How To Maximize Your Summer Experience

As a student, summer becomes a treasured time of year, a time to relax, indulge, explore, and grow. A summer vacation can also become an experience that can shape who you are and how you view the world.

What you do with your summer can also add an interesting caveat to your college admissions applications, giving the admissions officer further insight into who you are or what you are passionate about. With these three months of opportunity looming ahead, now is the time to consider how you can use this summer to challenge yourself, indulge a favorite passion, and have whole lot fun.

There is no specific formula for creating a summer that will automatically get you admitted to any Ivy League college.

Lisa Sohmer, the Director of College Counseling at the Garden School in New York and a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, emphasizes, "Doing something just for how it will look is foolish".

Instead, Sohmer said, students that "do things that they really care about and do them well are the ones that have the best experiences to tell".

This advice ties in with the idea of developing a personal brand. Know what you are truly passionate about and actively look for ways that you can indulge that passion this summer. There are so many options out there but there is not one right way to approach a summer- look for something that you love, something that you think will be fun, and something that can challenge you.

Academic Programs

Most elite universities offer on-campus programs for high schools students, and these programs can be an excellent way to get to know a specific university while also broadening your academic horizons. Megan Isenhock, a coordinator for the John Hopkins Summer University program for high school students, said that summer programs at specific universities help students to "experience the college world before they get there".

Johns Hopkins offers a five-week program that can earn students 6 college credits. These credits are transferrable to other colleges and universities, and constitute about half a semester of college classes. Students in the summer program can choose from over 100 freshman and sophomore level classes in subjects ranging from Arabic to Neuroscience. While in the program, students live in on-campus dorms and eat at the on-campus dining hall.

Most universities, Ivy League, and otherwise, offer programs based on a similar model- allowing students to mirror the college experience as closely as possible by living in college dorms, taking college classes, and using campus libraries, gyms, and other facilities. On-campus programs also give high school students the opportunity to speak with college professors about fields they are interested in, something Isenhock said she always encourages students to do.

Harvard offers a similar program for high school students, the Harvard Secondary School Program. Linda Cross, the public affairs director for the program, pointed out that "comprehensive college prep" is an important part of the Harvard summer program. Students can attend talks on what to expect during the application process, how to make their essays stand out, how to prepare for an admissions interview, and how to handle the challenges of college life. The program also offers students the opportunity to visit other New England colleges.

When considering programs on college campuses, it is not necessary to choose a program at your top choice school, but it might be helpful. Spending a summer at your top-choice university could give you an opportunity to simultaneously become better acquainted with the school and to impress admissions officers at that school with your high level of interest.

However, if you do not have a clear top choice, or if it is not feasible to attend a summer program at your top-choice school, attending a summer program at any school can help you get a better idea of what college will be like.

Either way, Harvard Program Director William Holinger points out that summer program students "experience all the responsibilities and challenges of college first-hand during a summer at Harvard, while the courses they take can help them to decide on a future major or career." Many college summer programs have a rolling admissions process, so consider applying as early as you can.

Another option for using your summer to explore an academic interest is to take a class at your local community college. This option would tend to be more cost effective than the pre-college programs mentioned above, which can cost thousands of dollars in tuition. If at first you cannot get into a class at your local community college, try contacting the professor. More often than not, they will be happy to let you sit in on their lectures.

Whether you spend your summer at a community college or an Ivy League university, Sohmer pointed out that it is important to remember to take a class outside of what you would normally encounter in high school- study something you have never had the opportunity to study before.

Sohmer recalled one student who took a class on New York City comedy, and another who chose to study the history of baseball. Look for a class that is tailored to a particular interest that you have, or study a foreign language that you have always been interested in. If you choose classes that are more narrowly focused on your own interests, they will be more fun for you and more eye-catching for college admissions officers.

Outside the Classroom

If taking classes does not sound like your ideal summer, there are many other opportunities for a fun and rewarding summer experience.

Jill Tipograph, the owner of a business called Everything Summer, emphasized, "What colleges really want to see the kids do is grow. They want to see them push themselves out of their comfort zone." What activity helps achieve this is different for different people, Tipograph said.

Everything Summer provides independent guidance to assist families in finding summer experiences that will help their child or teenager grow. The company helps students find programs ranging from overnight camps to cultural immersion programs to internships.

The company recently completed a survey of colleges across the country. The results, Tipograph said, indicate that colleges are looking for "kids to come to college who can weather the experiences that are going to be thrown in front of them." Tipograph's company, she said, tries to help students look at their abilities and passions to find areas where they can delve deeper, and to find a summer program that fits in with those areas.

"Summer is the time when kids get the opportunity to grow the most in the shortest amount of time," Tipograph said. What colleges don't want to see are students who are wasting their time.

