But, we encourage students to take some time before the Christmas break to begin researching their summer plans. Many of the top summer programs at colleges and private schools fill up well ahead of the spring deadlines.

Focus on your academic interests: if you like science, then check out top science-oriented programs. If you like writing, then look into journalism camps or poetry workshops. Remember, sometimes financial aid is available on a need basis, so don’t be shy about applying. The internet is a good first step to sifting out your options. Check strong programs like summer school at Cornell, Columbia, Andover, and many others.  Advance planning now will come in handy later when you find yourself scrambling to finish these applications by the appropriate deadlines.

For now, at least, request information from 5-10 programs. You might need to organize teacher recommendations, write essays, and in some cases have interviews – so get started now.