Voluntarily going to school during the summer may sound as pleasing as drinking orange juice after brushing one’s teeth. Yet several members of West’s senior class used the summer months to take an early dive into college programs. Spanning the country, proud students ventured to explore academic offerings outside of the classrooms on Chapel Avenue. Dedication, sacrifice, and overall ambition carried these students to success.

Realistically speaking, attending college for the first time can pose many new challenges. New classroom environments, different social circles, and possibly living away from home can seem daunting to any newcomer. Students must face higher education in a different environment. These pre-undergraduate programs give prospective students priceless exposure to the world they are about to encounter. The short amount of time sacrificed to participate can be nominal compared to the benefit. These programs spanned across the board from holistic approaches to specialized routes geared to attendee’s future goals. The idea of starting over seems daunting, but the idea of getting a head start can help one to embrace that notion with a positive attitude and new knowledge.

Rather than adhering to a traditional classroom setting, senior Delaney Mc Quade recalls the “regimented” environment at the United States Naval Academy as she prepared for a hopeful future spent there. She was greeted at the Academy with the unique requirements of “meeting the standards for uniform, room inspection, and memorization.”

With hundreds of different majors to choose from, the variety allows for incoming students to choose a major that really reflects what they want to learn rather than what they have to learn.

For example, after travelling across the country to study medicine and Healthcare at The University of California Berkeley, senior Natalie Tikunov explained that she “was able to walk out feeling confident in what I wanted to pursue and how I was planning to go about reaching my goals.” That sort of attitude seems to accompany many of the summer students – a positive mindset that only serves to benefit.
As a senior myself, the decision to apply to three summer programs during the summer was one that took a lot of thought. Before the programs even started, I was hit with one of the first realities in college: rejection. Wait-listed but optimistic, I eventually experienced two transformational experiences at Rutgers University and Stockton University. A month away from home delivered life lessons and academic lessons I continue to carry with me to this day. From cold showers to final term papers on Orwell, a snippet of my summer turned into one of the best experiences of my life.

Whether you participate in a program or not, success is heavily dependent on how one makes the most of any situation. Still, participating in a college program can place you in a great environment to encourage academic growth and personal growth, preparing for the years ahead. While summer “school” may not be the beach, it may be a great choice for you.