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.

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  Summer Programs

  Spend this summer expanding your pre-college horizons. Check out thousands of summer programs, from rocket science camps to musical theater classes to wilderness training courses.

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  Gap Year Programs

  Find out more about how a pre-college gap year or semester contributes to personal growth and builds the life skills you need to succeed in college. Check out TeenLife’s once-in-a-lifetime gap year programs, ranging from work internships to premed programs to adventure trips.

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  Volunteer Opportunities

  Volunteer for a community service program to expand your world view, make a difference and feel good. Community service may also be a graduation requirement! Check out these nonprofit organizations that could use your help or connect you with a community service project.

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  STEM Programs

  STEM careers are on the rise, and students can start learning skills in STEM as early as middle school. Browse topic specific STEM summer programs and colleges.

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  Performing & Visual Arts Programs

  Colleges, gap year programs, and summer programs all offer opportunities in the performing & visual arts. Pursue your passions and grow your strengths with a performing and/or visual arts program.

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  Colleges & Universities

  Begin your college search with our comprehensive college & university database. Or explore summer programs taking place on college campuses. College is a big investment. We can help you try before you buy.

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  Boarding Schools

  Ready to combine school with independence? We have more than 400 listings for boarding schools and semester schools in the United States and abroad. Discover how a learning community focused on college prep or a particular interest sparks success. Many offer postgraduate (PG) years.

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  Private Day Schools

  Looking for a private day school that has the classes, extracurricular activities and educational philosophy that match your needs? Explore our more than 1,000 listings and discover the advantages of private school, such as small classes and specialized approaches to learning.

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  Therapeutic Programs and Schools

  Are you a teen struggling with mental illness or substance abuse? Check out our listings of therapy programs and treatment centers to find the right path to a healthy and successful life.

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  Independent Advisors

  Choosing the right school, college or program can be overwhelming. A local independent advisor can help you navigate these important decisions. Find the best path for you and your personal goals, with their help.

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  Tutoring & Test Prep

  Boost your high-school grades and college admission test scores to smooth the way for the college application process. Our thousands of in-person or online tutoring and test prep resources fit a wide range of goals and budgets.

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  College Admissions Resources

  Learn everything you need to know about the college admissions process. With our college resources, teens can discover their dream school, find application help, and fund their undergraduate education.

Trending Posts on the TeenLife Blog.

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  The 6 Things Required to Get Into a Top Private School (one may surprise you!)

  Aug. 18, 2017, 8 a.m. by Suzanne Shaffer

  Is your college-bound student considering private day school? Many parents believe that a private school gives students the upper hand when it comes to college admissions and is more conducive to individual learning. Whatever your reason for making that choice, what do you need to know? What does it take to get into one of the top-notch private schools? Much like college admissions, the private school process can be long and taxing. Families must tour the schools, and students must take admissions tests, be interviewed, and fill out the applications. Each school is different in their criteria, but they all ...

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  How to Discover Your STEM Self Through Cosplay and Sewing

  Aug. 17, 2017, 8 a.m. by Cate Coulacos Prato

  When you hear about people with spatial, math and problem-solving skills, you probably assume they excel at STEM subjects. But did you know people who create fashion, accessories and cosplay rely on those same skills? In fact, sewing is a great way to hone STEM skills, and STEM skills help with sewing and other crafts. If you're into creating things out of fabric, you might be ready to try a STEM program. “There is more overlap than you think,” Jill Frechette of West Boylston, Mass., says. A sophomore at Vassar College, Frechette studies English and pre-med. She learned to sew ...

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  8 Tips to Make Summer Prime Time for College Scholarships

  Aug. 10, 2017, noon by Suzanne Shaffer

  The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Kids are out of school. Families take vacations. The last thing anyone wants to think about is searching for college scholarships. But wait! Summer is prime time to search and apply for scholarships. While everyone is playing, your high school student can be hard at work figuring out how to win a scholarship for college. This makes for a productive and financially beneficial summer. Sacrificing a few hours a week could mean graduating college without debt. Here are eight summer scholarship search tips to help your high school student on the path to ...

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  Learn the 6 Super Skills of the Best High School Interns

  Aug. 10, 2017, 8 a.m. by Susan Moeller

  Congratulations: You’ve landed a an internship, and you’re ready to explore the real world. But landing a gap year or high school internship is just the beginning. You want to work hard and work smart so that you’ll leave this position with great habits, great contacts and great recommendations. You want to demonstrate that you’re ready and able to learn new skills and responsibilities – and we’re not talking about the location of the nearest Starbucks so you can pick up the coffee order. I mentored dozens of high school and college interns over a 40-year career in journalism, and ...

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