Summer on a University Campus

Summer on a University Campus

Most universities in the United States offer courses during the summer to students in their school and to visiting students. In addition, a growing number of summer students are current high school (secondary) students who are intellectually and emotionally prepared for the challenge of the university. High school students, in fact, become university students for a few weeks. They take classes alongside college students and experience life as a university student. At the same time, some universities design programs that are offered exclusively to high school students to expose them to different college majors and careers, or to help them transition into the rigors of higher education.

There are educational advantages to enrolling for a summer program in a university setting. One is the variety of courses and programs that are offered in subjects that are not normally available at the high school level. Once students select their course or program of study, they learn from university professors who are experts in their fields. For example, at the Johns Hopkins University, high school students can take a course called “History of the Laboratory” where the class, led by award-winning professor Dr. Stuart Leslie, holds a mock Human Subjects Review Board to accuse Louis Pasteur of experimenting with a rabies vaccine without a license! Students interested in politics can take Dr. Benjamin Ginsberg’s “American Politics” course. Dr. Ginsberg, director of the Center for Governmental Studies, combines classroom instruction with visits to government agencies in nearby Washington, D.C.

Students in these programs do homework and write papers they have researched in the country’s top libraries. They use latest technology in language, computer and digital media labs.

Fewer students are on campus during the summer than during the academic year. This means that students have access to smaller classes, which benefits high school students because it eases their transition into university. They might feel more comfortable participating in class discussions, and professors are generally more available for extra help and dialogue. Similarly, academic resources such as tutoring and writing and academic assistance are more readily available.

Programs that offer residential housing open up many other campus resources, such as the on-site university student health center and resident assistants. Resident assistants plan recreational activities both on and off campus. They are a great resource to the ins and outs of the university system, courses, and professors and offer high school students good tips on surviving university on both the academic and emotional levels. University athletic centers often have swimming pools, basketball and tennis courts, exercise classes, weight training, etc. These amenities are available to summer students. In all, residential students have easy access to academic and recreational opportunities.

High school students who wish to attend summer classes at a university must be serious about their school work. They must have excellent grades and be highly regarded by their teachers and school counselors in terms of their academic ability and maturity. Ultimately, they will be receiving university credit, and will be several credits closer to their undergraduate diploma.

By Jessica Madrigal, Director of Summer Programs, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

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