So, this summer, do your best to dive into something that you could not do during the regular school year. Consider enrolling in a summer program like those offered through Everything Summer. Look around in your local community for programs or opportunities that fit what you are interested. Most of all, do not take your summer for granted- use it to learn, to explore, and to grow.

Summer on a Budget

It is important to keep in mind that a memorable summer experience does not have to break the bank.

Volunteering costs nothing and can be a valuable contribution to your community and an excellent opportunity for personal growth. Look around your community for charitable organizations that support something you love.

If you love animals, consider volunteering with your local animal shelter. If you are a voracious reader, many libraries recruit young volunteers to help with cataloguing and public programming. If you are passionate about politics, volunteer to help out at a local campaign office. These experiences are entirely free, allow you to explore a favorite interest, and can help showcase that interest to prospective colleges.

Another option, Tipograph said, is finding someone in your community that you could shadow. If you are interested in a particular career field, approach someone in that field and ask about shadowing or internship opportunities. If you are willing to donate your time, many companies are happy to let you experience the field and bring your own talents to the company. You might not get paid, but the experience in itself could be invaluable.

Having a full or part time job in the summer can also provide valuable experience, along with a tidy profit. Sohmer said that she speaks with many college applicants who feel like having to work a summer job is in some way a detriment their chances, since they cannot afford to pay for summer camps or college programs. However, Sohmer said that, in reality, "Students having jobs is as valuable if not more valuable in terms of experiences or what they are able to learn".

Additionally, Tipograph said that students should look into financial aid for the pricier summer programs. If a student demonstrates a desire and a need, many companies and programs will come up with some sort of funding for that student.

Regardless of what you do with your summer, Sohmer stressed that it is important to be able to say that you learned something, whether it is about a subject, a political issue, your community, or yourself. She recalls one example of a student who felt like he was limited because his family went to Italy every summer to visit relatives. She suggested that he make a project out of the trip by reading books written by authors in the region.

Whatever direction your summer leads you in, take as much initiative as you can- make a reading list for yourself, or a list of local museums that you would like to visit. If possible, keep a journal or blog about your experiences. Such supplemental projects can create excellent memories and provide valuable topics for a college admissions essay.

Great Summer. Now What?

So, once you have found a summer experience that fits your personality and lifestyle, how do you showcase that experience in your college application?

Sohmer said that the essay is the most common space for conveying a summer experience. Adding personal stories or experiences into your essay can give the reader insight into you as a person- what you value, what you are passionate about, how you process your experiences.

Use your summer experience to remind the reader of what makes you unique- what passion will you bring to their university? What are some experiences that have shaped who you are and how you can contribute to the school of your choice?

Consistency in summer experiences can be a good thing, even if it is just a consistent spirit of adventure. Sohmer explains that it can look good if students return to the same job year after or year, or develop their interests in a leadership position. However, she also said that there is no need to be locked into one summer activity year after year: "Quality experiences are quality experiences even if they are varied".

Though summer experiences do not have near as much weight as test scores and transcripts, the way you spend your summers can reinforce the overall image of your personality that is conveyed in your application.

William Holinger, the director of Harvard's Secondary Summer Program, stated, "We advise students to emphasize in their college applications the relationship between their summer academic endeavors and their expectations for their undergraduate education, and life beyond college-if possible.

How did a summer course relate to what they want to study in college? What did they learn over the summer that has changed their sense of why they want to attend a particular college, or what they wish to study there?"

Most importantly of all, be genuine. Both in choosing your summer experience, and in conveying it in your essay, think more about who you are and what you have to offer than whatever it is you think colleges are looking for.

Sohmer pointed out, "It is important that students and families look at the summer not just as a way to get some place else, not just what you do to go to college".

Summer is a time to explore yourself and explore what you love, and any route that you take to do that will give you ample material for your college application.

Next Steps

Make a list of your interests and do research on local organizations that could serve as outlets for those interests.

If you are planning on applying to a summer program, begin as soon as possible, as many of them have a rolling admissions process.

Check out listings of summer classes at your local community college and contact the professor to discuss taking a class.

The author, Chioma Isiadinso, a former admissions board member at Harvard Business School and admissions officer at Carnegie Mellon University, provides tips, strategies and advice to MBA applicants on how to gain admission to top MBA programs. Article Source:

Saving For Your Child's Future College Expenses

Contributing Author: Darren W. Chow

Have you been thinking about your child's future recently? What college do you want your child to go to? What are the costs involved? Do you have the financial resources to send your child to the preferred college? These are important questions that need to be asked while your child is still young.

