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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  Announcing: The 2017 Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges

  Sept. 22, 2017, 8 a.m. by Marie Schwartz

  Jazz band, video animation, Shakespearean drama, graphic design, sound engineering, operatic arias, set building -- sometimes the opportunities for arts majors seem like an all-you-can-eat buffet, both enticing and overwhelming. Fortunately, TeenLife Media and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) can help. Founded in 1937, NACAC has 16,000 counselor and college members dedicated to helping students make informed choices about post-secondary education. At NACAC’s annual series of Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs, held in 25 locations around the country, students can connect with universities, colleges, conservatories and other programs that can develop their talent, whether it’s performance-based ...

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  What You Need To Know About the Common Application This Year

  Sept. 21, 2017, 1 p.m. by Suzanne Shaffer

  It looks like the widely used Common Application has taken some cues from the new Coalition Application. The new changes to the 2017-18 Common App for colleges mirror features found in the Coalition App. Competition often creates innovation and the Common App has some much-needed updates. The Common App changes this year will benefit high school students and make the application more user friendly. While these changes will be welcomed by students, it’s too early to tell whether or not they will bring with them glitches in the application system. Here are some possible complications that could arise as high ...

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  Share This College To-Do List With Your High School Junior

  Sept. 7, 2017, 8 a.m. by Suzanne Shaffer

  The minute college-bound students begin their junior year of high school, they should hit the ground running. Junior year is the all-important year for college admissions. It’s when students begin to get serious about college choice, concentrate on test prep, do their best with academics, start working on college essays and intensify the scholarship search. It might seem overwhelming, but starting early and chipping away at tasks bit by bit can make a big difference this year and next. Here’s a to-do list to talk over with your student. And while you’re talking, agree on what your role as a ...

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  How Volunteering Helps Boost The Leadership Skills You Need

  Sept. 5, 2017, 4 p.m. by Stephanie Hicks

  You don’t have to be the quarterback, star in the school play, or be ASB president to lead others. Rolling up your sleeves and doing community service with friends is a great way to get leadership experience – and have fun! Demonstrating strong leadership skills is easy to do in a volunteer setting and nothing looks better on a high school resume or applications for jobs, internships and college. Here’s our three-step way to demonstrating leadership: 1. Volunteer for a cause you care about – even for just a few hours. Leadership does not always require huge time commitments, completing ...

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