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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  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. ...

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  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 ...

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  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 ...

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  How Teens Can Have A Great Summer Volunteering Overseas

  June 13, 2017, noon by Nicolaus Jannasch

  Have you been looking at overseas volunteer opportunities for teens? Many high school students do community service activities in foreign countries because it allows them to see a new part of the world, experience some independence, and help others, all at the same time. Why Do Community Service? For starters, it feels good. Being able to do something that makes a real difference in someone else’s life and the world is incredibly rewarding. Volunteering also gives you a chance to explore an interest, practice your language skills or travel in an area of the world that intrigues you. Taking part ...

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