Versed Editors's blog

Summer is already here, and it is a great time for middle schoolers to take a break, recharge, and pursue fun adventures with family and friends. In between fun activities, it is also a great time to explore new areas of interest and also get ahead academically. Academically driven students can use this time to prepare for high school, giving direction to their skills and interests. With the explosion of virtual programs during the pandemic, students have more options than ever before in every subject, interest, or hobby one can possibly think of. At the same time, with pandemic restrictions easing across the country, there are now also more in-person programs that students can choose from. We have compiled a list of opportunities that you can consider for your middle schooler in between healthy doses of fun and relaxation.

 

Pre College Summer Programs 

 

UW Youth and Teen Programs 

Remote and in-person 

Age Group: Grades 4 to 8 

The University of Washington offers courses in diverse disciplines for middle schoolers to partake in over the summer. The options range from electronics to coding to writing to debate to an endless array of other options. The dates of each program vary, but all of them run sometime between late June and August. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis - check the website to see the availability of courses and be quick to apply as all the classes are filling up! 

 

NYFA 2022 Summer Camps

Remote and in person 

Age Group: 10 to 13 years 

This summer, the New York Film Academy offers online and in-person summer programs based in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Italy, and Australia. Programs are available in a range of film courses, such as filmmaking, acting, photography, 3D animation, musical theater, and game design. Most programs start around June, with application deadlines falling on Thursday of the week before the program’s start date. Check the website to learn more about each program. 

 

Camp Launch at William and Mary School of Education 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 7 to 10

The William and Mary School of Education offers gifted middle school (as well as high school) students an academically rich summer camp with courses in STEM, writing, and personal development. The program is specifically geared toward giving students from low-income households a chance to carve out an academically rich and bright future for themselves. The virtual camp this year will be held from July 17 to 30. Get in touch with camplaunch@wm.edu if your child is eligible and interested in the program.

 

Interlochen Arts Camp Programs 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 3 to 12

The Interlochen Arts Camp Programs offer students specialized programs in the arts, such as creative writing, dance, visual art, film and media, and interdisciplinary arts. All programs have rolling applications - check the website to learn more about the individual programs, and be quick to apply!

 

EXPLO Junior Program 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 4 to 7 

EXPLO is a non-profit organization that runs summer programs focused on experiential learning, where middle schoolers work with experts to focus on real-world projects. The programs, broken into one for 4-5 graders and one for 6-7 graders, are set to take place in Wheaton College for the summer, with both daily commuters and fully residential options. The two and three-week programs for this summer are set to run around the end of June and the beginning of July. 

 

Center for Bright Kids GLOW Program 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 5 to 8 

Middle schoolers attend a two-week residential program supporting differentiated foundational knowledge through helping children work with a dynamic group of high-interest peers. This year, the program is set to take place from 12 June to 25 June. Applications are currently open - be quick to visit the website and apply as seats are filling up! 

 

Summer Discovery 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 6 to 12 

Summer Discovery’s Middle School Enrichment Opportunities allow students to build on academic rigor and leadership skills alongside building friendships and a community. The program allows children to explore passions without the pressures of academic grades. Some sample courses include 3D design and printing, creative writing, computer science, dance, mock trial, photography, and more. Currently, the programs are being offered at two locations: University of California, Los Angeles and Georgetown University. Visit the website to learn more about each campus. 

 

Online Courses 

Middle schoolers can consider honing their skills in an academic area of their interest through different online platforms. Here is a list of some disciplines and how they can learn more:

 

Math 

• Prodigy is a free fantasy roleplaying game. In it, students battle in-game characters by answering set questions. The app includes a reporting tool that allows parents/teachers to track a child's progress. Questions can also be customized for more targeted learning. Prodigy is designed for students ages 6-14/grades 1st-8th.
• Thinkwell is a website that produces high quality video seminars on a variety of topics, such as pre-algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Although the prices can be high, Thinkwell is a great alternative for students that don't respond as well to reading textbooks and need a more visual approach in order to master a new concept.
• Greg Tang Math utilizes graphics and vivid visuals to instill an understanding of mathematical concepts. His site offers a variety of free games, puzzle packs, board games, and other enrichment tools meant to find alternative methods to teaching traditional concepts. 
• Brainscape is a series of digital flashcards that uses confidence-based repetition to focus on problem areas. Decks are easily synced between devices or shared with friends for test prep or study groups. Students can also work collaboratively with their teachers/tutors to create flashcards focused on their particular learning needs. 
• Khan Academy is an indispensable resource as we all know, and it’s completely free. Why not jump ahead and get the hang of algebra, or geometry while the student has time on their hands?

For more information on math enrichment, visit our Definitive Guide to Math Enrichment page.

 

Technology and Coding 

• Code.org is a nonprofit website geared towards teaching school aged children (K-12) how to code online for free. They have courses that teach students how to code for apps, games, and websites using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Codecademy is a free online platform that offers programming classes in Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, HTML, and CSS. It provides interactive lessons for daily practice. Codecademy is notable for teaching real world programming skills through different learning modules called “career paths” such as web development and data science. These paths offer a comprehensive learning experience, where the students are taught how to apply real world programming skills.  
• Skillcrush is a beginner friendly coding resource that delivers emails with bite-sized, 5 minute courses. Purchasing “blueprints” allow students to combine these classes into comprehensive courses. Upon completion of a blueprint, Skillcrush provides a letter of recommendation, a portfolio of code, and an official Certificate of Completion.
• Udemy is an online learning platform that has over 2,000 user-created courses dedicated to coding. There is a fee for most classes but many of the short beginner coding lessons are offered for free. Paid classes typically offer Certificate of Completion. 
• MIT Open Courseware is part of MIT’s goal to make all of their education materials from their courses free, which happens to include several courses on coding. Students can learn Java, C++, and even MATLAB through video lectures and assignments. 

For more information on math enrichment, visit our blog on Best of Online Learning - Coding.

English 

• HemingwayApp is a simple, but effective tool passionate writers can use to highlight their problem areas. This online editor scans uploaded texts for run-on sentences, passive voice, and other common grammatical and structural issues that even a skilled proofreader can miss. The site also allows users to track their reading time, word count, and reading level, which can help meet the requirements of certain assignments.
• Time4Writing is best known for its teacher-led 8-week writing course. Compared to other online intensives, it's relatively cost effective and comes highly recommended. The site also has a Free Writing Resources page that includes study guides on supporting details, run-ons, structural issues, and thesis statements. They also offer help on writing for standardized tests and research resources.
• Writopia is a non-profit creative writing program for kids and teens ages 4–18. Started in New York City, the program has expanded to Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and is now accessible anywhere via online courses. All classes are taught by published authors and writers, and they provide classes in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and even college essay writing.
• EssayPunch takes a teach-by-doing stance on writing. This free interactive website leads students through all the steps involved in drafting, editing, and proofreading assignments, teaching key concepts along the way. Users are able to track and understand their progress as well as view their future goals at a glance. Students that struggle with writing an informative or persuasive paper may respond to this relatively hands-on method.

For more information on writing resources, consult the Versed Guide to Definitive Writing Help.

