Summer Study Opportunities

As college becomes more and more competitive, students continue to look for more opportunities to set themselves apart and add to their list of accomplishments. Summer is a great time to take advantage of this. There are endless opportunities available and students are encouraged to do something over the summer they can add to their college applications. Volunteer, take a class, get a job, etc. Find something that is of interest, or that you have a passion for. These are great ways to learn, enjoy your summer and evolve yourself! Many Colleges offer summer programs for high school students. If you are already interested in a specific College or University, review their website or call to see what they offer. Whatever you do, make sure to use this time wisely and effectively while having fun!

FBI San Diego has a one day academy for San Diego and Imperial County. High school students who will be juniors or seniors as of Fall 2025 are welcome to apply. More information will be available soon. Additional information is below:

Teen Academy

Our Teen Academy program allows high school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Students are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cybercrime, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases.

For more information and to apply, please visit the FBI San Diego Community Outreach page and scroll down to the Teen Academy header.

You can also directly apply at the link here: View and download the 2024 FBI San Diego Teen Academy application

Applications must be completed and emailed to SD_Outreach@fbi.gov.

A local teen leadership program through Outpost Summer Camps in northeast San Diego is currently recruiting for the Junior Counselor program.

Program info can be found here: https://outpostsummercamps.com/programs/junior-counselors/Links to an external site.

Outpost Junior Counselor Program description:

• Free
• For students entering 10th grade through freshman year in college in Fall 2024
  • All current 2023-24 high school students are eligible to apply
• Minimum 2-week commitment
• Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 4:00 PM
• Located at Canyonside Community Park (12350 Black Mountain Rd, SD 92129)
• Includes daily training in leadership, professionalism, and communication
• Looks good on college and job applications
• Counts as “Service Leadership Hours” (One session = 86 hours)
• Junior Counselors are eligible to request letters of recommendation

Our program goal is help Junior Counselors grow in their leadership skills as they give back to their community.

Steps to apply:

• Application: https://outpostsummercamps.com/programs/junior-counselors/junior-counselor-application/Links to an external site.
• Group Interview
• Enrollment (if asked to join the program)
• Training
• One (or more) 2-week session of camp: Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 4:00 PM

They always love having Junior Counselors from Poway!

Future Construction Leaders is offering a fun summer opportunity.

A week-long FREE camp to learn different aspects of the trades.

For more information, visit https://www.futureconstructionleaders.org/Links to an external site.

Registration for camp opens April 26.

Camp is June 17-21, 2024, 8am to 4pm, daily

Campus Location is AGC Apprenticeship, 10140 Riverford Rd., Lakeside, CA. 92040

Be sure to check it out!

Students may choose from a list of countries for a short–term exchange experience during the months of July and August. Visit asse.com to learn more about the programs.

Summer Accelerate courses now available for rising high school seniors and juniors!

Summer Course Offerings

Explore a long list of majors and investigate potential careers at Cornell. Students may earn 3 to 6 credits in courses. Visit summercollege.cornell.edu for more information.

Interested in joining the military or just want to work on improving yourself? Devil Pups is a camp comprising 10 days of challenge, teamwork, discipline, and education for boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 17. This is not a boot camp or military recruitment. For more information about the program, visit the Devil Pups website.

Duke University Summer Session applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so students will receive a decision with a few weeks. Fee-Based.

Summer Programs and Camps for rising 6th through 12th graders.

Looking for faith-based internships? Dynamic Church Planting International has opportunities that can be researched for local and remote (digital) internships. Check it out!

Fastweb.com is known for finding unique scholarship opportunities, internships, and part-time jobs. By creating a profile, you can receive weekly email updates with internship and job opportunities that match your interests.

Looking for a service-learning trip? This is a week-long educational journey where volunteers work hand in hand with local communities on development projects and mobile medical clinics. Tailored for students aged 15-18. Medlifemovement.org for more information.

Programs for Middle & High School Students

Natgeostudenttravel.org

877-877-8759

The NSLI-Y program is a part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to better engage with the world through language. Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen, 15-18 years of age, enrolled in high school at the time of application, and a minimum GPA of 2.5. This program offers students an opportunity to study less commonly taught languages through their summer academic immersion program. Go to NSLIforYouth.org to apply.

