It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. Many college students fall into bad habits and more than one-third drop out during their first year. For some, the struggle is academic. But for many, the biggest challenge is the social adjustment of living away from home and navigating life with new friends and classmates.

For Sammy, a 19-year-old freshman at Winona State University in Minnesota, the transition to college was smooth and easy thanks to her experience at Quantum U (SuperCamp’s college-age program, now Quantum Academy) the summer before.

Sammy recalls that when her parents first signed her up for the college prep summer camp, she felt apprehensive. She thought the 8-day academic program would be the worst possible way to start her summer, and she doubted that she needed any preparation for college.

The first day at Quantum U didn’t alleviate those concerns. Sammy was one of 30 Quantum U students at UCLA, and she couldn’t wait for the eight days to be over so she could go home and rejoin her club soccer team. “I felt stuck,” says Sammy. “So did a lot of the other campers.”

But on the second day, something shifted. Maybe it was the burgeoning camaraderie among the campers. Maybe it was the enthusiastic leadership from Marina and Craig, the camp facilitators. Maybe it was the insightful curriculum or the all-you-can-eat cafeteria food.

Whatever the case, Sammy dove in, ready to give the college prep summer camp a chance. She decided that she would make the most of the experience and see what she could get out of it.

To Sammy’s surprise and delight, the program was a blast.

Sammy had expected the program to be eight consecutive days of sitting in a chair listening to lectures. Instead, the material was presented in a dynamic, engaging way that incorporated games and activities. The Quantum U students also got to sightsee and explore the campus.

Even the curriculum was a surprise. While academic strategies were covered, the college prep camp also taught students critical communication skills, including how to structure an apology and how to listen to others and respect their differences.

Sammy found the communication skills particularly helpful in her first days at college. Others struggled to make friends and feel comfortable in their new environment. But Sammy jumped into conversation and made many new friends right away. “Quantum U was like going to college,” Sammy explains. “So I immediately felt comfortable and open at WSU.”

Sammy continues to use the skills she learned at Quantum U. She recalls, “Recently I got in a fight with one of my friends. I listened to her, and I didn’t say ‘I’m sorry’—I said ‘I apologize’—because sorry is overused and often not meant. ‘I apologize’ means more.”

As Sammy wraps up the last few weeks of her freshman year, she remains grateful for the Quantum U experiences and looks forward to taking her Quantum U skills into her sophomore year. “The things they teach you stick with you. It was definitely worth it.”

For more on Quantum Academy, call an enrollment specialist at 800.228.5327 or request an information packet.

The post “The things they teach you stick with you”: Reflections on Our College Prep Summer Camp appeared first on SuperCamp.

In 1984, La Jolla residents Dan and Mary McSweeney sent their teenage son Matthew to SuperCamp. Then only in its third year, the summer camp’s impact was strong and Matthew was changed by his experience that summer.

Matthew recalls … ”SuperCamp challenged me, pushing me into areas that were previously way out of my comfort zone. It totally changed my perception of what I could accomplish!”

Thirty years later, the family’s connection to SuperCamp remains strong.

Now a busy sales manager for a large  company, Matthew still uses the skills he learned at summer camp so many years ago—and his children are now acquiring those same skills and more.

In 2013 Matthew’s parents, Dan and Mary, sent his children, Payton (PJ) and Ryan, to SuperCamp’s Senior Forum at Stanford University. Like their dad, they returned from their summer camp experience forever changed.

“When PJ came home, she was a different kid,” says her grandmother. “She’s always been talented but never believed in herself. Now she’s a self-confident young lady. And Ryan had all sorts of wonderful stories about his summer camp experience—it made a big impression on him. SuperCamp introduced both of them to wonderful parts of themselves that they didn’t know were there.”

Matthew has also seen changes in his children. “The first thing PJ did after summer camp was apologize for being a turkey,” says Matthew. “It broke through her teenage rebellion and helped her to realize we’re there to love and support her. She’s more humble and has a better idea of who she wants to be. Before SuperCamp she didn’t want to try out for the golf team. After SuperCamp she tried out and made the team—and now she’s undefeated! She used to wilt under pressure—now she wants to compete, and performs well!”

PJ and Ryan’s grandfather adds, “SuperCamp pushes teenagers out of their comfort zones—and shows them that they can accomplish much more than they ever thought. I’m a fan of SuperCamp because of the positive attitudes the kids come away with, their increased self-confidence, and what I perceive to be their change in focus.”

These changes came in spite of the fact that Ryan and PJ initially resisted the idea of going to an academic summer camp. It took two days at Stanford for them to fully dive in, but both students now consider SuperCamp the best experience of their lives.

Dan and Mary have enrolled PJ in Leadership Track at Stanford this summer. They’re also sending two more grandchildren, a niece, and a nephew to SuperCamp’s Senior Forum at Stanford and three grandchildren to SuperCamp’s Junior Forum at Loyola Marymount University. This makes a grand total of eight McSweeney kids attending SuperCamp 2014!

“We want to make sure they all have every opportunity to succeed in life,” said Dan. “To do that we’re sending these kids to SuperCamp, we send them to private high schools, and to four-year colleges, too. We’re very strong proponents of education because we think it gives kids the greatest opportunity for success in life. It certainly has been the case for our family.”

Give your children or grandchildren the gift of confidence this summer. Call 800.228.5327 for more information or enroll online.

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