Volunteer, Summer, Gap, College and Private School Search

The Leading Source for College Preparation:
Summer Programs, Gap Year Programs, Community Service and more.

13,000+ Opportunities for Students in Grades 7-12.

Discover how spending time in the world outside the classroom can help teens do better in school, during the college admissions process and in their adult lives. Our mission is to connect students, parents and educators with the best experiential learning opportunities for middle- and high-school students.

Trending Posts on the TeenLife Blog.

Boost Your High School Resume by Volunteering This Summer
June 27, 2017, 9:53 a.m. by Suzanne Shaffer

It’s tempting for high school students to spend summer hanging out with friends, sleeping past noon, and attempting to do absolutely nothing. And while it’s true that down time for growing teens is absolutely necessary, too much is neither a healthy option nor the wisest choice if college is in their future. Encouraging high school students to get out and have some worthy, productive summer experiences is super important – for parents and for them – especially for those students hoping to score a scholarship or two. And even if teens are working, attending a teen summer program, or taking ...

Go to full post →
10 Ways To Help Your Student Adjust to Boarding School
June 20, 2017, 2:56 p.m. by Susan Moeller

Heading off to boarding school is exciting – and nerve-wracking. And having made the commitment, your student now has the entire summer to think – and worry – about it. Understand that high school students are nervous about any new social situation. While you might consider boarding school life a great opportunity and adventure, your student might be imagining a strange new world with its own cliques and secret codes. What can you do to help your student make the transition to boarding school? For starters, make listening a top priority this summer. Don’t patronize or undervalue your student’s concerns. ...

Go to full post →
These ACT or SAT Test Prep Tips Are A Must for This Summer
June 20, 2017, 2:19 p.m. by Suzanne Shaffer

Even as they start to enjoy summer, high school juniors and seniors know they are facing standardized testing in the fall. For seniors, it’s the last chance to get their best scores on the SAT or ACT before college applications are submitted. For juniors, the fall SAT or ACT can be a good indicator of areas that need improvement and require more preparation. Taking advantage of the summer to prepare for these tests makes smart academic sense and teaches students how to get over test anxiety. Standardized test prep doesn’t need to be torturous. Your student will retain more if ...

Go to full post →
Make Sure Your High School Student Packs The Right Skills for College
June 15, 2017, 2:17 p.m. by Mary Grauerholz

Although high school students long for the freedom of college, the less-structured environment actually can feel unsettling or, at the worst, out of control. Having a schedule with too much free time is one of the most anxiety-producing parts of college life, says Ben Locke, associate director of the counseling service at Pennsylvania State University and executive director of the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, a research network of more than 280 college counseling centers. High school should be the time to help children learn how to be responsible for themselves and to budget their own time; however, high school ...

Go to full post →

Check Out TeenLife's Digital Publications.