This program welcomes students aged between 11 and 18, depending on the program, available in 86 countries. Classes last between a week and a month. Students can choose from more than 150 options, ranging from Aerospace Engineering to Zoology, Medicine, Psychology, Culture and Cuisine, Fashion or Culturas Hispanicas. Visit oxbridgeprograms.com for more information.

High School Programs at the World's Most Prestigious Universities

oxfordacademia.com or call 802-387-5000

Palomar College offers some exciting career exploration classes through their Summer Academies. They have courses in Building Computers, Food & Fitness, Fire, Forensics, & First Responders, Video Game Programming, Musical Theater, and others! For more information, check out The Palomar College Summer Academies website.

This program is for 10th-12th graders to experience rigorous and challenging coursework. Students can earn college credit in one of six programs: Biotech, Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Complex Networks, Nanotechnology, and Robotics. Visit esap.seas.upenn.edu for full program details.

Summer pre-college program in art, design, architecture, fashion or writing in Brooklyn, New York. Learn more at pratt.edu/precollege.

Summer pre-college is learning beyond the classroom. Whether anime or international business in Tokyo, architecture or fashion in Barcelona, art history or Italian language in Tuscany, purse your area of interest in the places these topics matter most and return home prepared intellectually and socially for the next step into college. Learn more at goputney.com or call 802-387-5000.

Through the Putney Open Door Fund, there is a scholarship for this program and Oxford Academia. Apply online by February 15th. Eligibility requirements apply. Learn more at goputney.com/podf

The SDSU Research Foundation Program offers Reading and Speed Reading Programs, some of which are held in Poway and Penasquitos. For more information, check the Reading Program Website.

Juniors and Seniors, Regis offers 2 summer courses in Leadership and Management and Healthcare Professions in the U.S. Visit regiscollege.edu/summerscholars.

For Academically Talented Young Women Entering Grade 9-12

Summer programs in Science & Engineering, Creative Writing, studies in Women, Gender & Representation, and last but not least, Sustainable Futures: Farming, Justice and the Environment. For more information and to submit your application: www.smith.edu/summer

Immersive Summer Programs for Students in Grades 8-12. SmithsonianStudentTravel.org or call 866-870-2350

Admission for most Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies programs is competitive. Each program has different application requirements and deadlines. Test scores are required for some but not all programs. Please refer to program websites for more detailed information. Grades 9-11

SummerDiscovery.com offers an assortment of information on summer opportunities. UCLA and UCSB are highlighted.

This program offers unique summer experiences at Oxford University, UC Berkeley, UNC-Chapel Hill, Tufts University, Stanford, Columbia, Esade Barcelona, MIT Design Lab. Questions? Visit summerfuel.com

Syracuse University Summer College offers high school students 1,2,3,4 & 6-week pre-college programs, build a resume and portfolio and the opportunity to explore your interests with 60+ programs. Questions? Visit summercollege.syr.edu

The College of Education at Texas Christian University is accepting applications for InspireEd: Where Learning Comes to Life, a residential high school summer camp for rising juniors and seniors who are interested in education, youth advocacy, and interdisciplinary inquiry. InspireEd will take place from Sunday, July 14 at 4:00pm to Friday, July 19 at 11:00am on campus at TCU.

Highlights of the camp will include opportunities to meet and learn from College of Education professors, interact with current TCU students, visit TCU’s lab schools, work in the 3D printer Fab Lab, wander through the Monnig meteorite gallery, swim and rock climb at the TCU rec center, build new friendships, and learn about the broader field of education. Campers will also experience Fort Worth through visits to the Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth Science Museum, Fort Worth Stockyards, and downtown Sundance Square.

InspireEd campers will live in the dorms, eat in the dining hall, participate in university classes, and explore much that Fort Worth has to offer. Parents are welcome to join the fun on the morning of Friday, July 19 to learn about all the programs that the College of Education has to offer.

The cost of the camp is $1,000. Registration includes housing, meals, all activities and excursions, linens, a pillow, towels, and a camp T-shirt. Transportation will be provided to and from the Dallas-Fort Worth airport from 1:00-4:00 on Sunday, July 14 and arrangements will be made on Friday, July 19 as needed.

