They do exist, and they are worthwhile! Internships help students learn about different careers, experience the workplace setting for themselves, teach them how to build professionalism and people skills, and so much more. Plus, as your student moves toward going to college, internships are excellent resume-builders.

What kinds of internships are out there? College certainly offers more types of internships, but there are still a variety of internships that your high school student should consider. Here’s an overview of the types of experiences for which your student might qualify:

Nonprofit internships:

Many organizations offer services to different groups of people for little to no cost. Working as an intern for such an organization presents a win-win solution wherein your student gains valuable experience and the nonprofit gains some extra hands. A nonprofit internship could provide your student a wider range of experiences too.

Cooperative experiences:

Some high schools offer programs to juniors and seniors to expose them to different career possibilities while still earning high school credit. The idea is to blend hands-on learning with classroom experience. A high school guidance counselor would know, so have your student inquire about these types of programs.

Summer internships:

Probably the most popular type of internship is the summer internship, from summer research experiences for budding scientists to engineering apprenticeships to cybersecurity programs that have students delve into this growing field. It just takes some digging to find these opportunities, so have your student go online to see what’s available.

Service-learning experiences:

Many high school students are still figuring out what they want to study in college, so getting an internship in a specific career area might feel premature. Service-learning, which combines community service with defined learning experiences, during spring, fall, and summer breaks is a good way to get hands-on experience and learn about different areas of the country or places in the world.

Where can your student find internships? Here are a few tips for how to approach the search:

• Talk to the guidance counseling office.
• Check out colleges nearby.
• Call local businesses.
• Ask family friends with businesses if they would consider a high school intern.
• Search online for national and local programs.

With good grades and high SAT and ACT scores, your student’s resume will only be strengthened by an internship experience in high school. This is a great way to learn more about an area of interest that could be a potential college major and build valuable work experience. Encourage your student to explore what’s out there.

How can your student succeed on these important exams? By preparing, of course! Aside from studying the content (and focusing on areas where your student needs improvement), here are several test-taking tips that will help your student achieve their best score:

1. Strengthen time management. The SAT and ACT are timed exams, so every second counts. One of the most important elements of success on either exam is the ability to manage one’s time. Your student should be familiar with the sections of the exam and what to expect as far as question types and approximate amount of time to be spent per question. That also means leaving time at the end to review the exam to ensure no questions were missed or skipped.
2. Learn to narrow down answer choices. Your student should spend time studying different question types to start recognizing the kinds of answers that can be eliminated. For example, with multiple-choice questions, there are often answer choices that are obviously wrong because they contain words like “always” or “never.”
3. Get better at focusing. If your student struggles to tune out distractions, it’s time well spent to learn how to concentrate in a high-pressure, test-taking setting. This takes repeated practice, so remind your student that taking multiple practice exams can be very valuable.
4. Learn how to stay cool under pressure. Stress management is a key part of test-taking success, so remind your student to find ways to get and stay calm. That regimen could include positive self-talk, positive visualization, meditation, and deep breathing to still the mind.
5. Write down important information before starting. A tried-and-true test-taking tip is to jot down essential facts and formulas as soon as an exam begins. The pneumonic device your student uses to recall an important math formula is taking up brain space, so writing those things down when the proctor says, “Begin,” is a good idea.

Last but not least, remind your student that while the SAT and ACT are important and can bolster a college application, their results are intended to help, not hurt. This year, many institutions moved to “test-optional,” which means that presenting SAT and ACT scores with college applications is not required – but it is still a good idea. Make sure your student has the right mindset about these tests. They are an opportunity to show your student’s strengths and override a GPA that might have been negatively affected by the challenging events of the last year.

If your student needs help, call Huntington! We’ll assess your student’s strengths and weaknesses, work with your student on building the skills mentioned in this blog, and help them become a more confident test-taker. With the best possible scores on the SAT and ACT, your teen’s college and scholarship options will expand tremendously. Let Huntington be your student’s guide!

