For many, summer is a relaxing and enjoyable time where students do not have to worry about school-related issues. However, for junior Senait Dafa, and several other CHS students, this is not the case. Dafa and the other students plan to spend part of their summers at various college preparation programs.

Dafa has been involved in these programs before. She began her summers of college preparation with one of the many University of Michigan’s residential summer programs. Dafa lived in one of the dorms and studied engineering and robotics.

“I stayed [on campus] for a month, and I met people in the admissions office and other friends. I’ve kept up with my friends through Facebook, and we’ve just been communicating about opportunities,” said Dafa.

After attending this residential program, Dafa became interested in other summer programs at different universities. This year, Dafa is considering programs at Northwestern University, Brown University, Harvard University, Stanford University and Cornell University.

In order to attend any of these rigorous college preparation programs, Dafa will have to give up a major part of her summer.

“I’m a little bit nervous just because I think it will be really, really difficult, no matter which program I decide to go to. It is summer and I won’t be taking a break. I will have two weeks off and [then I’ll] go straight back to school,” Dafa explained.

CHS counselor John Boshoven agrees with Dafa that summer programs can be time-consuming, but he said they have many pros.

“It’s always good to have something [to do] over the summer that keeps your brain moving and stimulated,” Boshoven said.

Along with the educational benefits, summer college preparation programs also look extremely good on college applications.

“Having college credits on your transcripts really makes a college go, ‘Wow this kid will be great on my college campus.’ It can make a student very attractive to schools. It makes you seem more prepared and eager for a college lifestyle,” Boshoven said.

Dafa agrees with this, even though college applications are not the main reason she chooses to attend these programs. She feels that college preparation programs are an enjoyable way to spend her summer.

“It’s definitely going to look good on my college application if I go to one of these programs, so that’s just an extra bonus,” said Dafa.

According to Boshoven, attending a summer college preparation program may also increase the chances of getting into that particular college.

“If a college sponsors the program and you had a really good experience in that program and with professors at that school, it can certainly be a game changer on applications,” said Boshoven. Summer programs can also be excellent opportunities to receive college recommendations.

Though summer college preparation programs can be very difficult, they are also a lot of fun, and this is why Dafa continues to attend and enjoy them.

Dafa enjoys the independence that comes with these summer programs. “I was young, and I was doing basically whatever I wanted for about a month but I still had work and I was surrounded by people who were really academically vigorous,” said Dafa.

Although many high school students may want to spend their summers lounging by the pool, Boshoven advises it is always a good idea to keep your options open.

“College preparation programs can give you an idea of where you want to go to school,” said Boshoven. “You can even discover your future career and something you are really interested in.”