Click here for more information and registration.

Check out the New York Times School summer courses in a variety of topics. Rising 10th, 11th, 12th, and graduating seniors (must be age 15-18 at the start of the program) can apply. Some scholarships available.

https://nytedu.com/pre-college/summer-academy/nyc/course-catalog/?

This program offers three-week courses in subjects such as city planning and politics, data science, economics, human rights, law, molecular engineering, and more. For more information, check out summer.uchicago.edu.

USC Summer Programs extends a tradition of excellence to outstanding high school students through unique 4 and 2 week summer courses. Accepted students to the USC Summer Programs will balance academic and campus life as they prepare for college in the nation’s entertainment center – Los Angeles, California. For more information about the program, visit the USC Summer Programs site.

Washington University's High School Summer Scholars Program offers current high school 10th and 11th-grade students the opportunity to spend time on campus, take college courses for credit alongside current college students. Visit precollege.wustl.edu for more information. Scholarships are available. Application deadline by April 1

Juniors and Seniors can explore topics in STEM and the humanities. Learn more at wpi.edu/+summer

This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Study Abroad in high school in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Egypt, and more. Full scholarship opportunities. Apply online at yes-abroad.org.

Please see our Jobs, Volunteer, Internships & More Newsletter for local opportunities.

Summer Opportunities – How to maximize your time

In today’s competitive college admissions market, a student is faced with the task of setting him or herself apart from other applicants. Colleges look for students who dedicate themselves to activities and projects to build a well-rounded incoming freshman class. Admission officers look for students who demonstrate interesting and diverse qualities, not just those who spend 100% of their time studying. Colleges need and want students who are committed to activities that they are passionate about.

The summer creates opportunities for students to demonstrate this quality. The last thing you want to communicate is that you are lazy, spending your summers on the couch watching television and playing video games. Colleges don’t offer admission to unmotivated students. They offer admission to students who are well-rounded, and demonstrate a commitment to activities outside the classroom.

Summer is the best time to show colleges that you are more than your GPA or your SAT score.

There is a TeenLife magazine available in the summer binder in the Titan Center.

Which of the next 10 summer activities interest you?

1. Volunteering

There are all kinds of volunteer opportunities in your community from an animal shelter, to the public library, to reading to children in a hospital, to working with others on beach cleanup. Since there are so many activities available, choose the one that interests you and will communicate your passion to colleges. It’s better to pick one activity that lasts the entire summer than multiple activities. This will show admissions your willingness to commit to a project and see it through.

A unique idea is to go to your school principal and ask if there is something you can do to improve the school: Paint a classroom, clean the lockers in preparation for the new school year, or refurbish benches on the athletic fields.

[Get inspired to volunteer with these 50 ideas!]

2. Start a business

Summer is an excellent time to start your own business: Become a teenage entrepreneur. Just something as simple as mowing lawns or babysitting is a good place to start. You might also demonstrate your creative side by selling art on Etsy. If you are good with computers, you can start a computer repair business. If you enjoy writing, consider freelance paid writing jobs. Starting a business will communicate your strong work ethic and your desire to be enthusiastic about the things you love.

3. Take classes

Summer school might be the last thing you want to do over the summer, but going to summer school to further your education will impress colleges. You can take summer courses at your high school or even at your local community college. This is a great way to advance your math or language skills. It’s also possible to take credit-bearing summer courses offered to juniors and seniors at the local community college. Look at the classes that meet general education requirements in a variety of introductory subjects. Most colleges will accept these basic credits and you will be able to enter college with a few credits under your belt.

4. Attend college programs for high school students

Colleges offer summer learning programs—pre-college options—for juniors and seniors in high school. Some programs, like the one Harvard offers, last six to eight weeks and are rigorous academically. Many colleges also host programs to explore such areas as medicine, engineering, communications, business, and any number of academic directions, some of which are more interdisciplinary, others more pre-professional or experiential. Other programs are geared toward your specific area of interest.

If you are interested in exploring the world of sharks while taking steps to help the environment, there is a summer program available. There are summer programs available for a variety of interests. Search for a program that not only keeps your interest, but also adds to your knowledge and experience. If you’re not sure where to start, look at the summer options at the schools on your preliminary college list.

