The Leading Directory for Teen Academic and Enrichment Opportunities:
Summer Programs, Gap Year Programs, Community Service and more.

13,000+ Experiences 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 the summer expanding your horizons at one of thousands of summer programs for students entering 7th grade to college. Whether you're interested in rocket science, theater, or hiking up mountains, you'll find it here.

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  Online Summer Programs

  Interesting online courses and virtual ways of meaningfully engaging middle and high school-aged students.

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  Gap Year Programs

  A gap year or semester before college can contribute to personal growth and build the life skills you need to succeed. Program offerings include big-city internships, foreign language immersion, outdoor adventure trips, and more.

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  Volunteer Opportunities

  Students who help others develop important life skills, such as empathy, cultural awareness, and a lifelong passion for service. There are hundreds of non-profits who welcome students under the age of 18 as volunteers.

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  STEM Summer Programs

  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics careers are on the rise. Get a head start on STEM studies with summer programs that teach coding, immerse students in forensic science, explore stem cell science, and more.

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  Arts Summer Programs

  Whether you want to dance, draw, sing, design, or direct, a performing or visual arts summer program can help you pursue your dream. With hundreds of programs to choose from, it is easy to find one tailored to your passion.

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  Academic Summer Programs

  Participate in an academic summer program to experience campus life, gain confidence, and boost your college applications. Explore hundreds of programs focused on subjects from economics to creative writing.

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  STEM Colleges

  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers are on the rise, and students who major in these subjects are are more likely to be hired in their field after graduation and earn higher incomes in their lifetime.

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  Performing & Visual Arts Colleges

  For students who want to pursue a career in the visual or performing arts, finding a school that nurtures their passions is essential. Explore colleges that will help you advance your art.

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  Colleges & Universities

  Begin your college search with our comprehensive college & university database. Find out which summer programs they offer! College is a big investment. We can help you try before you buy.

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  Boarding Schools

  Ready to combine learning and independence? With more than 400 listings for boarding schools in the U.S. and abroad, we can help you discover a learning community that will spark your success.

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  Private Day Schools

  Explore our more than 1,000 listings and discover the advantages of private school, from small classes to specialized approaches to learning. Find the school that offers the classes, extracurriculars, and philosophy you want.

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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.

Trending Posts on the TeenLife Blog.

• TeenLife Virtual Summer Opportunities Fairs for 2021

  April 16, 2021, 2 p.m. by Janice Haller

  This year, we launched our new virtual summer fairs to give students and organizations the chance to connect no matter the obstacles (distance, time, cost, or a pandemic). Our summer fairs occurred in December 2020, February 2021, and March 2021. Over the three fairs, we had 32 organizations give brief presentations on their unique summer opportunities. Our first info session saw six organizations (with links to the programs they were promoting): Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies (SPCS) Loyola Marymount University: Pre-College Summer Programs Watson Institute LanguageBird Boston Leadership Institute UC San Diego Pre-College Programs Stanford University Pre-College Summer Institutes presented their ...

• Seniors: It's April - The Power Is All Yours!

  April 5, 2021, 1:01 p.m. by Joyce Slayton Mitchell

  Seniors, the month of April is your month. It is when the power to choose your college and send your deposit to reserve your freshman place is all yours. Due May 01. April is your month. Pandemic year. This year is different. Questions are different. You have to ask: Is the campus planning to be open next September or not? Is the college bringing freshmen to their dorms or not? What is the meal plan on campus? Are classes in-person or online? Or both? These are the basic questions for you to ask and results (for the moment) to understand ...

• Upcoming Virtual Events for Students and Parents

  March 31, 2021, 1:52 p.m. by Marie Schwartz

  As the world of education goes increasingly virtual, events and fairs are too. This is great news for families with teens because there is no travel involved - and most of these virtual events are free to attend by parents and students. Our team at TeenLife is on the lookout and will share the most interesting fairs, panel discussions, webinars that are taking place in the weeks and months ahead in this blog. Be sure to bookmark this post! We will also share a link in our monthly newsletter, so sign up if you are not already on our email ...

• Appealing Merit Aid: Successful Case Studies

  March 22, 2021, 5:33 p.m. by Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP

  High school seniors are currently receiving their admission decisions, and the power is shifting—admitted students are now in the drivers’ seat. We suggest that students take this opportunity to appeal for more merit aid. Since colleges use merit aid as a way to entice students to enroll at their institution, they may be open to increasing the original scholarship amount, if they believe offering a little more money will seal the deal. The college will consider multiple factors in their review, including evaluating how competitive the student is in relation to others and comparing the dollar amount awarded by peer ...

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