The summer months are an important time for any student — a time that should be filled with exploration, fun, and personal growth. And for many wealthy students who benefit from trips abroad and expensive summer programs, summers are just that. But for too many students nationwide, summer represents a time of boredom — a period spent either on the couch or at a minimum-wage job that does not align to their career aspirations. Often, applications for selective summer programs, particularly those on college campuses, are just as long and daunting as the application for undergraduate admissions!
That’s why I’m proud to lead a team at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts (HSLA) that’s dedicated to making summers meaningful for our scholars. At HSLA, we approach summer with as much enthusiasm and purpose as any other part of the year. We recognize the individual and national importance of all scholars having access to the same life-changing experiences as wealthy students. We also hear time and time again from college admissions officers that scholars who demonstrate their passions during the summer are simply more competitive applicants.
Through the work of our Manager of Pre-College Programs and our College Access and Persistence Team, our scholars have already secured spots in 35 different summer programs, across the U.S. and abroad — and more acceptances are rolling in every week. The vast majority of programs are residential and run for two weeks or more, which is why it’s also so important for our team to support scholars in applying for the scholarships that make these opportunities accessible.
I’m so proud of all of the scholars who are pursuing incredible summer opportunities this year. Below, you can learn more about five of these scholars — who represent just a few of the acceptances to summer programs this year, and a small percentage of the $103,000 in scholarships that scholars have received to date for summer programs.
