Part Two: Last week, we offered a list of volunteer and government-affiliated summer opportunities for students interested in law and politics. This week, we continue that list with academic opportunities.

Please note that many summer opportunities have high requirements. Students are often required to present a minimum GPA, demonstrate leadership potential, or provide standardized test scores. Many of these programs are highly competitive, and application deadlines are often early in the year. Students should plan ahead to be prepared to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities!

Academic Opportunities for Law and Politics:

• Lead America National Student Conferences
  • Lead America offers several student conferences in various areas each summer.
  • High School Conference in Law and Justice:
    • Endorsed by the American Mock Trial Association
    • Offered in 3 locations: Johns Hopkins University, DePaul University in Chicago, and Columbia University
    • During the program, students will:
      • Earn up to 2 college credits
      • Learn the legal process from crime scene to courtroom
      • Pose as an attorney in a mock criminal trial
      • Experience college life by living in dorms
      • Participate in field excursions including a New York city courthouse, the Circuit Court of Cook Country, and the National Crime and Punishment Museum in D.C.
    • Dates vary by location
    • Tuition/Room/Board: $2,398-$3,197 depending on location and number of desired college credits
    • Open to all high school students
    • Apply in spring; selections are made on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply the better your chances for admission
  • High School Law and Trial Conference
    • Offered in collaboration with Stanford Law School
    • Provides an introduction to legal education and the legal system
    • Students will prepare for and participate in a full mock trial
    • Students may earn up to 2 college credits
    • For 2011, the program is from July 19 to July 28
    • Tuition/Room/Board: $3,094-$3,393 depending on the desired number of college credits
  • High School Conference in Government and Politics
    • Offered at the University of California at Berkeley, DePaul University in Chicago, and George Washington University in D.C.
    • Students will:
      • Attend a Government and Politics Career Planning Seminar
      • Learn about leadership through case studies of our most respected historical leaders
      • Conduct policy research and analysis
      • Find out what it’s like to be an elected official through the Campaign Simulation
      • Earn up to 2 college credits
    • Dates vary by location
    • Tuition/Room/Board: $2,198-$2,697 depending on the desired number of college credits
• Summer at Georgetown
  • Georgetown offers a number of summer opportunities for high school students. Their programs are not limited to law and politics. We urge you to explore other options with Georgetown if your interests extend beyond law and politics.
  • Students may choose to take additional summer courses to earn additional college credits.
  • Fundamentals of Law
    • A 5-week program exploring domestic and international law.
    • Culminates with a mock trial in which students assume the role of attorney.
    • Core topics covered include:
      • International law
      • Ethical and responsible citizenship
      • Diverse philosophical exploration
      • Civic engagement
      • Judicial politics
      • International law and U.S. foreign policy
      • Constitutional conflicts
      • Law and global society
      • The U.S. court system
      • Victims’ rights
    • Students gain hands-on experiences through:
      • Participation in courtroom observations
      • Observation of Georgetown Street Law Clinic Sessions
      • Visiting corporations, government agencies, Capitol Hill offices, and legal reform organizations including the Republican National Committee, the Democratic National Committee, the Federal Elections Commission, and the Newseum
      • Attending lectures by guest speakers including prominent members of the Georgetown faculty
    • Students earn 3 college credits
    • Tuition is $1,074 per credit, housing is $816, and meals are $220 per week
  • Fundamentals of Politics: Campaigns and Polling
    • A 5-week program which introduces students to practical experiences to build basic campaign skills and to understand the many functions of a campaign that work together.
    • Core topics covered include:
      • Interest groups
      • Current political issues
      • Political marketing
      • Communications strategies
      • Speech writing
      • Public speaking
    • Students gain hands-on experiences through:
      • Hosting debates
      • Attending press conferences
      • Canvassing for votes
      • Writing advertising copy
      • Visiting the Republican National Committee, the Democratic National Committee, the Federal Elections Commission, the House of Representatives, and the Newseum
      • Participating in a campaign simulation:
        • Create polls
        • Compete to elect a candidate
        • Learn about buying media, analyzing polls, and releasing poll results
        • Write a victory or concession speech
    • Students earn 3 college credits
    • Tuition: $1,074 per credit; Housing: $816; Meals: $220 per week
  • Admission to Summer at Georgetown:
    • Open to rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
    • Rolling admission, final deadline is May 1
    • Standardized test scores (PSAT/SAT/ACT) are required for Summer College and Fundamentals (programs which award college credit) and recommended for all other Summer at Georgetown programs
    • Need a recommendation letter from a teacher
    • Must submit a 300 word essay
    • Must include a high school transcript along with application
    • Admission determined by GPA, test scores, essay, recommendation letter, and extracurricular involvement
• Junior State of America (JSA) Summer School
  • Programs are available at three of the nation’s most prestigious schools: Georgetown, Stanford, and Princeton
  • Advanced college curriculum, leadership activities, and interactive sessions with prominent politicians, journalists, and other opinion leaders
  • Provides an in-depth introduction to U.S. government, U.S. history, politics, and public speaking
  • Classes meet 6 days per week and require SUBSTANTIAL reading, writing, and research; many courses require 12+ page term papers, so students should be prepared for intensely rigorous coursework!
  • Students enroll in one college-level course and a Congressional Workshop debate practicum. Available courses include:
    • AP U.S. Government and Politics
    • Constitutional Law
    • International Relations
    • Speech and Political Communication
    • AP Macroeconomics
    • Media and Politics
    • AP U.S. History
  • Each course is equivalent to a one-semester high school honors or AP course, except AP U.S. History which is a two-semester course
  • Earning credit:
    • Many U.S. high schools will award credit for JSA Summer School; check with your school to find out!
    • These courses prepare students for the spring AP exams administered by the College Board; high scores on the AP exams earn students college credit
  • Admission is highly competitive and based on:
    • Academic achievement
    • Leadership ability
    • Maturity
    • Interest in politics, history, and government
  • Tuition is $4,500 which includes housing, meals, and all other academic expenses

These programs, like many similar programs throughout the country, are extremely competitive and demand high standards from applicants. In fact, for many of these programs, the admissions process is as rigorous as the college admissions process. Applying to these competitive programs can offer excellent practice for the upcoming college admissions race. Moreover, earning acceptance to these programs is an excellent intermediate goal on the road to college admissions. The importance of setting intermediate goals and long-term goals has been firmly established, as noted in this thought-provoking Wall Street Journal article . Students should be strongly encouraged to set high goals throughout high school in order to find greater success when applying to colleges.

As you and your child prepare to apply to these programs or others, we suggest that you strive for the following goals in order to improve the chances for admission:

• Strive for a competitive GPA, at least 3.5
• Check to see what standardized tests are recommended for the programs you are interested in
• Strive for a PSAT score of 220 or above or comparable scores on the SAT or ACT
• Develop strong relationships with teachers/guidance counselors to get good recommendations

Remember to look for other opportunities throughout the school year. The earlier you find programs you are interested in, the better prepared you and your child will be for the application process!

Join us next week when we discuss summer opportunities for students interested in education, journalism, and community service.