How to Choose the Right Summer Program for Your Daughter in High School

Despite the frigid temperatures, parents of high school students are already making plans for their high schoolers’ summers. Students who want to get a few steps ahead on their college applications might want to take advantage of long summer days to improve their resumes, round out their personal interests, or even earn some college credit.

At Montrose School, our College Guidance program helps students curate their summers according to their college goals. Our Director of College Guidance, Dr. Kendra Millay, has shepherded her students to help “build their brand” over the summer months. Dr. Millay joined Montrose in 2021 after a 12-year career in higher education, where she held various advising and admissions-related roles at Northeastern University and Boston University. Dr. Millay holds a BA in Human Services, an MS in College Student Development & Counseling, and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Administration – all from Northeastern University. She also holds a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA.

The College Guidance program at Montrose collects and manages a proprietary list of unique summer opportunities that have proven valuable for Montrose students in their applications. Our counselors help them select and apply for the best programs that align with their goals.

“Gone are the days when you are supposed to be doing a little of everything,” Dr. Millay shared.

“But colleges aren’t expecting applicants to be singular or one-dimensional, either. They’re looking for a wide variety of diverse students – they want to build classes of individuals who are each passionate about something, whether that’s a particular major, research topic, community service cause, or sport.”

Dr. Millay advises her students to work on a singular passion that’s going to stand out on their college applications between their junior and senior year. It can start with something as simple as a self-paced online program or could be a one-week intensive. There are many options that can fit into any family’s budget. 

“Most high school students work some kind of an hourly job over the summer, so it helps if you’re doing something a little extra to stand out.”

Good choices could include experiences that relate to your intended college major or job shadowing that gets students outside the classroom. Montrose also offers a signature Medical Career Seminar that gives students invaluable exposure in clinical settings.

“It really requires an individualized approach to determine what’s best for each student,” Millay said. “Then we teach them how to make those connections themselves, how to send requests for informational interviews, which are the gateway to shadowing opportunities.”

 

For those who would like to pursue more academic options, some precollege programs offer intellectually stimulating courses that offer certification. There are many programs that offer college credits, depending on how they determine what qualifies as a passing grade. Some colleges, such as the University of Chicago, are even connecting their summer programs with a new form of Early Decision applications called “ED0,” where summer participants can apply early and get a decision back as early as the August before their junior year. 

“Generally, a program where you can earn college credit is the top way to show you’re working hard, but there are numerous exceptions, and I care most about how the topic aligns with the students' interests,” Millay said. “Some of the most selective programs are free or low-cost, such as Hillsdale, Notre Dame, or MIT. But students shouldn’t choose the program just based on the school where it’s offered.

"Don’t chase the name, chase the experience."

Here are just 12 examples of Montrose students who have designed unique opportunities for themselves over the past few summers:

• Three-credit engineering discovery course while living on campus at USC, paid lab intern at Chan Medical School at UMass— Kendra B.

• Summer engineering institute for UMass for credit, interned at Tufts University microscale sensors and systems lab under a mechanical engineering professor, assembled a sonic anometer to send into stratosphere to collect data on wind patterns. — Elisabeth K.

• Mission trips to Tanzinia, Peru, DR — Grace C. 

• Bunker Hill Community College, college credit — Kayla D.

• Three-day internship at a hospital, working reception, the gift shop, and shadowed a Certified Nurse, able to take blood pressure and vitals. — Amy D.

• Credit-bearing, rigorous program at Harvard, introduction to political philosophy, globalization and the nation state, interned with Mayoral campaign in Boston, spent summers at Municipal and Federal courts. — Carolina F.

• Equestrian training. — Katherine G.

• 4-week summer program at Mass Art, precollege 2D and 3D animation fundamentals, with an animation elective, created some portfolio pieces. — Ally K.

• USC acting department, developed a screenplay and pilot that Hulu put an option on, NY Film Academy program, camera acting institute. — Abby L.

• ASU class and shadowed a surgeon who specializes in hand surgeries, Medical Career seminar. — Emma M.

• Track & Field training, competed in the Sprint-Distance Medley in the Nike Nationals in Eugene, Oregon and was named All-American, took Anatomy at ASU, and lifeguarded. — Ava M.

• Founded the Vote Movement, a nonprofit to engage youth in increasing voter turnout, and conducted research, which is pending publication. — Sanya N.