The costs of sending a child to college can come up to quite a substantial amount. The actual cost will depend on several factors. For instance, the choice of college will have an immediate impact on the cost. Some courses will cost more than others. Or what if your child needs to stay in college an extra year due to illness just so he or she can graduate from college successfully? These variables all play a part in the cost of education. As a parent, your role is plan ahead for your child.

Let's say you have calculated the cost of education to come up to about $100k for the entire duration. Do you have the entire amount stashed aside solely for your child's education? Would $100k be enough to set your mind at peace? Most people do not have the entire amount stashed away somewhere. When the time comes for your child to pick a college, will you have enough for him or her? If you don't, the consequences can be disastrous. As parent, you want your child to be happy - to be happy to pursue his or her own interests and not have to worry about not being able to land a job. The right college will make all the difference to your child's future. Having the financial resources to send your child to the right college may appear to be a formidable goal. But it can be achieved with proper planning.

What you want to do, is to sit down and think about saving up for the future. A portion of your monthly income should be set aside solely for the purpose of financing your child's college education. Note that education costs are always on the rise. So when planning ahead, make sure you take into consideration inflation and the rising cost of education. A qualified financial planner will be able to help you compute the exact amount you need to set aside each month to achieve your targets.

A few things to remember. It's always wiser to start early than to start late. When time is on your side, you can put aside a much smaller amount each month and still be able to save up enough to meet your financial objectives. If you start late, you will be forced to set aside a huge amount of money on a monthly basis - something that you may not be comfortable with as this may affect your current lifestyle.

Learn more from a financial planner specializing in 401k rollover and Roth IRA Rollover for retired individuals.

Necessity of Financial Aid for Students: Reasons to Apply for It

Contributing Author: Elizabeth Reed is an experienced researcher and essay writer.

You enter a college. You want to become independent. You want to get enough opportunities to study and get the necessary level of knowledge. Have you already heard about the idea to apply for financial aid and decrease your educational expenses? Well, nowadays, government of almost each country and state offers students to apply for financial aid, point out several powerful reasons, and prove that students’ abilities and attempts are worth attention.

GOVERNMENTAL REASONS FOR FINANCIAL AID

Do you need more reasons of why you need to apply this kind of help? You are welcome:

1.It is usually free for students (all you need is to gather documents, fill some files, and present your work);

2.It is also possible to qualify for financial help (you can ask for help and get to know that has to be done, what conditions need to be considered, etc);

3.It is usually covered by government and characterized by federal levels (federal government provides the best loan terms for students);

PERSONAL REASONS FOR FINANCIAL HELP

A student may face different personal and academic problems like:

1.Low family income;

2.Expensive books and other materials for studies;

3.Necessity to buy a room in a dormitory;

4.Health problems.

So the possibility to get some financial help turns out to be a good idea to solve some of these problems.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL HELP FOR STUDENTS

The peculiar feature of financial aid for students is its double nature:

1.merit-based (students’ awards demonstrate their huge potential, and such financial help is a kind of gift for such achievements);

2.need-based (student knowledge and abilities may be unbelievable but parents’ impossibility to choose the best college prevents the development of this potential, so that this aid is obligatory for some students).

As you can see, the idea of financial help and the necessity to apply for it are worthy of attention and recognition because it helps to find out really skilled students and promote their possibilities.