Language 

• Duolingo is a cost-friendly language website. They offer free, interactive and bite-sized lessons in 35 different languages. Each lesson is personalized, allows each user to learn at one’s own pace, and the short 5-10 minute lessons allow for incremental breaks. Learners progressively unlock new content as they master topics. Languages range from popular ones like French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, to even fictional languages such as High Valyrian (although this may not be the most useful).
• HelloTalk is yet another cost effective resource that students can use to learn a language. The free app connects students with native speakers across the world. It has talk, video, and text features, allowing you to learn a language and its culture through natural conversation from people that speak it first-hand. This app is most useful for learners that need help with native pronunciations and conversational fluency or would simply like to learn more about the culture, slang and context of a language.

For more information on language resources, consult our Best of Online Learning: Languages blog.

Art and Music 

• Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes offered daily in design, illustration, photography, film, animation, fine arts, graphic design, and more. Each class has bite-sized video lessons and hands-on projects, and students proceed to share their projects in the class to get feedback and collaborate with other Skillshare students, making this especially useful for arts students. Skillshare is free, although most upgrade to premium ($15/month) to access full content. Annual membership is $99/year ($8.25/month).
• Musika is a music lesson website that connects you to private music teachers within your area that you may pursue in person or online. Musika also offers a risk-free trial lesson, making it a strong option for those that want to test out online lessons. Rates depend on location, but a typical 60 minute online lesson in New York, NY, is $48 - $60.

For more information, consult our Best of Online Learning: Music and Art blog. 

Outschool.com

A more diverse resource, Outschool.com is a great resource for online courses in a variety of subjects, ranging from math to history to science to entrepreneurship to so much more! It is the perfect opportunity for your child to explore a range of subjects outside of traditional school classes. 

 

Read 

The summer provides a perfect opportunity for middle schoolers to hone reading and writing skills. Children should definitely use this time to pick up some new books. Along with the chance to pick up books at the library, technology has given us easy access to ebooks and digital libraries. Harvard Classics, Goodread, Apple Books, and Kindle are some options that middle schoolers can consider using for reading. The good news is that your family can be anywhere in the world and access every book out there. Beyond books, middle schoolers should try reading newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. Reading the news every day is a good habit and the New York Times subscription is a great place to start. Along with articles, the NYT has weekly quizzes and games that test readers’ knowledge on what they have read, which might be an ideal practice to help strengthen your child’s reading skills and general knowledge.

 

Volunteer 

Middle schoolers can use the summer to volunteer and make an impact. The most appealing option would be to find an established organization for your child to join. Popular organizations that are always welcoming of volunteers are the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels, to name a few. However, it is true that many organizations won’t take students under 14 or even 16. If it is an option for your family as a whole to volunteer together, many organizations will allow parents to bring their children to volunteer together. Beyond established organizations, middle schoolers cannot contribute to the community in other ways. Consider making them take up self-driven work that doesn't require them to be part of an organization. For instance, children can help clear trash in local areas such as parks, beaches, or local trails. Alternatively, they can start donation drives by collecting old clothes, toys, books, or even food from the neighborhood and donating it to interested organizations such as shelters and foster homes. You may also find opportunities for your child to contribute to your neighborhood itself. For example, they can offer to mow an elderly neighbor's lawn or help out with other household chores people might need help with. An excellent volunteer option is making your child tutor elementary school children, which can even be done virtually!

 

Creative project

Along with volunteer opportunities, children can also use this time to undertake different creative projects. They can consider starting a business, such as selling baked goods or even artwork (such as bookmarks!). They can create their own poetry collections or photo albums documenting their time over the break. Suppose you have a backyard or any open space with sunlight, then your child can start their own nursery or vegetable patch. For musical ones, if your child can bring a few friends together, start a band!  

 

Healthy does of fun

Summer is about exploring new things, relaxing, and having fun. Try to get your child involved in organized (or not so organized) sport —along with keeping your child active, sports are useful in building community, discipline, and character. Have your child take time to step out of the house to go for hikes or walks, help out with household chores, play board games with the family (scrabble and boggle are a big plus!), and meet friends. Go on family vacations and adventures. Enjoy the outdoors and recharge for the fall.

 

 

Here are some additional insights on the middle school years:

12 Things Middle Schoolers Can Do This Summer

Guide to Gifted and Talented Programs and Are They Worth It?

7 Things Every Middle School Parents Should Know 

Parenting Advice: How to Help Guide Your Child to Find an Interest

2019 Splash Is Back and Filling Up Quickly - Classes at MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and Other Top Schools for Middle and High Schools Students

 

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Summer is just around the corner, and many high school students are starting to figure out what they will be doing over the summer months. We have been receiving many questions from high school families about how best to plan summers that would help with college admissions. We have assembled below 10 things students can do, but before exploring any of these options, it is important for students to take stock of what they are interested in, what their strengths are, and what skills they would like to develop over the summer, and throughout their high school years. 

 

There are many ways for high school students to spend their summers, and their free time in general but the best way to spend that time is to find something that the student can get excited about, want to spend time on, and want to go deeper into. What colleges care most about is that students show curiosity, commitment to an activity, desire to pursue excellence in what they do, and have a meaningful impact (personally and/or to those around them).

 

Students in 9th and 10th grade may be in the exploratory phase, and may want to try different classes, or summer programs, or work on a personal project in the arts, writing, business, or sciences. Some may already have very strong interests, and are gunning for an extremely competitive summer program for their Junior summer, which may entail working backwards and finding ways to strengthen their candidacy in their freshman and sophomore summer to be competitive in their junior summer. 11th graders with a track record of taking specialized courses in the sciences, or business, or the arts, may be ready to apply to the prestigious summer program, or internship, or ready to build an impressive arts portfolio or writing submission for publication. Many students will get a job or volunteer and experience what real life is all about and gain invaluable skills.

 

This is a great time for students to put a list together of all of the activities they are involved in as well as things they would like to try, or do more of. Then they should prioritize that list, to add classes/programs/jobs/etc. that strengthen their top priority activities.

 

1. Participate in specialized pre-college or high school program

There is an incredible array of specialized programs across many college campuses throughout the country. Learn about entrepreneurship at the Berkeley Business Academy. Learn about how countries solve Global Problems at the Yale Young Global Scholars. Learn cutting edge science research through Boston University RISE Internship. Whatever the interest, there is a plethora of programs to choose from. See Most Prestigious Summer Programs and Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It? for additional information.

 

2. Get a job, internship, or job-shadowing experience

Colleges truly value job experiences. Whether you work as a cashier at your local grocery store or you created social media marketing campaigns for a startup company, being able to get a job and do well at a job speaks volumes about a student's maturity, interpersonal skills, and motivations. It is also a plus when students have a focus, have some ideas about future career plans, and proactively work to build skills towards those goals. Read Why Summer Jobs and Work Experience Matter When High School Students Apply to College for additional insights.

 

3. Volunteer

Pursuing initiatives or activities for the common good of the community is something that colleges speak of frequently. Students that use time and energy to help those around them, whether it is at a local hospital or nursing home, or through advocacy work on climate change or local elections, college are looking for student leaders that are looking to make a positive impact on those around them. Don’t pursue this to impress colleges, but pick a cause that you care about and let those interests lead the way.

