The National Outdoor Leadership school (NOLS) is one of many youth enrichment programs available to SLOHS students. Photo courtesy of sgbonline.com.
As summer approaches, students will start breaking off to pursue their passions. Some will attend summer school to get ahead. Others will join the workforce. The vast majority will sit on their couch and play videogames. But for a few students at San Luis Obispo High School, the end of the school year marks the beginning of summer enrichment programs.
Enrichment programs are extended educational courses that prepare students for college and future careers. These opportunities are most important for juniors heading into their senior year.
“I have attended RYLA ( an enrichment program). RYLA [Rotary Youth Leadership Awards] was an absolutely fantastic program that I would recommend for everyone. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, but teaches you so much about yourself and being a leader,” said senior Liam Alsbury.
Many (but not all) programs include traveling to colleges, or major cities. After arriving, participants will receive instructions in a specific field (ex. Business, art, engineering etc) from professors or other professionals. The time span can be anywhere from a few weeks, to several months of the school year.
“My experience was an 8/10, the people I met were so fun and kind and I made a lot of friends, and they were also from all over the country which was cool. The program was mostly organized, but some of the guest speakers were not the best and one didn’t show up,” said senior Juniper Patrick-Miernicki.
Personal interests for fields in tech, theater and medicine and all have their corresponding programs. Students curious about the wilderness can join the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Writers can attend the Fir Acres Writing Workshop at Lewis and Clark College. Even film students can find programs like the Berridge Creative Semester. Any interest that could culminate in a career is emulated in some sort of enrichment program.
“Summer enrichment programs definitely impact college decisions. Colleges want to see that students are dedicated to learning outside of school too,” said Alsbury.
Although most of these programs go between June and July, many have already stopped taking new members. Rotary Youth Exchange stopped taking applications as early as December. For students interested in applying, most deadlines end around May. After that, most programs close down, or become significantly more competitive.
Applying can involve a web of bureaucracy, essays, interviews, and tax information. Most applications need to be prepared well in advance before being turned in. Even high quality submissions can be shot down, depending on the prestige of the program.
In terms of benefits: enrichment opportunities give students easy material to write their college applications. University of California (UC) prompts (ex. “Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity”) are intentionally written with these experiences in mind.
Furthermore, attending programs at highly regarded universities (Boston, Yale, Harvard, etc) can improve chances of entry into the very same institutions. Colleges vet applications for these programs, and can give special preference based on these types of experiences.
“I do think there’s a benefit of doing summer enrichment programs especially at a university you want to go to. So let’s say you want to go to UCLA and you do the Summer program at UCLA. There’s a benefit to being able to say, ‘I know I really want to go to UCLA. I’ve spent a summer there, and I really love it, and I really want to be a Bruin,’” said College and Career Counselor Colleen Martin.
However, most programs require substantial financial backing. Even cheaper options can require thousands to participate. This can make it difficult for students in low to moderate income households to afford these types of activities.
“I attended the NSLC Political Action and Public Policy 9-day program at Georgetown University in D.C. This experience was made possible by the scholarship I got so I didn’t have to pay the whole cost, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it,” said Patrick-Miernicki.
While Scholarships are available, the application process creates another barrier of entry via essays and paperwork high income students don’t have to worry about. Because of this, enrichment programs disproportionately help the children of the wealthy.
“I definitely think there’s an advantage for families with means [compared to] families who don’t have the means to go do something like that. . . So do early admit and you know all that stuff,” said Martin.
While programs provide experiences and college recognition, cost makes it a difficult option for high school students. While the benefits of these programs are understated, interested students need to research specific programs, scholarships, and their financial situation before making a decision
The College and Career Center is a great place to receive more information. Further info has been listed in sources down below.
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