By Dr. Aviva Hershfeld Legatt
Owner and College and Career Consultant
VivED Consulting
Do you have a freshman, sophomore or junior at home? As former Director of the Leadership in the Business World pre-college program at The Wharton School, I can tell you that participating in a pre-college program not only contributes to a student's growth and development, but also to his/her future college applications. While there is not a one-to-one link between participating in a summer program on a college campus and university admission, there are many benefits for students who participate in one of these programs.
Besides the friendships made, the paramount outcome of a summer pre-college program experience is that students receive insight about their academic/career interests and college choices. In the many admissions applications I have read, and in my current college counseling practice, it is clear that many students have very little idea about why they want to study their intended major or go into a particular career field. (Hint: Reasons of "prestige" and "excellence" are insufficient). Pre-college programs provide opportunity for students to recognize and articulate compelling personalized (and informed) reasons about why a major (and/or school) is a good fit.
If your student is interested in attending a pre-college program this summer, make sure he or she applies ASAP: Most pre-college programs have rolling admissions, filling seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
Need ideas for pre-college programs that would be a good fit for your student? Contact Dr. Aviva Hirschfeld Legatt at
aviva@vivedconsulting.com.
