As spring approached last year, I found myself exploring academic summer camps for my high-school-aged child. If you’re not yet caught in the whirlwind of high school achievement and college preparation, let me be the first to caution you: it’s a fierce competition out there.
By “fierce competition,” I mean the race to be the most overscheduled and overburdened, juggling AP courses, honors classes, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and volunteer work—all while trying to emerge as a balanced, non-anxious adult. And this is all before they even step foot on a college campus.
Just as your teenager collapses in exhaustion at the end of the school year, it’s time to add another layer to their resume with “academic summer camps.” Surprised this is a trend? It’s a significant one. Simply attending school for ten months and working a summer job is no longer adequate. Today’s students are expected to fill their summers with additional academic pursuits, community service, and often, a part-time job.
But here’s the kicker: even if your teen can handle the demanding schedule of a summer educational program, your wallet might not be able to. While searching for options for my son, I experienced a financial revelation. A four-day non-residential STEM program at a local university was priced at over $1,700, while a two-week residential STEM program at another institution exceeded $3,500.
Sticker shock in education is not something I typically experience, given my children’s attendance at private schools. However, a four-day health science camp for $1,700? Is a medical expert giving lectures? After further investigation across various disciplines, I found these prices to be standard for summer academic experiences.
Let’s not forget the summer sports training camps, which could be dubbed the “Our facilities rival those of Olympic training centers and will require a second mortgage” camps. No doubt, your aspiring athlete needs 80 hours of specialized instruction from a former major league player at the bargain price of $1,000 per week.
And if you have a child who excels in acting or music? Expect to pay around $500 weekly for drama camps that culminate in summer productions. Who exactly can afford these programs?
These prices are not only out of reach for lower-income families, but even the average middle-class household may struggle to enroll their high-achieving children in these summer activities. Without the financial means to enhance their college applications, students may find themselves at a disadvantage.
What happened to simply dropping kids off at local parks and recreation centers for arts and crafts at an affordable rate? Can’t we discover and promote more budget-friendly academic and extracurricular options for gifted youth that won’t drain family finances?
Moreover, why do state universities seem to favor students with “prestigious” summer experiences over those who worked honest, albeit less glamorous, jobs? Personally, I would prefer students who understand the value of hard work and commitment over those who merely accumulated credentials through costly summer programs. Ironically, if affluent families had the option of a summer job that instilled a strong work ethic, they might even pay fast food establishments to employ their children.
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In summary, the pressure to participate in expensive summer programs has become overwhelming, particularly for families of limited means. We must advocate for accessible alternatives that foster both academic and personal growth without financial strain.
Keyphrase: Academic summer camps costs
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