Take every opportunity to prep yourself for university

College admissions seem to be changing everything, including the definition of holidays. It is no longer the endless lazy afternoons spent reading mystery novels, seeing the world or spending time with family.
Oh no - that's so passé. Now, it is all about cramming for exams, hours of job shadowing and prepping for the future. What school break? Sitting on the top of the charts are summer or winter schools. This is a course that normally lasts for a week or more to give students a taste of how their university life could pan out.
There are reasons galore - some would like to spend time with a cohort of similarly interested students; some like to add colour to their university application by talking about their learning, while some like to experience life in a foreign country.
Whatever the reason, the real question is, are these schools simply business propositions or do they bring tangible benefit to the students? Let's analyse it this way. These schools are usually a few weeks long, giving the students an idea of what they want to study before making the commitment for three or four years. Also, most programmes are taught by university faculty, which gives them a chance to get to know more about university-style learning dynamics.
It is also an excellent way to sample university life, living and sharing space with students from all over the world, an excellent preview to a multicultural environment particularly for those who haven't had much exposure.
On the other hand, let's have a look at the limitations. First, they are not cheap. Being part of a summer or winter school in a prestigious university does not promise you admission there. As per Brown University Dean of Admissions, Jim Miller, these programmes carry no extra weightage in university applications.
As most of them have no academic thresholds to attend, universities believe such experiences do not adequately capture their intellectual passion or commitment.  However, there are some like the MIT Research Science Institute or the Yale University Global Young Scholars Programme where the application is rigorous. Such credentials could add value to your university applications.
What to keep in mind while choosing a programme? Maximise the experience; go for a great city and country where you feel challenged while being safe and comfortable. Look for a course that will open new dimensions to your thoughts and expand your learning horizon. Never pick a course just for namesake.
Find out if the programme you opted for will aid you in your future university life. The bottom line is: do not treat summer or winter schools as tickets to admission. Instead, use them for the real value they bring out for you.
Here are some examples of holiday schools to check out
Columbia University - Summer Programmes For  High School Students, New York City: http://ce.columbia.edu/high-school/nyc/international-students
UPenn - Engineering Summer Academy: https://saast.seas.upenn.edu/about/
University of Oxford - Law School Preparation: https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/course/law-school-preparation?utm_source=20150320Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2015-general-ezines

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