How An Online Summer Program Can Change Your Life

We're several years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic — a time when millions of students and teachers transitioned to online, virtual learning. Those months weren't easy. Parents, students, and educators faced many challenges including decreased focus, increased cheating, and a lack of equal access. Once in-person classes resumed, everyone celebrated.

So why are we still talking about online learning at nearly the midpoint of this decade? Because even though the bulk of learning happens in the classroom, online learning is here to stay. For many families, the best time to take advantage of the wealth of options is summertime.

Benefits of Summer Online Programs

Online summer courses can extend far beyond traditional academics and still hold significant value for today's high school and middle school students.

• While they take place online, many programs offer interactive elements and opportunities to connect with peers sharing similar interest. This format fosters teamwork and communication skills and builds a sense of community — even in a virtual setting.
• Online programs often have an element of self-directed learning and project completion which generates a sense of ownership over students' learning and cultivates their time management and an independent work ethic.
• Learning shouldn't be confined to textbooks! These programs offer a fun, engaging way to spend part of the summer. Students can discover new hobbies, develop new skills, and return to school feeling refreshed and inspired.

Exploring Beyond the Classroom 

One of the best things about online summer programs is that they offer students a chance to delve into passions and interests outside the typical school curriculum. Students can explore areas like animation, game design, a foreign language, and even eSports, fostering creativity and discovering hidden talents.

Many programs focus on specific career paths, allowing students to gain exposure to fields like entrepreneurship, digital marketing, coding basics, and even music producing. This early exploration can help students solidify future goals or discover new passions.

As the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields grow more relevant, online summer programs have become a great way for students to try out different disciplines. And if someone enrolls in an online STEM summer camp, they could opt to study for a STEM career in college. It's not a bad idea, since STEM jobs are projected to grow nearly 11% between 2022 and 2032. Why not get a head start in the summer!

Perhaps your student is a numbers wiz and fascinated by the stock market or has a deeper interest in pursuing finance as a career. They might try an online finance summer program.

Get Ahead of the Curve on College or Job Applications

Another benefit to taking an online summer course or two? Getting a head start on filling out a college or job application. Whether you're trying to get into the college of your dreams or land your first job after school, summer experience with an online learning course is a fantastic way to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Many online programs require students to work independently, setting their own schedules and managing deadlines — a crucial skill for college success.

Online programs often require students to participate in discussions, ask questions, and present their work. These expectations foster confidence in self-expression and self-advocacy — both important for thriving in college lectures, seminars, and presentations.

If you're already working a part-time job or traveling for part of the summer with your family — or you don't want to attend a multi-week summer program in person, an online summer program is a great alternative. It shows colleges and employers that you're just as dedicated to learning outside of the classroom as any other student. 

Colleges (and employers) recognize the value of learning outside the traditional classroom setting. A teenager who's taken a graphic design camp, learned a new coding language, explored acting classes, learned about nonprofit management (and more) can build an incredibly impressive resume before they've even earned their high school diploma.

The proliferation of online learning worldwide has empowered high school students to appear an even stronger college applicant on paper. They can build their toolkit of essential skills beyond academics to prepare themselves for the challenges and opportunities college life offers.

Unleash Your Potential: Online Summer Learning Programs in 2024

Whether it's an online STEM program, summer journalism academy, an entrepreneurship bootcamp, or Wall Street 101, an online summer program or course can change your life and launch you into a future you never could have imagined.

The options are (almost) endless. We invite you to explore the programs offered in TeenLife's 2024 Guide to Summer Programs!