When you're planning your college admissions journey, every choice you make about how you spend your time assumes a newfound significance. Your summer represents a particularly important opportunity to make a positive impression on potential colleges. By attending a rigorous academic summer program, you will demonstrate your commitment to learning, get your foot in the door at prestigious schools, and have the chance to study areas of academic interest in depth. Some programs even allow for students to receive transferable college credit. This guide serves as an introduction to the variety of summer programs available at universities all over the United States. The programs listed are organized by school and cover a plethora of academic and extracurricular topics of interest. University faculty and staff can jumpstart your study of specialized academic topics, while extracurricular programs can be a fun opportunity to hone your skills and show your well-roundedness as a student. By attending selective summer programs at prestigious universities, you will acquire personal connections and experiences which will contribute to your successful admission into the college of your choice. These programs may be referenced within your college application to show your familiarity with the given school whose summer program you have attended. Make sure to maintain positive relationships with university faculty at these summer programs as they may be called upon to submit references later. This guide also includes programs which are hosted at less prestigious institutions, with a focus on the Chicago area. If you are looking for a free summer program to gain advanced academic skills in your area, similar reduced-cost programs are likely provided at your respective local colleges.

Record numbers of teens are applying to selective universities and the competition to gain entrance into college is tougher than ever before. The Best Summer Programs for Teens 2014-2015 helps teenagers find the coolest, most exciting, and most fulfilling summer programs across the United States. College-planning expert Sandra L. Berger provides students and parents with advice on using summer opportunities to help gain entrance into selective universities, and guidance on researching, choosing, applying for, and making the most out of summer programs. Students will be able to peruse the updated directory of more than 200 of the best summer opportunities in the areas of academic enrichment; fine arts; internships and paid positions; leadership and service; math, science, computer science, and technology; and study abroad or international travel, to find the program that fits them best.

As seen in USA TODAY, Forbes.com, Yahoo! Finance, Education Week and more! Every summer, hundreds of thousands of high school teens enroll in pre-college programs, including some expensive programs that cost $1,000 or more per week. But you don't have to spend a small fortune on pricey pre-college programs. Hundreds of free and low-cost options exist for high school students who want to know what it's like to live, learn, and have fun on a college campus. Taking part in a residential pre-college program boosts students' confidence, improves their independence, and can supplement their college applications too. This guide reveals more than 50 summer enrichment programs, all of which are FREE or very affordable, including programs at Ivy League schools and other top colleges and universities. Even better: the author shows you exactly how to research, find and get into free pre-college programs of interest to you - in your state or anywhere around the country.