But summer 2021 is still uncertain, and for various reasons, your family might not be comfortable or able to travel yet for college visits – not to mention, many colleges still might not allow prospective students to visit campuses this summer. How can you and your student research colleges when it isn’t feasible to hop on a plane or in the car to visit? Here are a few tips:

Do as much as possible online.

For now, have your student research their top-choice schools on their list by visiting each college’s website. The admissions section will offer useful information about applying, but your student should also make sure to look over other important sections such as:

• The About section
• The Campus/Student Life section
• Any club/activities pages that interest your student
• Department- or school-specific pages

Find out what “virtual tour” alternatives colleges suggest for those who want to visit.

Universities and colleges have adapted in today’s environment, and it’s likely that they have a number of ways to explore their institutions without physically going there. Many colleges have created virtual tours of the campus for students, and some even offer live Zoom tours from current students and staff for something more interactive.

Check out other virtual events and activities.

In addition to virtual tours, most colleges and universities have a number of opportunities for students to navigate the college search process while social distancing. Make sure your student explores offerings that help students get to know schools such as:

• Online information sessions
• Live webinars about everything from different fields of study to campus life
• Q&As with current students
• Video chats with admissions counselors and academic representatives
• Get-to-know-you videos about parts of college life and the admission process

Talk to current students or alumni.

Older siblings, older siblings of friends, or even students from your student’s high school who are in college now are great resources for an “on-the-ground” review of what a college is actually like. Certainly, the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but typical for college freshmen, but your student would be wise to talk to students at the colleges they are considering. Guidance counselors and admission officers at each college might be able to help arrange those conversations if there’s nobody in your circle of family and friends for your student to connect with easily.

As the coronavirus vaccine becomes more widely distributed throughout the year, your student will probably have the chance to visit schools in-person, but for now, there are options. Encourage your student to take advantage of the virtual tours and other content that colleges are offering. When it is practical to go on tours again, your student will have a good amount of research finished already, which will make their decision easier.

If your student fell behind while schools were closed in 2020 and has struggled with remote and/or hybrid learning, it’s not too late to fix things. Here’s what your student should do to address any low grades and get back on track:

• Talk openly with teachers about what your student needs to do now.

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• If grades are an issue, there’s a good chance your student is missing a number of skills that are preventing them from progressing in one or more subjects. With many schools going to pass/fail grading in spring 2020, some students fell behind and it went undetected. Your student might still be there, struggling (and/or failing) to keep up. It’s time to arrange conversations with teachers to talk about where your student is having the most trouble and what to do about it.
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• Reassess the study skills.

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• If your student was a freshman when schools closed, they were probably just getting used to high school-level academics. Study habits may have gone by the wayside, and perhaps your student never got back to good practices. Even sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a little more experience might need to adjust the way they study if their grades have dipped. Check in with your student to see if those study habits are lacking and determine a way to fix them.
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• Rebuild a good routine.

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• “Routine” might be an unfamiliar word nowadays. It’s not ideal for students to bounce between in-person learning, asynchronous learning, and synchronous learning. If the constant change has taken a toll on your student’s ability to stay productive, focus, and actually complete schoolwork, they probably need help establishing good practices and figuring out how to be an efficient student, whether learning in a classroom or in front of the computer.
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• Remind your student that no problem is too great to overcome.

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• If your student has had a hard time in school over the last year, it may be affecting their self-esteem. Be optimistic and let your student know that with your support and the support of teachers, your student can and will get back to being a capable, confident, and independent student once again.
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• Get help.

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• This year has been uniquely challenging, and if your student has struggled, the best course of action is to get tutoring help. But remember: not just any tutoring will do. Your student needs a program of instruction that is designed to help your student regain lost skills and strengthen weaknesses, tailored to them. Poor grades in high school can hurt your student’s chances of admission to college. Don’t wait. Get help sooner than later so your student can come out of the COVID-19 slide a stronger, more resilient student.

Huntington can help your student overcome any problem areas and improve their grades. We offer individualized subject tutoring that is intended to help each student achieve their individual goals. We help students improve in reading, writing, math, science, and many other subjects and skills. Call 1-800 CAN LEARN to hear about our tutoring programs for high school students, including our SAT and ACT prep programs.