The summer after freshman year is your first “real” summer, and we find that the time is best used to explore initial interests in certain areas. That doesn’t mean that you can’t see your friends or that you aren’t allowed to have fun, we’re just saying that colleges look specifically at how you spend your free time as an indicator of success and work ethic and summer means a lot of free time. You could spend it at camp, but that won’t do much to further your interests. We’d like you to use this free chunk of 2-2.5 months to do something that is both fun and related to something academic that you’re interested in. And make sure that you find time to be active and play basketball with your friends. Here are some initial ideas that we have that are perfect for freshmen beginning to explore their interest(s):

STEM/Engineering 

• (NYC, Silicon Valley, San Francisco)

• Take an intro course at a local coding academic like , , or .

• (Duke)

English/Writing

• (Upstate NY)

• in the Arts (writing, dance, visual arts, etc.)

Math

• Theory (Rice University)

• (Duke, Georgia Tech)

• (Bryn Mawr)

Psychology

• (Rice University)

• (Illinois Institute of Technology)

• (throughout U.S.)

Law and Government

• (University of Georgia, Louisiana State)

• (throughout U.S.)

• (University of Georgia)

Film/Acting

• (Duke)

• (NYC, LA, Vermont)

• (USC)

And please, please, PLEASE, we beg of you, read some books. They will help you figure out what you are and aren’t interested in! We promise. Take a look at some of the lists we’ve put together on what to read, choose a book, and start there.

if your area of interest isn’t listed above. It’s by no means comprehensive and we’d love to help you find the perfect summer program.