College Planning Resources
Want to understand the college process? We recommend this book:
SAT/ACT and Study Resources
Pacific Learning Academy
pacificlearningacademy.com
This local company offers one-on-one in-home academic tutoring and high school credit classes. With classes in the familiarity of their home or a local library, our students improve their grades and have fun in Math, Spanish, French, Study Skills, Language Arts, History, Science, SAT/ACT prep and more!
Khan Academy
khanacademy.com
Students love this site as a supplemental tool for studying specific areas they need help with for the SAT/ACT. With a library of over 2,700 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and 259 practice exercises, we’re on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.
ACT
ACTstudent.org
The ACT is the other option for standardized testing. There are great resources for test prep on this site and you can also register to take the ACT. Neither the ACT nor the SAT are better than the other – schools don’t care which one you take. So you are better off picking the one you are best at and studying for it. Each test does focus on different things so it’s always a good idea to do a diagnostic to determine which one you are stronger at.
Tutors
teachigo.com
We have a very wide range of tutors for a vast amount of subjects. Simply provide us with your zip/postcode in our search and we will select the best tutors matching your needs. Browse any tutor’s profile which to get insight into their credentials and teaching style.
Summer Enrichment Programs and GAP Year Opportunities
Center for Interim Programs offers a free 90-minute brainstorming session on how to set up your GAP year interimprograms.com
Find a GAP year fair near you yearoutgroup.org
Overseas GAP year options gooverseas.com
Choose your adventure yearoutgroup.org/gap-year-programs
Work Away
As a traveler or language learner (or in many cases both!), volunteering or working with a family or for a small organization is an ideal way to get to know the real side of a foreign country or to immerse yourself completely in a foreign language. You know that you will have the security of a place to stay with welcoming people.
However, remember it takes a lot of thought for someone to invite you into their home, so be prepared to help as much as you can! It is not a hotel or a youth hostel: it is an exchange – a few hours of help per day in exchange for food and board. Housework, i.e. cooking, washing-up, etc., should be shared.
The possibilities for exchanges are endless. You can use Workaway to enable you to travel around a country for very low cost. Or to practice a language you have spent many years learning, but have never had the opportunity to actually use with native speakers. Utilize Workaway to learn new skills and meet new people!
Walking Tree
walkingtree.org/summer-programs
Our mission is to inspire individuals to become global citizens by taking an active interest in the world around them. We hope to achieve this goal by providing unforgettable programs filled with challenging and enriching adventures. Walking Tree stands for a more open, curious and compassionate approach to travel. We facilitate meaningful cross-cultural interactions that allow participants to recognize the similarities between people instead of focusing on the differences. Rather than a typical tour, our programs are designed for a proactive, select group of travelers who seek an authentic international experience and the opportunity to effect change in the global community.
Walking Tree travels to Costa Rica, Spain, China, Morocco, Canada, Guatemala, Peru, Nicaragua, the USA, Ecuador and Mexico during spring and summer breaks on programs that last 10-30 days. These programs combine cultural immersion, language practice, community service, wildlife conservation, leadership training, homestays, and adventure and are open to 8-12th graders worldwide. Participants can complete between 30-100 hours of community service during the program.
Super Camp
supercamp.com/academic_life_skills.aspx
SuperCamp is a highly engaging 7-10 day experience where your son or daughter gains inspiration by living on a university campus such as Stanford, Brown or Wake Forest. Students at SuperCamp learn how to learn – reading, writing, thinking, speaking, memory and note-taking – along with communication, leadership and relationship skills.
It is a place where students look at their values and how they’re living their lives. And a hidden gift of SuperCamp is how it helps deepen the positive connection between you and your child.
National Youth Leadership Forum
envisionexperience.com/explore-our-programs?grade=high+school
Are you are looking for ways to discover what you are interested in from STEM, business, medicine, digital media, diplomacy, engineering and more? Get first-hand career experience and gain the skills you’ll need to be successful in college and your future career. We have many programs available to high school students throughout the country.