 

4. Take college courses through local community college

Local colleges offer advanced level courses not available in high schools. Motivated students can take advantage of this opportunity to pursue higher level, more specialized courses. Students will also get an opportunity to interact with college students.

 

5. Take online classes

There has been a revolution taking place in online education that has truly accelerated because of Covid-19 pandemic. You can take just about any classes imaginable online now, and many for free. Checkout University MOOCS on platforms such as  Coursera and EdX. Outschool offers thousands of courses on every subject. See Best of Online Learning - University Classes, Best of Online Learning - Coding, and Best of Online Learning - Music and Art.

 

6. Get involved with research

Research is not just for STEM students. Although science research is a great option for students interested in pursuing new frontiers of science with local college professors or through pre-college programs, students can pursue research in social science, linguistics, literature, and the arts. Talk to your teachers about how students can get involved in college level research. Check out Intro to Science Research for some ideas. 

 

7. Work on an independent project

Work on a screenplay or novel. Get together with friends and create a jazz band. Research family genealogy and plan a family reunion. Start a company! Students should not be limited by organized programs when it comes to pursuing their interests. When pursuing something you care about, it does not need to be organized by a third party - it is most impressive to follow your heart to strike on your own (or with others you can recruit). See Entrepreneurship Opportunities for High School Students for additional information.

 

8. Take high school courses to jump ahead, remediate, get requirements out of the way

Perhaps you were not on the honors math track in middle school, but you would like to join the honors track in high school. Perhaps you are struggling in a class, and need to drop a class that needs to be made up in the summer. Perhaps you need to take a health class in the summer so that you can take the 2 full electives you really want during the school year. There are many great reasons to attend summer school!

 

9. Work on college applications, go on campus tours, study for standardized exams

For Juniors, and even sophomores, summer is a great time to study for standardized tests and get started on the college process. Check out Summer Checklist for the Class of 2021 for more information on getting started on the college application.

 

10. Go on family vacation, travel with friends, take a break!

Don’t forget, getting rest, enjoying family time, and recharging for the next school year is just as important as everything stated above. Take a couple of weeks out of the summer to enjoy being with family and friends doing things without a care in the world.

 

For additional insights, read:

Most Prestigious Summer Program

Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It?

High School Extracurriculars that Matter for College Admissions

2021 List of Summer Pre-College Programs

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

Receive inside track information on college admissions process, high school and middle school planning, general pre-college guidance, and be the first to know about our events and announcements.

 

 

Although most students pursue internships during the summer, there are many great opportunities for students to intern during the school year. Internships are an opportunity for motivated students to explore their interests and career opportunities prior to college. These opportunities give students a leg up on determining what college majors to apply to, help students get a better sense for the types of careers they should focus on, and help in the college admissions process by demonstrating true interest in the major, field and program that they are applying for.

Several well-renowned institutions within the United States offer internship programs to high school students in various disciplines ranging from nonprofit to politics to science, to name a few. Listed here are internships for fall 2021 with deadlines right around the corner. Rising seniors looking to enhance their upcoming college applications, in particular, can make the most of these opportunities. Also, due to COVID, many internships are still run virtually, thus making it possible for students to apply to programs outside of their state. Hurry and apply to them before they fill up!

 

Internships with Cultural Institutions

 

Smithsonian Internships

About the Institution: The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Originally founded in 1846, it houses 19 museums and the National Zoo. The prestigious Smithsonian museums help educate and share resources with the general public while preserving certain heritages and histories.

About the Internship: The Smithsonian offers a variety of internships ranging from interning with the Natural History Museum to the Smithsonian Libraries to the American Art Museum and so forth. Each application is managed and processed separately by its own unit. We have provided examples of some Smithsonian internships with approaching deadlines below. To look at their complete list of offerings, visit the official Smithsonian page on Smithsonian Internships: Mentor-Based Learning Opportunities. However, while browsing these options, keep in mind that they are not opportunities limited to highschool students, but offered to undergraduate and graduate students as well. Make sure to check the eligibility requirements.

 

Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students

https://asia.si.edu/research/fellowships-internships/richardlouie/

Dates: Fall Semester

Application Deadline: 15 August 2021

The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is the Smithsonian’s museum of Asian art. High schoolers who intern here are introduced to Asian art. Interns undertake independent projects within a departmental area of interest. In addition, interns will be included in other museum activities.

 

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Internship

https://smithsonianapa.org/internships/

Dates: Fall 2021 (September to December)

Application Deadline: 18 June 2021

This internship will run virtually for the fall of 2021. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is a migratory museum bringing Asian Pacific American history, art and culture to you through innovative museum experiences online and throughout the United States. The internship program will allow students to learn through direct exchanges with  artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners.  

 

National Museum of the American Indian Internship 

https://americanindian.si.edu/connect/internships

Dates: Fall; Starting September

Application Deadline: 6 July 2021

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Internship provides educational opportunities for students interested in the museum profession and related fields. Students learn about the museum's collections, exhibitions, programs, and methodologies, and to meet professionals in the museum field. There may be limited virtual internships available in the fall of 2020. 

 

 

Washington Performing Arts Institution Internship 

About the Institution: Washington Performing Arts provides a platform to connect artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The institution’s achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with three Mayor’s Arts Awards from the DC Government.

About the Internship: Washington Performing Arts offers motivated and creative highschool students hands-on exposure to all aspects of art management. The internship is personally tailored around each intern, allowing them to each explore art management, artists, and portfolio work in different ways.

Dates: Fall; August/ September to December: specific start and end dates determined individually 

Application Deadline: 27 June 2021

 

Internships in Science

 

NASA High School Internship Program

About the Institution: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)  is the United States’

 independent agency for space exploration. Established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA studies Earth, the climate, the sun, our solar system, and beyond. We conduct research, testing, and development to advance aeronautics, including electric propulsion and supersonic flight. We develop and fund space technologies that will enable future exploration and benefit life on Earth.

About the Internship: NASA provides internship opportunities to students from high school to the graduate level.The programs provide students’ with research and experiential learning under a mentor in NASA, enhancing their learnings in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Students are made a part of authentic projects, and are not required to have prior knowledge before applying to the internship (though it is always a bonus). 

Dates: Fall; Late August/early September, mid-December, 16 weeks

Application Deadline: 9 July 2021 

 

For more information on STEM related opportunities for your high schooler, make use of our STEM Research for High School Students Guide which lists over 1,000 internships, summer and school year programs, and research opportunities. 

 

Internships with the Government 

 

U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Program

About the Institution: The United States Department of State, or State Department, is an executive departpartment of the U.S. federal government that takes care of the country’s foreign policy and international relations

About the Internship: The U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Programs include the  Internship Experience Program (IEP)  and the  Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). Both programs provide students with opportunities to explore Federal careers. The IEP is a non temporary program wherein the internship lasts the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled. The ITEP is a temporary program wherein interns work during seasonal and holiday breaks in academic programs as well as year-round. Interns in this program are appointed to temporary appointments, not to exceed one year or their projected graduation date (whichever is shorter) and extensions may be made in one year increments. The positions to which the interns are appointed have no promotion potential, therefore, students must apply through USAJOBS to be considered for higher-graded positions. ITEP participants are not eligible for any other benefits until after conversion into the competitive service. To find out more about whether you met eligibility requirements and to see different dates to apply for, please contact Pathways@state.gov and visit https://careers.state.gov/work/pathways/internship-programs/. Dates and deadlines are flexible. 

