The impact of summer enrichment programs on personal and academic growth

(BPT) – For students with college in their future plans, summers are ideal for exploring academic and personal development opportunities. During the school year, students can feel overloaded with classwork and extracurricular activities, but the summer months offer time to delve into one academic interest in greater depth. The College Board recommends that students who intend to go on to college after high school attend advanced summer enrichment programs throughout their high school years to help provide an idea of what to expect from college-level coursework.If your child might benefit from academic exploration in the summer, you may want to consider options for summer enrichment such as those available next summer through Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies. These programs give your student the chance to engage in topics they’re passionate about, often in advanced subjects rarely taught during high school. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies’ summer programs create an environment where learning is highly valued and actively encouraged — fostering a mindset of curiosity and intellectual growth students will take with them long after the summer is over.These programs impact students in a variety of ways:Creating an environment where learning is highly valued and encouragedCourses in the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies program encourage participants to follow their interests while showing respect for their learning journey.”The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute was truly eye-opening and the highlight of my summer,” said Helen, Stanford Summer Humanities Institute participant. “The teachers and peers were constantly inspiring, and the course offered so much, helping me learn more about myself along the way.”Fostering a mindset of curiosity, academic exploration and intellectual growthStudents in grades 8-11 are just beginning to explore the world around them, and their curiosity may feel limited by traditional school curriculum. A program that encourages their curiosity will lead to growth in their critical thinking skills, ability to research, and the capacity to see the wider context as well as the intriguing details of a topic.Emphasizing the importance of educationSummer courses hosted by an excellent higher education institution and designed to foster deeper learning demonstrate the power and value of education. Program participants will experience firsthand how much their instructors and peers care about the topics they study, and also the very process of learning how to learn.Motivating to pursue learningStudents involved in these enriching summer programs often feel an educational spark has been lit, inspiring them to go further with subjects that fascinate them.”My experience was eye-opening, with engaging lectures and enjoyable interactions with like-minded individuals,” said Tawfik, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes participant. “The academic rigor and social activities offered were a perfect balance for making the whole experience memorable.”Developing a deeper commitment to educationHigh-quality educational experiences at a young age will foster a desire to continue growing and learning at a deeper level throughout their lives — in college and beyond — which will inspire a greater dedication to learning.”Being a part of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes was a fantastic experience. I can’t believe how much I learned in just two weeks,” said Divyansha, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes participant. “These invaluable lessons will help me in my academic journey.”Here are two summer programs to consider.Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer InstitutesThese are online, synchronous enrichment courses for students currently in grades 8–11. This program provides passionate and intellectually curious students with intensive study in a single course from advanced subjects rarely taught in high school, offering students the chance to dive deep into cutting-edge topics.Students from around the world study and discuss academic topics in small classes, allowing them to participate in real-time discussions in which instructors and students interact with one another. Participants pursue in-depth, interactive exploration of academic material in a single subject per course, in fields including computer science, math, creative writing, social justice, engineering and more.Stanford Summer Humanities InstituteThis three-week residential program on Stanford University’s campus is for students currently in grades 10-11. Students from around the world explore big questions in the humanities through seminars led by Stanford professors and graduate students. Participants engage with one subject from a humanities topic such as literature, politics or philosophy — ranging from ancient Greek philosophy to the American Enlightenment and more.During the three weeks, students investigate philosophical questions and pursue research topics while learning how to write college-level papers and communicate complex arguments.These advanced, unique courses are offered for academic enrichment and growth, not for credit or a grade. The greatest value of participating in these programs is the experience itself, which provides growth and development in students’ talents and curiosity that will positively impact their educational journey.To learn more and to apply to these summer enrichment programs, visit SummerHumanities.SPCS.stanford.edu and SummerInstitutes.SPCS.stanford.edu.