[Check out our favorite pre-college programs!]

5. Spend the summer abroad

A summer abroad can break you out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons while also experiencing other cultures. There are programs offered in the area of service, adventure, skill training, and academics. Many programs also offer scholarships to cover the cost.

You can also consider working while you travel abroad and visit multiple countries. The opportunities are endless. One high school senior chose a program that specialized in language and cultural immersion experiences. At the end of the program, she said, “My experience abroad inspired me to want to major in international relations. It helped me focus on which college classes were right for me.”

Studying at foreign universities or similar study abroad programs is a good way to perfect a second or third language. Seek out immersive programs that are at least six weeks long, or better yet, the entire summer.

6. Intern

Paid and unpaid internships offer you a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience within a career or field you may want to pursue. Contact local companies, office managers, and human resources offices to inquire about their intern hiring policy. Start-up companies love hiring interns because they are inexpensive or unpaid and fit into the company’s tight budget constraints. Internships are also a way to begin collecting a network of business contacts that can help you after graduation from college.

7. Get a local job

Working during the summer is a good way to not only save for college, but impress admissions with your work ethic. Consider getting a job in fields that you are thinking about and apply accordingly. If you’re interested in hotel/motel management, working in a restaurant is an excellent way to learn hospitality and restaurant management skills. If retail merchandizing interests you, search for jobs that give you experience in merchandizing. Work at a job that allows you to learn valuable skills from your employer.

8. Work on a charity project

Be imaginative and start a charity project. There are groups and organizations in need of help raising funds or gathering materials. One student, whose brother was ill during his childhood, saw the need to help the Ronald McDonald house by collecting gently used toys. Another realized that his test prep books would go to waste, so he created a charity that collected these books and donated them to schools and libraries so students could use them without having to purchase them. Not only will you be helping others but you will communicate to colleges that you value community.

9. Work at a summer camp

There are many summer camp jobs available to students: YMCA camps, religious affiliated camps, academic camps, Boy Scout camps, and others. Summer camp jobs offer skill-building, leadership, training, and enrichment opportunities. Camp experiences allow you to learn and develop skills that enhance your marketability to colleges and future employers. Not only will you be earning a paycheck to supplement your college expenses but you will be impressing admissions officers. An added benefit is that business executives often say that experience as a camp counselor translates into good management and personnel skills.[Search for traditional summer camps.]

10. Make college connections

Visit some of the colleges on your list and make connections with the staff. Since most college offices remain open during the summer, you can pay an informal visit or meet someone in admissions for an interview. How will this impress them? Colleges look for students who are genuinely interested in attending. They actually keep track of who visits and who meets with them. Get a card or an email address and connect after the visit. When application time rolls around, you’ll have a leg up on other applicants who didn’t find the time to visit.

11. Create an online presence

Spend your summer creating a significant online presence. The key word here is “significant”. This doesn’t mean you should live on Facebook or Twitter. An online presence that showcases your strengths and abilities will give colleges a picture of you that they won’t see by looking at transcripts or test scores. Start a blog and post often. Communicate with colleges using social media. Create a detailed LinkedIn profile that highlights your extracurricular activities, your honors and awards, and your work experience. Spend some time cleaning up your social media accounts as well—colleges are using social media when they want to learn more about an applicant. A strong online presence could make the difference between an offer of admission and being deferred or wait-listed.

Whatever you do, don’t waste your summer. Use the time to find summer activities or programs that will enhance your knowledge, your education, your career interests, and turn the heads of admissions.

Be advised that the resources referenced above are not associated with Poway Unified School District and are listed for information purposes only. As such, these sites are not necessarily endorsed by Poway High.

A - Dag: Karly Wardwell

Dah - Hoc: Jerrah Smith

Hod - McG: Tanya Ibrahim

McH - Rue: Blanca Arreguin

Ruf - Z: Jerilyn Padua-Reyes

Intervention/CTE: Monica Taylor

Career and College Guidance Tech: Jaime Brown

Registrar: Michelle Bourget

Scheduler: Jodie Hughes

Email: jbrown@powayusd.com
Website: powayhigh.powayusd.com
Phone: 858-748-0245