Financial Aid For Online Students - What is Possible and Where

Contributing Author: Bryan Wong

In this day and age, going to college is virtually essential if you want a well-paying occupation that can sustain a quality way of life. However, college is not cheap - it can be very expensive, depending on the prestige and quality of the university, the program you are interested in enrolling, and how long it will take to earn your degree. Therefore, it's essential to get as much financial aid as you can. And yes, even non-traditional (over age 25) students that are taking online courses can receive financial aid. First, you can file for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at any age; the main requirements to qualify are (taken from the FAFSA website): '- You have to be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. - You have to have a valid Social Security number (unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia.) - You comply with Selective Service registration, if required. - You have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) Certificate, or pass an approved ability- to-benefit (ATB) test. - You have to be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a university that participates in the federal student aid programs. - You must NOT owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal student loan. - You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans.) - You must NOT have certain drug convictions. - Other requirements may apply, depending on the university you apply to.' How much financial aid you can expect to receive from FAFSA is dependent on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC,) your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school you will be attending. You should contact your university's financial aid office to see how much you can receive at that school. If you are attending an accredited university, your school will send you a 1098-T form at the beginning of each year. This form will include important tax information about your education-related expenses that the school has to send to both you and the IRS. Once you receive this information, you can then file for tax deductions that can save you up to $2,000, including the following - The Lifetime Learning Tax Credit - available to all students who take at least one class from an accredited school. Qualifying students can get credit for 20% of the first $10,000 they spend on educational expenses, up to a maximum of $2,000. To be eligible, single filers must make an adjusted gross income of less than $52,000 and joint filers must make less than $105,000. The Hope Scholarship Tax Credit - offered to students who are enrolled at least half-time and are in their first or second year of undergraduate study. Filers who meet the income cap requirements (same as for the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit) and who have no felony convictions involving the possession or distribution of controlled substances can receive up to $1,500 in credit. Higher Education Tuition and Fees Deduction - the income cap requirements are higher with this option, as singles with adjusted gross incomes between $65,000-$80,000 and families who make between $130,000-$160,000 are eligible for a $2,000 deduction. Other types of aid include government and private loans, government, university, and private grants, and university and private scholarships. There are ones available for non-traditional students as well. There are online resources that can help you locate ones that are specifically for non-traditional students. The Fastweb Scholarship Database lists more than 50 awards that have a minimum age requirement of 30 or older and over 230 awards with a minimum age requirement of 25 or older. Over 1,800 awards have no age restrictions at all. Regarding loans, if at all possible, try to obtain government loans - they usually offer the most reasonable rates and terms compared to private loans from banks. While many schools restrict eligibility for the school's own financial aid programs to the first Bachelor's degree, some schools will waive that restriction if an adult is returning to school and working toward earning a second degree in preparation for a career change. Check with your university to see if you're eligible for their financial aid programs. Also check with your current employer to see if he/she is willing to reimburse you for part or all of your tuition. Of course, this likely will only happen if you are taking courses to further your current career and are likely to remain at the company you are currently working at, but if you fall into this category, you should seek out your employer to see if he/she can help ease the financial burden of your courses. Paying for college is never easy, especially for non-traditional students who don't qualify for many forms of financial aid, but by utilizing the Internet and other resources, you can find loans, grants, and scholarships that you are eligible for to help make your return to college a bit easier on your finances.

Outrageous College Textbook Costs - Help Is Here - But Is It Working?

College textbook prices are outrageous! In some cases, books cost so much that they are forcing students to skip college all together. The Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) was signed into law in 2008 in an effort to help with this problem. Beginning in July 2010, all college campuses were required to implement these new provisions with reference to textbooks and specifically this problem.

New Provisions:

Provision 1 - ISBN's at Registration: All federal and state financial aid eligible colleges are now obligated to provide students with the ISBN numbers and retail prices for all required and recommended textbooks for each course, before and during the registration process.

Provision 2 - Rental Programs: All colleges are being encouraged to provide students with information about textbook rental programs that are available on campus. While there may be multiple programs out there, the college is only being encouraged to provide information about those that the college has a direct relationship with. There are also many private textbook rental programs available through the internet.

Provision 3 - Used Textbooks and Buy-Back Programs: Colleges are also being encouraged to provide information about the availability of used textbooks and textbook buy-back programs on campus. Again they are only providing information about the university sponsored or college bookstore approved programs that their campus offers. Many others exist, including Amazon.com.

Provision 4 - Other Alternatives: Every college is being encouraged to provide information about current and potential alternatives to high textbook prices. With electronic textbooks and other cost savings strategies becoming more readily available on campus, universities are trying to find ways to inform students and make these alternatives profitable.

Additional Suggestions: The HEOA also offered some suggestions that could help students and professors to find additional textbook savings.

Suggestion 1: It was suggested that the textbook manufacturers are being asked to let professors know the comparative pricing of alternative textbooks before or during the selection process, so that professors can elect to choose a lower cost textbook alternative for students if available. Previously, professors were not given any pricing information about the textbooks that were being recommended by the publishers for their courses. As expected, the recommended textbook was generally the newest and most expensive edition.

Suggestion 2: It has also been suggested that textbook publishers try to avoid minor revisions that cause a previously selected textbook edition to become obsolete, just because a few minor revisions have been made. It has been suggested that this practice has been taking good quality, 3 and 4-year old used textbooks out of the available textbook market. This practice has been growing more and more widespread in recent years as publishers are trying to enhance their revenue stream... at the direct cost to the student.

Summary:

Hopefully the steps taken by the HEOA and others that are coming from outside the campus community will help bring textbook expenses down and allow students to make college more affordable again. Even though these provisions and suggestions have been made public for all colleges that receive federal financial aid, I have not seen a dramatic change so far. My hope is that if more students and parents hear about these changes, the schools, bookstores and publishing houses will be forced to operate with our college students and their families best interests at heart. Only time will tell.

Please share this article with anyone that you believe can benefit from the textbook cost savings that will occur if these provisions and suggestions are properly utilized and enforced.

Keith Maderer is a financial expert, author, speaker and father of five. He has been a financial adviser in the Western New York for over 30 years. He is the owner of SENIOR Financial and Tax Associates and founder of the Maderer Foundation, a private scholarship program for area youth.