Insight Academix

As school comes to a close, many of us are scrambling to figure out what to do for summer. If you don't have any formal commitments, summer can be great time to work on building up your resume, volunteering at a local organization, preparing for the SATs or ACTs, or even catching up on reading!

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading. Here are some top rated YA novels (according to Time magazine) perfect for a beach vacation or even your morning summer camp commute:

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
3. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babitt
4. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
6. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
8. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
9. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
10. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Check out the full list here: https://time.com/collection/100-best-ya-books/

As the end of March approaches, Summer Programs are filling up! Make sure to submit your application for the summer or pre-college program of your choice in order to secure your seat! 😃

The deadlines for transfer applications are approaching! You can apply to transfer from your current institution via the Common App or the Coalition Scoir App!

Over the summer, underclassmen can also reach out to local professors for research opportunities which will allow them the chance to gain real life experience within their subject of intended study and also look great on your resume! Insight Academix also offers these research opportunities! This research can then be submitted to different conferences (as an abstract, full length paper, or poster) around the world which will enable you to showcase your research to experts in the field.

Many colleges offer summer college credit courses for high school students. These courses are offered both at residential pre-college programs and online. Taking college credit courses during summer vacation is a great way to learn more about potential areas of interest and to gain real credit to use towards your future degree!

Another great way to stand out on your resume is by having writing publications. There are many magazines and literary journals that specifically look to publish work by high school students. You can submit a variety of different types of writing to these publications, including fiction, nonfiction, flashfiction, historical fiction, academic essay, etc. Not only will this boost your resume, it also gives students who are passionate about writing an opportunity to share their work with the world!

Spring Semester is a great time for underclassmen to begin doing college tours. Visiting colleges is an excellent way to get a better sense of whether or not a school is the right fit for you. On college tours, you can attend in-session classes, meet professors and students, eat in a dining hall, and even spend the night in a dorm to experience student residential life. Be sure to take notes during your tours so that you can later compare your school options. And don’t be afraid to ask your tour guide questions during the tour or information session!

If you are unable to attend an in-person tour, you can alternatively attend a virtual or self-guided tour online. Virtual tours are a great way for you to feel out a certain school before making committed travel arrangements for an in-person tour. Virtual tours can typically be found on the college’s website. 😀

Volunteering is a great way to engage with your community and learn more about your skillsets and interests. In high school, you can start by volunteering at a local animal shelter, food bank, or senior living center to spend some of your time giving back to and getting to know members of your community.

Leadership is a quality that many colleges and universities look for in an ideal candidate. In high school, you can demonstrate leadership by taking initiative in your extracurricular clubs and activities, being involved in student council, organizing school fundraisers and events, or even starting your own student organization. Additionally there are leadership programs we recommend for our students to further cultivate leadership skills, including: HOBY, The Notre Dame Leadership Seminars, and the Wharton Global Youth Program.

Hope you are enjoying your Winter Break! Wishing you a happy and healthy 2023! Here are some of our new years resolutions:

-Spend more time with family and friends
-Volunteer more
-Limit social media
-Read a new book every month
-Replace negative or self-doubting speech like, "I can't do it," with "I can do it!"

If a school provides a place for you to upload your resume, upload a resume! Resumes are a great way to show your college a detailed timeline of your highschool career. You can share details about internships and jobs, volunteer or leadership experience, community service, and much more! Resumes are a great way to round out your application.