science & Coding summer school is perfect for those considering a career in technology, computing or applied science.
An academically rigorous programme, focused on developing your knowledge and confidence to approach higher studies, is an invaluable asset to any student. Spending time on a course like this will demonstrate initiative and a serious, dedicated attitude towards your studies, regardless of the subject you want to pursue or the career path you want to take.
Combining all of these factors makes for an experience that students will cherish for a long time after they leave the summer school. Alongside engaging with fascinating areas of study, they’ll have great fun taking part in extracurricular activities and during free time with their new friends. There is nothing quite like the experience of a summer school!
By Oxford Scholastica Academy
The Oxford Scholastica Academy was founded in 2013 by Jamie and Sophie, two former University of Oxford students, who have built a dynamic education company dedicated to empowering young people to chart their path in the world and make it better.