 

 

Student Volunteer Trainee Program at Department of Education 

About the Institution: The United States Department of Education is responsible for providing educational resources and equal opportunities within the country to help promote student achievement. 

About the Internship: The volunteer program provides students with an opportunity to work with and contribute to education policy and administration. The opportunity allows students to strengthen skills in Human Resources Management, Training and Development, Data Analytics, Project Management, Education Policies, Grants Management, Communications, and Information Technology. 

Dates: Fall 2021

Application Deadline: 3 cut-off dates of June 11th, July 12th, and August 11th.

 

 

Internships with Nonprofit Organizations

 

United Planet Virtual Internship and VolunteerQuests

About the Institution: United Planet is a nonprofit organization located in Boston, Massachusetts that aims to create a global community. It connects volunteers with communities across the world to make a difference and engage with different cultures.  

About the Internship: The virtual internship program allows students to help connect with global communities through assisting the daily operations of the communities that they are working with. The tasks are tailored to the current needs of the organization and the skills of the volunteers. Tasks can surround areas related to health services, environmental sustainability, children and education, or community development. Application dates and deadlines are flexible. 

 

For additional insights, read:

Do High School Students Need a Focus?

Most Prestigious Summer Programs

Why Summer Jobs and Work Experience Matter When High School Students Apply to College

Meaningful Summer Activities that Enhance College Application

 

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

Receive inside track information on college admissions process, high school and middle school planning, general pre-college guidance, and be the first to know about our events and announcements.

 

Students that are still looking for internship opportunities this summer, it is not too late to secure or create a meaningful opportunity. Given the shift to virtual platforms this year, students can certainly entertain more opportunities across the country and even across the world and do them from the comforts of their homes. However, finding an internship at the high school level can be challenging as recruiters look for more expertise and prefer hiring undergraduate students. But there still are places and ways to find internships as a high schooler. Below, we have provided a rundown of some resources you and your high school student can turn to to find an enriching summer internship for them, even at the last minute!

 

Online 

Checking online platforms and job posting sites is a quick and easy way to find different companies looking to hire high school interns and which companies might still have open job postings. Below are some of the most common and widely used platforms for internship searches. 

• Google

The easiest search option for internships is simply a google search. Go to your google search tab and put in "internship opportunities for high schoolers" or any other keyphrase that you would like. Google will put together a list of possible internships close to your location that might interest you. You can add filters and refine your search to further narrow down what opportunities you and your child are looking at. For example, this can be an industry preference, a location, or a role type.

• Linkedin 

Linkedin is one of the leading professional networking platforms today. Consider having your high school student create a Linkedin profile for themselves. This is an excellent way for them to begin building their professional network and finding opportunities. After creating their profile, students can go to the "jobs" tab on Linkedin and put "internships" in the search tab. Add additional filters such as 'high school' or 'remote' to find an opportunity better suited for you. If you come across an internship that interests you, go ahead and send in your application!

• Chegg 

Chegg is an educational company providing different services to students. This platform also provides a rundown of various internships that high schoolers can partake in. Find the right internship for your child by putting in the right keywords and your desired location if applicable. 

• Indeed

Indeed is an employment website used widely in the United States. Students can use this to find job listings even at the high school level. Similar to the previous sites, use keywords and filters to customize your search.

• Angel.co

This is a very large community of startup companies. There are a ton of internship postings here, primarily for working age professionals and college students, but a confident high school student can consider applying for some of the internships meant for college students - especially those that are non-paying. Students can filter by type of company, industry, job position, type of work, etc. to view opportunities that are available.

 

While the above options are some of the most popular platforms to search for high school internships, there are definitely others that you may come across. Feel free to explore opportunities on these sites as well, but be wary and check to make sure that it is a legitimate company/opportunity before proceeding. 

 

 

Close Circles

The most effective strategy for securing an internship for your child at the high school level would be to reach out to family members and close friends and express that your child is looking to engage in an internship over the summer. Given that family and friends are already familiar with your child and their academic standings, it might increase their chances of being willing to help. Similarly, your child might reach out to their teacher and counselors at school. Once again, these are people very familiar with your child, their interests, and their skill sets. 

 

In addition, if they cannot hire your child, you can always request these close contacts to pass the word along that your academically motivated high schooler is looking to do an internship over the summer. If you are put in touch with someone, don't immediately jump at asking them to hire your child. Instead, ask if they would be willing to talk to your child about the work they do. If the conversation goes well, then your child can then find out if they would be willing to hire a high school student for a summer internship. 

 

At the high school level, internships are a way for students to get a taste for different professions, see how they work, and decide if these are areas that interest them. In this light, high schoolers don't necessarily have to look for formal and intense internships. In your request to family and friends, you can ask whether it would be possible for your high schooler to job shadow. For example, if your child's aunt works at a hospital, you can ask if it would be possible for them to go to the hospital and closely watch the type of work that they do there. This might even be easier to do given our switch to increased virtual platforms. For example, if your neighbor runs a business, you can ask if your child can sit in on some virtual meetings to learn about the work they do and get a sense of the work environment. These types of internships are easy to do while simultaneously rewarding in giving your child an understanding of these different occupations. Even in job shadowing, the employer might decide to give your high schooler different tasks, depending on the need.

 

 

Local Businesses

High school students should reach out to local businesses to see whether they can work part-time with them. Students can directly contact businesses via email or phone to see if the company would need an intern over the summer. However, with this route, be sure that the student has already formulated an internship plan before reaching out to the organization. High school students are not always seen as a priority for existing positions, and they may not be viewed as particularly useful. Therefore, it is important that the student does proper research and planning before reaching out and be able to make a clear case as to how they can help the business. For example, students skilled in art and design can offer to make posters and banners for the business. Students with coding and technical skills can offer to help in IT. Every business is looking to implement digital marketing, and students that are familiar with social media can make a strong case. Students should make their value proposition clear, so that the internship is not just about helping a high school student gain experience, but it is about the business getting valuable work done. 

If you would like to speak to one of our advisors about summer planning, book a time with us here to learn about how Versed can help.

 

Other options to consider for summer 2021:

Entrepreneurship Opportunities for High School Students

Virtual Internships for High School Students

Best of Online Learning - University Classes

 

 

 

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For those students interested in science research, this is an event not to be missed. From March 14th to March 31st, the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's most prestigious pre-college science and mathematics competition, will host a virtual exhibition of the research projects that the finalists conducted. The finalists will be available LIVE to answer any questions on March 14th from 2-4PM EST.

The 40 finalists for the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search were selected from 1,760 entries. They will gather online in March to participate in a private judging process with a panel of top scientists -- including interviews about their projects, scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills – and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron, including a top prize of $250,000.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these finalists conducted research at home. This would be a great opportunity to learn about how students researched at home, learn about cutting edge research being conducted by students from all over the world, and gain inspiration for a next research project.

