For numerous teenagers, summer marks the end of the school year and a chance for many to focus on entertainment and recreation. But not everyone can afford to sit idly while summer days pass them by. High school seniors have the daunting task of preparing for a whole new world of work, new social experiences, and branching future possibilities. With the right preparation, any student can maximize their experience and chances of college success.

What transforms a high school graduate into a college freshman? Other than the passage of a summer, not much differentiates the two. Though a high school graduate may be driven and goal-oriented as they take their first steps onto a college campus, they often do so still operating on an old set of conventions that no longer apply to their new environment.

Learning in large, impersonal lecture-style classrooms can be daunting for a student accustomed to smaller informal classrooms settings. The setup allows for fewer questions and more focus on quick note-taking, something with which a high school student will be more than likely unacquainted. Professors typically teach content, but how can a college student learn how to properly study in these conditions?

College summer programs specialize in giving high school students and even new college students a taste of what the high-stress environment can be like. Through “real-life” scenarios and activities designed to help them manage their time, college freshman can use the knowledge to find the path to college success. They will learn how to juggle challenging classes, increased amounts of homework, and studying with new social situations, academic career choices, and financial responsibilities.

SuperCamp offers a college success program called Quantum U that addresses all of these issues and more with a unique framework called the 8 Keys of Excellence. The overall message is simple: Success in all aspects of life depends on you. The 8 Keys consist of the following principles: Integrity, Failure Leads To Success, Speak With Good Purpose, This Is It!, Commitment, Ownership, Flexibility, and Balance. Personal responsibility will be their watchword under the inspiration of the 8 Keys.

Another concept Quantum U stands by is Everything Speaks. No matter what a student is doing, the environment they surround themselves in has an inverse affect on their mood, attitude, and the results of what they are trying to accomplish. Consider studying on an organized, orderly desk versus studying on a chaotic mass of papers and books. The results could be wildly different!

Independent studies show that of over 6,000 SuperCamp and Quantum U graduates, 73% reported improved grades, 68% increased motivation, 83% increased confidence, and 98% continued to used the high school and college skills they learned long after camp was over. These skills will give many students the boost they need to move forward in their academic careers.

College preparation can give students invaluable learning and life skills to help them succeed in college, professional, and personal lives. Megan Adams, a SuperCamp graduate of the Quantum U program had this to say about her experiences: “[Quantum U] was the most life changing experience of my life thus far and I have recommended it to all my friends and all my mom’s friends for their kids. I don’t really know that you can completely put into word the amazingness of it… the whole program should be a requirement at some point in all kids’ lives.” Every student should have the same opportunity to get a head start on college success.