When assessing uni applications, universities often look at the extracurricular activities, summer programmes and social activities that teens were involved in. If you’re looking at options that might give your high-schoolers an edge, you could sign them up for this two-week programme by Summer Discovery and Yale-NUS College in Singapore in July.
Who is Summer Discovery?
With over 53 years of experience in summer programmes, Summer Discovery has made its way to Asia for the first time. The group’s pre-college enrichment programmes at top universities all over the world such as UCLA, UPenn and Cambridge, consist of over 300 different courses. These include business, medicine, law, entrepreneurship, psychology, theatre, art, sports broadcasting, STEM and political science. They combine academics, athletics and sightseeing, giving high-schoolers a comprehensive introduction to university life.
What are the benefits?
Besides looking good on their uni applications, the summer programmes can give teens a taste of the majors they might be considering for university. If they’re yet to make up their minds, it’s also a good way for them to explore new areas of interest. Either way, they’ll get a teaser of university life while gaining independence, self-confidence and social skills.
What academic programmes are available?
Participants meet four to five times a week (morning and afternoon) for two hours each, to take part in their choice of the following two intensive non-credit programmes by two top universities:
#1 Leadership and Entrepreneurship programme (Yale-NUS College Singapore)
This programme aims to develop students into ethical and effective change agents. Themes include personal impact, relating and influencing, organisational effectiveness, civil engagement and entrepreneurship. Students will be able to clarify their personal direction and leadership goals.
#2 Entertainment, Media & Sports programme (UCLA Anderson School of Management)
Developed and taught by the UCLA Anderson School of Management, this programme provides an overview of the principles of business through the lens of the entertainment, media and sports industries. Students will learn about the strategic issues and challenges involved in marketing and managing businesses in these fields.
What activities and campus life experiences can students expect?
Boarding life
Summer programme participants will get to be part of the community of staff and students in the residential colleges at Yale-NUS. They’ll be assigned to a residential college and stay in a single room in a suite with four to six students. The room will be air-conditioned and include essential furniture and amenities such as a bed, desk, closet and Wi-Fi. The residential colleges also have lounges, game rooms and free laundry facilities. And when they get hungry, students can head to the dining hall where they’ll enjoy two meals daily and one on the weekends.
Safety and welfare
You can rest assured that your child will be well taken care of. Each residential college has a resident counsellor (RC) living down the hall who is available 24/7. For greater safety, daily sign-ins and room checks will be made. If they fall ill during the programme, Summer Discovery staff will make medical appointments and accompany students to consultations, obtain prescription medications, and notify parents after the visits. Appointments will be at the University Health Centre or National University Hospital.
Beyond the classroom
Your teen will also be kept busy and active after classroom hours with activities on and off campus. They can work out at the fitness centre, or take part in sports such as soccer, basketball and frisbee. Day trips to exciting attractions such as the Adventure Cove Waterpark in Sentosa, ArtScience Museum and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark are all included in the tuition.
More details
Catering to students aged 15 to 18, this two-week programme will be running from 7 to 19 July at Yale-NUS College in Singapore. Tuition fees range from US$2,999 to US$5,699 (approximately HK$23,500 to HK$44,700). Limited spots are available. To find out more or enrol your child, visit the website.
Written in collaboration with:
Summer Discovery
bit.ly/SummerDiscovery-YaleNUS
Read on for our full Schools section and more:
Expat guide to international schools in Hong Kong
Why your teen will love Singapore
Four unique Singapore stays