 

Register Here

 

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By: Valerie Erde

As an ACT/SAT/AP tutor and college essay advisor who has worked with dozens of families over the past several years, I often hear from parents who are very concerned about their children getting into top colleges. This is natural — we all want what's best for our children, and we know that a high-quality education plays an important role in their future success. I've been through the college application process with my own two children, and I know just how intense that can be.

But all too often, parents of eighth and ninth graders  - or even of younger children - want to talk to me about their kids' resumes e.g.  “Will ______   (debate team, lacrosse, violin, service trip to Haiti, 8 APs, etc, etc. ) look good on my child’s resume?”  They’re often thinking about the what’s rather than the why’s and the how’s.

This is a mistake.

First of all, 13- and 14-year-olds aren’t ready to have resumes, and second, focusing on the resume first is backwards. Instead, you want to guide and support your children in building personal attributes first; the rest will follow naturally as your children develop their intellect, skills, and talents and discover who they are.

I found myself advising parents to "build a person, not a resume" so often that I trademarked the phrase (which is why you see that cute TM symbol in the title of this post). It's important for you to allow your kids to grow and mature into unique individuals, and you may be surprised to learn the colleges want to admit interesting, complex people over cookie-cutter box checkers.

 

A “Resume Builder” Approach Misses The Point

Because of the nature of U.S. college admissions - especially for selective schools - students do need to get good grades in challenging courses, have solid test scores, and demonstrate participation in activities and leadership roles during their high school years. We all know this, but I’ve noticed that some families try to push their children toward specific courses or activities that simply don’t fit or interest their child because they believe those things will “impress” admissions committees.  The name for this behavior is resume building, and admissions officers can often (but not always) spot that. Resume building doesn’t make a student look dedicated.  Instead, it may make a student appear scattered, inauthentic/shallow, or robotic.

In 2016, the New York Times interviewed college admissions officers at a variety of schools about how they’d advise their own kids.  They found that admissions officers “encourage their teens to embrace activities and courses that reflect who they genuinely are, not who they think colleges want them to be.”

That’s not to say that I don’t believe in total adult absence from helping your child explore new interests and opportunities.  In fact, sometimes teens are reluctant to try a class they will end up loving because they feel it will be “too hard” or, conversely, “too easy.”  Or they may feel reluctant to attend a meeting for a club because they are shy/lack confidence or have rigid ideas about something being too“nerdy” or too “cool” for them.  These are times when a student may benefit from some adult prodding.  I distinctly remember one of my own children initially pooh-poohing trying out Model U.N. Club for this reason:  “I know who’s in it and I don’t think I’ll like those kids.”  (Needless to say, it became a favorite activity.)

 

You Can’t “Game” A Changing Admissions Landscape

The problem with trying to “game” the admissions process, is that each college wants different things from their particular student body, and what that may mean changes from year to year. Because universities want great individuals as well as a great campus community, applications are considered on their own merit and in relation to other candidates.

In fact, some universities “have started to change the way they evaluate prospective students. There are new efforts to look at meaningful, real-life experiences rather than the usual laundry list of impressive extracurriculars and classes. These ideas are detailed in a college admissions campaign by Making Caring Common, a project emanating from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, that has been endorsed by 175 universities and colleges, including all of the Ivy League.”

Proponents of this approach are pushing colleges to clearly spell out what admissions teams value in prospective students. And this is starting to mean less “long brag sheets” and more meaningful activities, morality and character.

For instance, Making Caring Common recommends “less tallying of AP classes and more delving into intellectual subjects the student cares about; fewer volunteer trips to exotic locations and more sustained community service experiences over a long period of time; less polishing of the application by parents and paid coaches and more authenticity, integrity and confidence that can be seen through the student’s own voice.”

When University of California admissions professionals presented a conference to high school guidance counselors, they offered examples of effective personal statements. The best ones were those that connected to the student activities listed elsewhere on the application and explained why time spent doing these things mattered. Why would a busy young person spend so many hours on a musical instrument? What did he get out of his time in the orchestra? Just one or two activities that genuinely mattered to the student made a greater impact than a slew of casual encounters.

So while it's tempting to try and steer your child to cover certain bases on a resume, based on what you think a college wants, it's not actually very effective for college admissions — and it's certainly no way to help your child become an adult with unique passions and strong personal attributes that will ultimately appeal to colleges. 

 

Building a Person, Not a Resume™ Is The Key

Volunteering, leadership positions, pushing oneself musically or athletically: These are all activities that build a person’s character. The trick is to let your child explore them naturally, as a genuine outgrowth of personal interests and abilities, rather than a mindset of “ticking off certain boxes.”

The reason for even participating in all these ‘resume-building’ activities in the first place - in addition to having fun -  is to develop a range of personal attributes and character. So the primary goal for your child is to build skills and traits:

• Curiosity: to engage in lifelong learning 
• Work Ethic: to develop organizational and time management skills
• Resiliency: to take risks, face challenges, and recover from failures
• Empathy: to set a foundation for successful personal and professional relationships and ethical behavior
• Independence: to try new things and forge one's own path
• Passion: to develop interests that provide lifelong joy and challenge

These are the personal characteristics that will lead your student to academic and extra-curricular success. They'll end up with an amazing resume anyway — it's the byproduct of building a person, not the main goal in and of itself.

 

6 Tips to Help Focus on Building a Whole Person

 

1. Read, Read, Read — It Doesn't Have to Be Long

One of my students recently said, “Yeah, I know, I should read more classics.” But "longer" and "older" aren't always synonymous with "better." Nobody has time for War and Peace, but all kids have time to read an article from a quality magazine or nationally recognized newspaper. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Atlantic, and even Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair all publish excellent journalism on a wide range of subjects. Strong verbal skills are important for everyone, and the best way to build them is by reading challenging, interesting material every day.

2. Strike a Parenting Balance

In my experience, the most successful students aren't the ones with helicopter parents, nor completely laissez-faire ones, but who have parents with what’s referred to as an authoritative parenting style in which “the parents are nurturing, responsive, and supportive, yet set firm limits for their children. They attempt to guide behavior by explaining rules, discussing, and reasoning. They listen to a child's viewpoint but don't always accept it.  Children raised with this style tend to be friendly, energetic, cheerful, self-reliant, self-controlled, curious, cooperative and achievement-oriented.”  Your child may look and sound mature, but high schoolers still have developing, adolescent brains and all that entails. They need a balance of your guidance and a willingness to let them try things — and fail — on their own.

3. Seek Challenge, but Don't Overdo It

Make wise choices about classes. It's good to take challenging courses, but loading up on AP courses in subjects that you just aren't interested in may backfire. Likewise, it's important not to over-extend in either academics or extra-curriculars so there's still time to enjoy personal passions and the pleasures of friendships and family. And of course, you can’t cheat on sleep. Sleep, or its lack, affects physical and mental health as well as academic and athletic performance.

4. Get Extra Help If You Need It – and Sometimes When You Don’t

Recently a parent said to me, “It’s amazing how many parents will take off time from work to attend their kids’ concert or sports game, but won’t take the time to sit with them to help with homework or an essay." Your kids still need help, and probably more often than you realize. Making sure they get the support they need is critical to their success, whether it's from you, a teacher, or a tutor. There's no shame in seeking help, and it will also encourage students to get to know counselors and teachers on a personal level — a crucial connection for future recommendation letters.

