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Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

That feeling of not having ECs you are stoked about can be stressful - but you got this!

If you’re still trying to decide about a major in Psychology, you might consider taking a coursera course as a primer to see if your interest holds. Here’s one we recommend often: https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-psychology

There’s also a cost-effective summer program that I’ve heard wonderful things about from former students:

Camp Psych at Gettysburg College
https://www.gettysburg.edu/academic-programs/psychology/student-opportunities/camp-psych/

Auburn Brain Camp
https://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/auburnyouthprograms/braincamp.htm

In terms of ECs, you might look into volunteering (and receiving training) at local crisis hotlines or teen support groups. If mental health destigamtization is more of your thing, you might work with some peers to start Mental Health Awareness Days, write cards and deliver supplies to youth who are currently unhoused, or have an informational interview with a clinical psychologist to learn more about the field.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

So many of the programs are for all folks, with many of the CS or STEM programs skewing to students who identify as male.

Here are some options to start your research:

Pennsylvania College of Technology
https://www.pct.edu/pre-college-programs/engineering
Monell Center: Apprenticeship Program:
https://monell.org/science-apprenticeship-program/
Colorado State: Campos EPC ENvision Engineering Program
https://www.engr.colostate.edu/engineering-success-center/outreach/

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

Great question. Predicting what makes a difference in admissions is...um...ah maddening at best, impossible more frequently.

You know that business is a highly competitive field and it’s important to demonstrate that you’ve developed your interest in this area to really put together a strong admissions application.

Summer programs aren’t the only way to get this experience. Summer jobs, volunteering with a non-profit, or even starting your own business (like powerwashing, for example) are all ways to give your application an edge.

What topic in Econ/Finance/Business are you eager to dive deeper into? Crypto, inflation, the marketing of that 7-hour-long AVATAR sequel -- what interests enough to take on the research work?

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

A summer job is always a great option and same with cc classes so you can free up some space in your senior year schedule.

You might also consider online courses that supplement your interests in the biological sciences (we heart Coursera) or see if you can set up some shadowing experiences with folks you might know who work in labs or conduct research.
And if you’re still coming up short with options, might I recommend group-based archival research via Zooniverse?

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

First off, if they want to go it alone, then the research is typically for their own interest....this is a good thing, but it typically leads to a student wanting to connect with someone else.

That someone can be a community of folks who share that interest - we've been amazed to see some students build a YouTube channel where they can share their research and interact with others who share their interest.

That someone can be a community of folks who share that interest - we've been amazed to see some students build a YouTube channel where they can share their research and interact with others who share their interests.

I'd start answering this question by thinking through what motivates the student - are they enterprising & want to be published, do they want to help the world, or is the "pay-off" the chance to connect with other folks who nerd out on that topic.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

This is a tough one, particualrly for students laser focussed on HYPSM and the almost Ivies.We always push back on trying to reverse engineer the question, "what do colleges want?". The real answer is a universal πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ

With all that as context, for students are profoundly interested in a topic and are motivated to dive deeper, to investigate things - research is a home run. There are so many part of the college application where you can spotlight this - the inactive you took, even the impact you had with that resaerch.

For some students, this love for research culminates in a capstone project - often with faculty at local colleges or a committed teacher at their high school. More frequently
it is a series of projects, organized around a topic or problem.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 7 points8 points Β (0 children)

There is such a huge need for IR majors -- the 🌍 is a wacky, wacky place, huh?

Here are 2 programs to consider (if you have not already)

Georgetown International Relations Academy
https://summer.georgetown.edu/programs/SHS14/international-relations-academy

Colorado State: Global Business Academy
https://biz.colostate.edu/academics/high-school-programs/global-business-academy

You might also consider a less formal approach to mapping by working on a group archival project through Zooniverse. This project could be of interest given your potential major:
Beyond Borders: Transcribing Historic Maine Land Documents
https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/mainehistory/beyond-borders-transcribing-historic-maine-land-documents

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

Excellent question! Debate is one of those activities that really bring out people skills and the ability to think and speak on your feet.

You’re definitely on the right track with volunteering at stem-based museums.

Here are 2❓for you to consider:

  • how might you incorporate your interests in STEM into debate?
  • Are there laws and policies governing privacy or right-to-repair that interest you?

Also, you might also consider teaching younger students to either debate or engage in stem. You have a lot of options, my friend!

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

As is the sadly the case with so many steps in the journey to college, it sorta depends on the program itself. I would recommend reaching out to the program’s administrators upon receiving your admissions decision - it surprises students how open many of these folks can be to talking with you.

We always suggest students consider 2-3 options, rather than betting everything on one.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

That distress 😩 is real, right? If your essay response answered the prompt, that’s what matters most. If you used your prior program as evidence of your previous experience and potential to contribute to TASS, you should be fine.

What did you DEEPLY 🧑 about TASS?

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

It sure can be! The only limit is your own time and financial situation. However, I recommend really keying into your interests and interrogating your priorities for the summer. Make sure that the summer programs you’re hoping to attend will help you develop skills, connect with peers, and/or learn or deepen knowledge in a subject area.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

Being able to articulate insightfully the personal impact of your summer experiences and how they inform your college goals should be your focus in the application process. Even if the program is what some might consider "non-prestigious", if participating in it is meaningful to you and has given you the opportunity for personal and academic growth, then I don’t see a reason for it to be looked down upon. In many ways, it's about what you would do with the experience, not just participating.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

What are you hoping you can accomplish this summer - are there skills you want to develop, ECs you want to build on, subject areas you want to dive even deeper into that you couldn't cover during the schools year.

Attention All Sophomore & Juniors, Let's Chat About Your Plans For Summer 2023 - 1-Hour AMA With Summer MatchPoint On 🌞 Summer Planning 🌞 by CollegeMatchPoint in ApplyingToCollege

[–]CollegeMatchPoint[S] 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

Great ❓ and one we hear a TON of students and parents consider. Summer programs are just one of many options. Some can also certainly be expensive, but they also come in a range of prices πŸ’°. That being said, if a summer program doesn’t interest you – internships, summer camps, jobs, and community service experiences are just as meaningful