Microsoft Summer Intern Program
careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/high-school-intern-program.aspx
Do you want to work on cutting-edge technology that will make a real difference in people’s lives all over the world? Do you want an inside look into high-tech professions that will inspire you as you make plans for college? Get a head start on building a good resume and GET PAID! This paid internship program is 8-10 weeks in the summer for local Puget Sound high school students. The program provides challenging and achievable projects that will encourage approximately 20 high school juniors and seniors to pursue their interests in the field of technology. Applications due end of February every year for the upcoming summer.
What is ACE?
acementor.org/affiliates/washington/seattle/about-us/
Since 2001, the ACE Mentor Program of Washington has helped more than 2,500 students learn all about the architecture, engineering, and construction professions. Are you fascinated by the art of architecture? Are you interested in how buildings withstand earthquakes? Are you intrigued by sustainable “green” building design? Are you wondering how a building can start out as an idea and become reality? Join the ACE program! Our program is free to students, thanks to donations from local firms, mentors, parents, and other supporters. To date, we have also given $764,000 in scholarships to students who pursued A/E/C fields at the university level. During the ACE Mentor Program, teams visit major construction sites, complete projects, and meet bi-monthly at mentor firm offices. Qualifying high school seniors are awarded scholarships and many students remain in touch with industry professionals for continued mentoring with career choices, college and internship applications and future employment opportunities.
Other Summer Architecture Programs
studyarchitecture.com/blog/architecture-news/2019-architecture-summer-programs
Pathways to Science
pathwaystoscience.org/K12.aspx
Over 100 programs, including summer science and research programs, internships, and other STEM exposure programs. Programs are either tuition-free or provide scholarships.
Summer Law Programs
https://www.sunsetbaywharf.com/summer-law-school
Summer Law+ is a unique opportunity for thoughtful high school students to engage with actual law students and attorneys in week long discussion classes providing an introduction to the world of legal thought and an overview of the core areas of the US legal system. This is not moot court, and it is not a memorization class. Summer Law+ will interest thinkers as much as talkers, and is dedicated to helping young people understand the why and why not behind the things they see everyday in the world.
Classes are taught by University of Washington law students and overseen by practicing attorneys with each week devoted to one of the 6 first year law school core classes: Week 1 – Constitutional Law, Week 2 – Property Law, Week 3 – Tort Law, Week 4 – Criminal Law, Week 5 – Contracts, and Week 6 – Civil Procedure.
Marine Science Summer Program
https://www.sunsetbaywharf.com/home
The Beach Camp outdoor education and environmental science summer program is truly unique in the world of outdoor education and adventure. Beach Camp consists of 8 one week camp sessions starting each year on the Sunday after the Fourth of July and continuing to the end of August. Campers are divided into 4 levels based on their grade in school at registration. Minnows (grade 2-3), Seals (grade 4-5), Dolphin (grade 6-7), Orca (grade 8-9).
Uncommon Summer
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/uncommon-summer
In this month-long virtual course, here’s what we’ll cover:
- How to identify your core values and how they manifest in your life
- How do you lead? Are you more comfortable out front (envisioning big ideas) or in a supporting role (helping others get things done)?
- Receive access to an OnDemand video curriculum with all the tools you need to create, launch, and level-up your self-directed project
- You’ll join live weekly workshop sessions with me (Bonnie), where we’ll brainstorm ideas, give and receive feedback on each other’s projects, and troubleshoot problems and roadblocks as a group
- Read and watch a curated selection of great articles & videos about how to grow as a self-directed learner and generally become a more thoughtful and productive person
- You’ll join a community of your peers where you’ll connect, collaborate, and share ideas
College Search Engines
Niche
https://www.niche.com/
This is my favorite place to search for colleges.
Colleges That Change Lives
www.ctcl.org/news/misperceptions
This is not a search engine, but it is a really great resource. They have school profiles for some of the best colleges out there that people don’t always hear or know about. You should also check out the book, you can see it above in the book resources.
Landmark College
landmark.edu/why-landmark
For more than 26 years, Landmark has been the leader in creating successful learning strategies for students with learning disabilities, ADHD and ASD. Landmark was the first institution of higher education to pioneer college-level studies for students with dyslexia. Today, they are known throughout the world for their innovative educational model, where students become confident, self-empowered and independent learners.
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