5. Give Your Child The Gift Of Saying “No”

In building these strengths, it's also important to accept that one can’t do everything. As your child grows and matures, she'll also learn that we all have to make choices about how to fill our time and what's truly worth committing to. That means sometimes you will be the one to say no, but you also want your child to learn the “art” of when and how to say “no” — sometimes saying “yes” to every club, social invite, sport….can be both counterproductive and draining.

6. Be You. Be Interesting. Be Extraordinary.

Not every passion is easily available within the traditional school system, and that's okay. Don’t be afraid to seek out interesting groups and follow unusual interests. Any interest can be developed somewhere. Some of my students who have gotten into top colleges didn’t do a ton of things; they did either a few things really deeply and well, or they pursued some really unique hobbies that made them stand out. 

And, contrary to popular belief, playing a sport is not a requirement to get into any top college or university.  One of my students, now an ivy-league sophomore, played no sport, but he was an avid bread baker and great writer, so he wrote a fascinating blog about the history of bread. He was also a very strong orchestral musician.  But something that really came through in his college essays and supplements  - beyond his clear intellect and talents - was what a thoughtful and caring person he is.

 

Succeed in College Admissions By Succeeding in Life!

I can't stress the importance of that last piece enough: He was also a good person. On the day that you drop your child off at college and head for home alone, that is what you will be most proud of — to have raised an amazing human being — to have built a person, not a resume.

 

Additional Resources

Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admissions, Harvard  Graduate School of Education, 2016

For Families: Ethical Parenting In The College Admissions Process,

Doing It For The College Resume, U.S. News & World Report, 2018

Advice College Admissions Officers Give Their Own Kids, The New York Times, 2016.

Here is an interesting Reddit post by an accepted Stanford student that argues the opposite of what I say above - that you can “game” the system.   There is some truth to that; sometimes engaging in an activity to check a box “works”  and can be “undetectable” by admissions officers.  But where I disagree is that some students can’t pull off this disingenuousness well (and hence can’t write about it well in their essays, nor discuss it well in an interview).  Why not, instead, get involved in something that you enjoy and which will make you more engaged, and make it easy for you to show/tell that in your application?

 

About Valerie Erde of Veridian Prep:

VeridianPrep is an academic tutoring and test prep company that combines years of subject expertise and experience with evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning.  VeridianPrep’s strengths lie in quickly determining each student’s strengths and gaps to offer a personalized, and results-oriented approach that builds skills and confidence to help teens succeed not only in a single class or test, but also in their next journey -- college.    Currently, VeridianPrep covers all levels of Math, English, Chemistry, and Physics including AP/ACT/SAT/SAT II, meeting one-on-one with students at home, in offices in Greenwich, CT/NYC, or online. https://www.veridianprep.com

 

If you are interested in speaking with Valerie Erde, or other advisors at Versed about helping students discover their interests and pursue meaningful activities, please contact us.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our blog:

Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It?

Do High School Students Need a Focus?

Should High School students take foreign Languages for All 4 Years?

 

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When students get to college, they are always amazed by the number of students that have started their own businesses in high school. Some of these businesses are truly amazing, beyond what adults could have started, while others are small businesses that are nonetheless impressive in that a highschooler started it. Just within our Versed advisor families, we have had a student that started an organization to teach music to underprivileged children - he organized student musicians in his school to provide free lessons, procured instrument donations from various sources, raised funding and executed this program. Another student started a social media app based startup designed to create local feeds for concerts and restaurants. Another had his own iOS and Web Development company by Junior year. I am sure you have seen many shark tank episodes where kids are running million dollar businesses. Parents always ask, how do these kids start their own business?

As we all know, every student is different in their interests, temperament, creativity, initiatives, and ability to organize and execute. It’s one thing when you have interests in STEM, writing, or music, where there are traditional clubs, programs, organizations to help you pursue those interests at the highest levels, but what if you are interested in fashion, or cooking, or animal activism? The good news is that there are off the beaten paths students can pursue and entrepreneurship is one of them.

 

Why start a company?

There are many good reasons to start a company. Some students want to major in business in college, and want to gain direct experience. Others happen to have an idea, or identify a problem that they want to solve. Some have a deep level of expertise in a non-traditional area of personal interest such as cooking or fashion or animal activism, and they are looking for an outlet to pursue them. For high school students, starting a business is not about making money, but an opportunity to work on a passion project, gain important skill sets, and grow and develop on many levels.

 

Benefits of entrepreneurship

Students thrive when they discover and pursue an area of significant interest. We all know, if you want your teens to really work hard at something, it has to be something that they care about. Entrepreneurial experiences are one of the ways that students can differentiate themselves in the college admissions process. Colleges are looking for individuals with strong initiatives, leadership skills, creativity, and the ability to make an impact. Entrepreneurial initiatives show that the student will take advantage of opportunities in college and thrive in that environment. Businesses that focus on social impact or community needs show the student’s desire to make a difference in the world. Ultimately just starting a business is not what matters, but what one has achieved with the business, and how it has helped the founder grow and develop.

 

Types of businesses that students can start

Students should always start with a business that they either have a personal interest in, or know something about. Starting a business is challenging, and the initiative and drive required to keep it going will wear most people down if they are not truly excited about the mission, the industry, the product or service.

 

Examples of For-profit businesses

Simple businesses relatively easy for teens to start include:

     ✓media - blogger, podcaster, social media influencer, special interest content site

     ✓services - tutoring, babysitting, dog walking, lawn care, house sitting

     ✓technical services - tech support, web/graphic design

     ✓artistic - music service for events, photographer, portrait artist, arts & crafts

Businesses requiring some technical knowledge, expertise or mentor guidance:

     ✓developing Apps, software/hardware products, social platforms, marketplaces

     ✓healthcare, biotech, real estate, finance

     ✓products - food & beverage, clothing/jewelry /beauty line

 

Examples of NOT for Profit businesses:

Students should start with what they care about and how they can improve their community. The organization does not even need to be a formal business, and can be organized as a club.

     ✓organize peers to read to students in an after-school program for disadvantaged children

     ✓use athletic/artistic talents to create an organization that provide free lessons to children

     ✓use programming skills to develop a website for a nonprofit organization, or community organization be more efficient in delivering its services

     ✓create a website with information related to resources available for elderlies during COVID 19

     ✓design an online system that coordinates ordering and delivery for local restaurants and businesses during COVID 19

 

Getting Started

First, students need to identify something they care about or find a problem to solve. What need is the student aware of that is not being met by existing businesses and organizations? Next, they need to do the research and talk to as many potential customers as possible to validate the need. Once it is clear that enough people have this need, students need to think of a way to bring a product or service to market that will solve this problem and turn it into a small business. Basic task of setting up a business is not difficult, but many organizations that high school students start can be started as a club, and do not even need to be incorporated. One of the most important steps to founding a successful business is to find mentors (startup entrepreneurs & industry experts) to give guidance so that students are on the right track. Mistakes are inevitable and great learning experiences, but getting good guidance also ensures that time is not wasted on easily fixable problems. 

