Summer Programs – Summer is a great time of opportunity for students to sharpen academic skills, social skills and emotional growth skills such as independence, leadership, maturity, responsibility, and motivation. It is also a time for a student to build character and to make new friends. Students can explore careers, gain extra credit hours, or experience campus life at a college they are considering. Some students need to focus more on taking accountability and responsibility for their actions, and on gaining confidence. A program away from home can often help them do this. It can be a valuable opportunity for students to learn more about who they are and to identify their strengths.

Choosing the best summer program for the student depends on an evaluation of who that student is, what his or her strengths and interests are, and on what the goal is for considering a program or summer camp. Our service helps educate the family about various options, and to explore those that would be a fit for each individual student.
 

Gap Year Programs – Many students consider a Gap Year program after completing high school. Many students are just not ready to commit to the rigorous time and level of effort that it takes to succeed in college. Some are just burned out from their demanding high school schedule. Some aren’t mature enough or haven’t found the motivation that it takes to succeed in college. Some want to further strengthen their study, time management and organizational skills so they can start the college experience with success. Some want to take the time to learn more about themselves, what they might want to study, or to volunteer or give back, before they focus on their futures.

Too many students head off right to college after they graduate high school, because it is the “right” thing to do. Many students flounder, because their college experience doesn’t have personal meaning for them yet, beyond the social atmosphere. They haven’t considered what they will major in, what classes excite them - they haven’t determined a passion in any one direction yet. While college is a time of exploration for all students, some students need to have specific, personal goals for it to appear worthy of their time and effort and to motivate them. The rate of freshman retention, or those that return for their sophomore year, is becoming increasingly more of an important factor as students compare colleges in which they want to attend. Studies show that 30% of students don’t return their second year. The Gap Year has been a very common aspect of the educational process in many countries outside the U.S. College officials report that students who take advantage of such an opportunity often begin college more focused, ready and rejuvenated to further pursue their educational experience.

After a series of assessments and an interview, we can recommend programs that would individually be a fit for our clients, providing them exposure to the very need they have as they are considering this alternative.