 

For students that want more structure and guidance around this experience, there are many formal and informal programs, such as summer programs, incubators, and accelerators to get them started. LaunchX started in MIT is one of the most well known programs. Quarter Zero, Endevvr, and Leangap are other programs geared towards high school students. Many universities offer entrepreneurship programs through pre-college summer programs - Wharton Management & Technology Summer Institute, Wharton KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy, Babson Summer Study, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy, Life Changing Summer at Cornell, and USC Exploring Entrepreneurship are some of the notable programs. Keep in mind that these programs are absolutely not necessary, as there are a ton of free resources available for entrepreneurs. Y Combinator, the famous silicon valley startup incubator runs the startup school completely free for aspiring entrepreneurs that want to get a business off the ground. There are many courses on EdX and Coursera to help entrepreneurs get their startup off the ground. Startups.com provide all aspects of startup resources for a monthly fee.

 

Another way to get involved in entrepreneurship, without actually starting a company is to get an internship at a startup company to gain experience and see first hand what it takes to get a company off the ground. Typical internships give the intern entry-level experience in a certain role but startups can give students more opportunities as they are incredibly stretched, and may need the student to perform a variety of jobs/roles. In all major cities, there is a plethora of startups, giving the intern the opportunity to find the type of companies of most interest to them. Even unpaid internships can benefit students with new skills and a better idea of the type of career you want to have. It is very important to research the company carefully so you know that this is a legitimate company and students understand clearly what they will be doing.

 

For additional insights, read our blogs:

Best of Online Learning: Business

Virtual Internships for High School Students

Do High School Students Need a Focus?

 

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STEM Research Guide for High School Students

This is the Bible of STEM research for High School students. In one comprehensive document, we provide students with detailed guidance on why, when, and how to conduct research. Includes over 800 listings of Research, Internship, Pre-College, Summer, School Year, Enrichment, and Volunteer Programs. Designed for High School and Middle School students looking ahead, this guide includes top programs in every category including Biology & Health Science, Computer Science, Engineering & Robotics, Physics & Astronomy, Math and more.

 

Learn More and Purchase this Guide

 

 

By: Emily Cho

1. Engage in meaningful summer activities

Covid-19 has upended many summer plans, including summer internships and jobs that are cancelled. While the Common App will have space for students to explain how their summer plans got cancelled or altered, colleges still want to see how students used their time during the summer. Whether it be taking care of family members, volunteering to help the community, or taking the time to learn new skills, students should devote time to making the summer meaningful and productive to the extent that their circumstances allow.

Here are some links that can provide more information on what students can do this summer:

Best of Online Learning - University Classes

Best of Online Learning - Coding

Best of Online Learning: Music and Art

Best of Online Learning - Language

Virtual Internships for High School Students

Summer Planning During COVID-19: Live Webinar and Q&A

Also read what colleges are expecting (or not expecting) of students during these times:

What Matters in the 2020/2021 Admissions Cycle: 315 College Admissions Deans Issue Joint Statement

 

2. Figure out a game plan for standardized exams

With cancelled exams in the spring, many rising seniors still have standardized exams to focus on in the fall. Many students will no longer have the luxury of taking these exams multiple times given the limited window of time to take these exams. Students should make each exam count and study over the summer to achieve the best score possible. How to Prep for the SAT/ACT and Best Online Learning SAT/ACT Prep will provide tips on how to get started and stay focused. Standardized Testing Quick Guide is a good checklist to make sure students are ready on the test day.

 

3. Get started on the college list: research potential colleges

Putting a college list together does not happen overnight. It is a soul searching process that will take many iterations. Hence, it is important to get started on this process this summer so that students can begin to narrow down school choices from hundreds of schools to a manageable number that they can research thoroughly, which will ultimately get refined down to the final 10-12 schools in the fall. Especially if the student plans on applying ED/EA to one specific school, they need to be confident that the school is the right choice for them.

Use the Finding Your College Questionnaire | Versed to prioritize what is important for each student. Students can learn a lot about schools and eliminate many schools just through online research that they can do right from their homes. Additionally, students can reach out to students who are currently attending these universities to get additional information directly from the source. You can reach out to these students by tapping into the high school alumni base, friends, neighbors, or friends of parents who attend or attended the colleges of interest. They can provide insights about the college that is not on the college’s website. 

 

4. Visit Campuses through Virtual Visits

College admissions offices may not be open for in person visits, but they provide plenty of resources online for students. Although online virtual visits do not provide the same experience as attending in person, students can narrow down the list of colleges to visit later when they can visit in person. This will help save time and money for families. Read Coronavirus and Campus Visits to learn more about virtual visits.

 

5. Get a head start on College Essays

Summer is not too early to get started on college essays. This includes not only the personal Common App Essay, but also any supplemental essays that colleges will require of students. The prompts for the Common App Essay are already out and colleges are starting to (or may already have) announce their 2020-2021 Supplemental Essay prompts. 5 Simple Tips to Writing a Great College Application Essay is a good starting point on brainstorming and getting a plan in place for tackling essays.

 

6. Start Filling out College Applications

The college application is split into different sections. Most of the sections are relatively quick to fill out, so why not get a head start? The activities section is the section students should spend time on, as it not only states the extracurriculars that students were involved in, but explains the importance and role it plays in the students’ high school career. Although some information may have to be changed as senior year progresses, getting a head start will give students less to worry about as college application deadlines come closer. Read this Guide to the Common App to learn more about what students have to prepare for the Common App.

Use this link for Online Resources for College Admissions. 

 

7. Be sure to take some time off to unwind and enjoy the summer. 

Once fall semester starts, it will be a busy time for seniors. College applications will begin to pile on along with schoolwork. Students should take this time to relax and enjoy their summer as much as they can.

 

 

About Emily Cho:

Emily is a current undergraduate student studying Media, Cultures and Communication at New York University and a contributing writer for Versed. With her experience helping high school students prepare for the SAT and their college applications, as well as her own experience going through the process, Emily understands the many challenges students face when it comes to applying to colleges. Although it can be tricky to navigate the college admissions process, she is excited to help other families and students with their journey to college. 

 

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By: Sohini Surapaneni

Even if your teen isn’t looking into business as a potential major, business skills are incredibly useful in nearly every field and every job. In light of recent social distancing measures, this summer is an excellent time to use the internet and learn the basic skills and fundamental concepts of business.

Gaining business skills is an excellent head start for future business majors and for students looking for internships, where listing concrete skills could make a difference on their resume. Business skills are even useful for students with leadership positions in school clubs or organizations. Your teen may use marketing skills when fundraising for Habitat for Humanity, or make accounting spreadsheets as a treasurer for student government. Motivated students may even decide to start their own business or non-profit, and an understanding of entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and management will improve their probability of success.

Pre-college summer programs in business specifically for high school students are available at top undergraduate business schools such as NYU Stern, UPenn Wharton, and UMichign Ross. These are usually in-person and on campus, but due to Covid-19, programs are either cancelled or conducted remotely for Summer 2020. While acceptance to these pre-college programs does not guarantee admission to the university later on, it is a valuable way to spend a summer. That being said, the greatest barrier to doing these pre-college programs is cost, which can amount to thousands of dollars. The application deadlines for most of these programs have passed, but they may be worth considering for future summers.

The good news is that there are plenty of free or inexpensive classes online for students interested in taking classes in practically every field within business. For the sake of simplicity, this blog will cover the recommended courses and benefits of taking online courses in the following four categories:

- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
- Entrepreneurship

The courses we recommend are simply suggestions. Your teen can search for specific courses through online learning platforms such as EdX and Coursera, who partner with companies and universities to offer free and paid-for courses in various subjects. Most courses on these websites are free to take, but require payment or a subscription to get an official certificate of completion that can be listed on a resume. If payment is an issue, EdX and Coursera also offer need-based financial aid. Class Central is a database that you can use to search and sift through free online classes. Youtube videos are another resource for free online lectures. If your student is not sure if they would like to take business classes in the future, a great way to start is with a basic economics course. If their high school does not offer economics, they can try University of Illinois’s Microeconomics Principles course or University of California Irvine’s Principle of Macroeconomics. If your student would like to delve into specific business categories, that’s when they might want to start taking courses or teaching themselves about finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship.

 

Finance

Finance is all things related to managing company funds including accounting. A great place to start is through MIT’s class on EdX called Financial Accounting. Financial Accounting is a required introductory course for most business majors that covers basic accounting - reading balance sheets, managing debt and ethics. Most high school students take a course in Consumer Education in order to graduate. Financial Accounting is a continuation of this course --- just far more detailed, related to finance and specific to accounting. Financial Accounting is an excellent starting point for the students that would like an initial exposure to finance, even if they do not want to pursue it as a major.

If your teen would like to continue learning about finance, the next step would be to take an introductory foundational course. Great choices would be Columbia University’s Introduction to Corporate Finance or MIT’s Foundations of Modern Finance I and II, which will cover theories and topics regarding investments, bonds and risk.

If your teen is interested in investing and wants to get involved in an Investment Club at school, there are many great books, articles and youtube videos on this subject. This Bill Ackman video is a great place to start. Udemy’s Stock Market from Scratch gives a great overview and Morningsta’s Investing Basics class provides one of the best free in-depth lessons. Khan Academy also has a good unit on personal finance that covers investment, retirement and stocks.

 

Marketing

To get introduced to marketing itself, UPenn Wharton has a course called Introduction to Marketing that will teach students the three key concepts of marketing: “branding, customer centricity, and practical, go-to-market strategies.” For students that would like a foundation of digital marketing in order to find virtual internships for the summer, this Seven-Course Specialization in Digital Marketing from the University of Illinois goes in depth. Some digital marketing internships require the ability to code in languages such as HTML. Your teen can take a look at Best of Online Learning: Coding for resources on how to get started.

For young people interested in marketing, a significant premium is placed on online marketing skills, including website development, social media, videos and blogs. Social media marketing is actually one of the fastest growing business opportunities, where even students can find work opportunities. Virtual Internship Opportunities for High School Students addresses some of the steps involved in securing an internship this summer.

Because marketing is incredibly data driven, it is also important to gain an understanding of statistics. If not an option at their high school, students can even take an introductory statistics course through University of Amsterdam’s Basic Statistics, or IIMB’s Statistics for Business I and II. Statistics is also applicable in other fields, including finance, making it an essential math course for any student looking to get into business.

 

Management  

Management is the planning and organization of internal operations within a company. Compared to the other categories in business, management relies on soft skills such as communication, emotional and social intelligence, and people skills. No matter what industry students are interested in, an understanding of these soft skills is incredibly useful to land a job or internship.

University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign has a course called Operations Management: Analysis and Improvement Methods, which focuses on the technique and analytical aspects of sales, operations and management. On the other hand, the University of California - Irvine has a course called Project Management: The Basics for Success, which focuses more on the communication, planning, and leadership skills behind management.

IESE, a reputable European business school, has a Five-Course Specialization on management, which covers accounting, finance, marketing, and organizational behavior. Part of the course puts the student in real-life situations where they need to apply what they learn in a management setting. A big part of management is not what is learnt in the books, but how much a student can apply it in real life.

UPenn Wharton also has a course called Global Business Strategy. Beyond decision-making and economics, this course covers social impact and the ethics of business. It teaches students how to “apply effective business strategies to real-world problems through a deep understanding of the global practices and trends shaping the world today.” This course could serve as inspiration to your teen if they have any goals of entrepreneurship, leadership, global business or social-impact.

University of California Irvine has a course called Communication in the Workplace, which covers topics such as communications styles, obstacles to communication, and proven techniques for effective conference calls and webinars. Not only is this effective for students that would like to learn management skills, but it is also essential as your teen goes on to land internships and job offers. Effective communication, both in-person and online, verbal and nonverbal, reveals a level of professionalism and real-world skills that are useful during interviews and in various careers.

Other useful courses include UPenn’s Improving Communication Skills, which covers concepts such as trust, deception and cooperation. University of Illinois - Urbana has a course called Foundations of Everyday Leadership and a follow-up course called Applications of Everyday Leadership, which start off their Strategic Leadership and Management course series.    

 

Entrepreneurship  

An entrepreneur is someone who designs, launches and runs a new business. Entrepreneurship is unlike other business fields in that it requires  creativity, initiative, and ability to manage a fledgling business to a variable state and beyond. Below are some courses from reputable universities that take students through the process of creating a start-up. Even if your teen would like to start a non-profit, nearly all of these skills overlap and are worth checking out.

The University of Pennsylvania - Wharton has a Series of Entrepreneurship Courses, which collectively take about 43 hours. Each course tackles one of the four major stages in creating a start-up -- beginning with developing the opportunity, and ending with an Entrepreneurship Capstone Project, in which students create a pitch deck for the idea. According to UPenn, “the top-scoring projects will be introduced to the most appropriate venture capital firms in Wharton Entrepreneurship’s network, according to region and sector.” These venture capital firms will essentially invest real money into the best pitch decks to help make these start-up ideas a successful reality.

The University of Maryland has a similar Series of Entrepreneurship Courses, which is made of four sections. It starts with the development of ideas, and ends with a capstone project. Unlike UPenn’s entrepreneurship course series, the University of Maryland does not score capstone projects or introduce students to potential investors. That being said, this is still a highly rated entrepreneurship series that takes about 35 hours to complete.

This last option is from University of Leeds, which is located in England. This is the shortest of the three programs, taking about 24 hours in total to complete. It has six courses, the first of which is called Starting a Business 1: Vision and Opportunity. In addition to essential topics such as generating ideas, funding, and progress, this series also uniquely covers networking and teamwork, which are incredibly valuable even outside of entrepreneurship.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our other blogs:

Best of Online Learning - University Classes

Best of Online Learning - Music and Art 

Best of Online Learning - Coding

Best of Online Learning - Languages

 

About Sohini Surapaneni:

Sohini is currently a student at New York University focusing on Economics major and a double minor in philosophy and business studies. She is passionate about helping Versed’s mission to make educational resources accessible to everyone, and regularly contributes to the blog. Her articles are researched and supplemented by her and her peers experience going through the college application process (and of course with her immigrant parents by her side!).

 

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