Research a College

• Campus Tours
• College and University Search
• U.S. News & World Report: America's Best Colleges 
• College Board
• Princeton Review
• College Journal
• Choices 360.com is a web-based computer program available for students' use. Contains information on 2 and 4-year colleges, vocational schools, military careers, scholarships, and occupations. Various career assessments can be taken online with immediate results. Access Code NYO1253.  

• Make sure the college knows you are there. Establish some contact with the admissions office because many colleges, though not all, track your level of interest in their school and the campus visit is one of the most important factors that is tracked.
• Divide and conquer. Parents should separate and let their child go with a different tour guide.  A child may take the visit a little more seriously when parents are not around, may ask his or her own questions, and you'll have a good conversation comparing your two tours.
• Get lost. Wander on your own and explore what makes each college unique. Go beyond the standard visit. "It is worth more than two hours of your time if you might be spending four years of your life there". If the college is worthy of your visit, then dedicate sufficient time to touring the area around the campus, sitting in on a class, having a meal in the dining hall, visiting buildings and areas that weren't on the formal campus tour.
• Ask good questions. But do your research before you go on the college website.  Some good questions might include: how many students work on research projects with the faculty? What types of honors courses, learning communities and other distinctive programs are offered?
• Carve out time to meet with current students. If you don't have any connection with students at the school, then head to the dining hall. Be bold and walk up to a table of students, tell them you're touring colleges and have a few questions.  College kids are usually thrilled to talk with prospective students and they will typically be unabashedly honest. Start with some basic questions: "Are you happy here? Why" Why not?" "How interesting are your classes/professors?" "How accessible and responsive are your professors?" "Is this college worth the price you pay?" You will likely learn more in that 10-minute interchange with a group of current students than during the information session or the tours.

Boston College Pre-College Summer Program

Buffalo Summer Youth Academy

Clarkson University Young Scholars Program

Clarkson University Horizons Program

Cleveland Institute of Art Summer Program

Cornell SCE Precollege Studies

Georgetown University

John Hopkins Pre-College Summer

Lebanon Valley College Health Biomedical Science Pre-College Summer

Miami University Summer Scholars Program

New Paltz Summer Honors Program

Notre Dame Pre-College Online Programs

Rensselaer PREFACE Engineering Summer Program - Apply by April 4, 2025

Renesselaer Architecture Summer Program

Rochester Pre-College Online Program

School of Business Administration

Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

Stevens Pre-College Programs for the Summer
Stevens School of Business Pre-College Summer

Stony Brook University Summer Session

Syracuse University High School Summer Program

University of Miami Summer Scholars Program

USC Summer & Online Programs

West Point Summer Leaders Experience

Compiled by the WNY High School Counselors Association. HS students should plan to do something productive over the summer, whether it is employment, volunteer work, pre-college programs, summer classes, or participation in specialized camps in sports, arts, or sciences.  Many colleges have summer programs designed for rising seniors.  

Search Summer Opportunities

• ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is an aptitude and interest inventory available to juniors. It is designed to help students discover their interests, aptitudes and abilities while ultimately matching these with possible career and vocational options. Through ASVAB, students can further explore college majors, post-second institutions as well as scholarship opportunities.
• Choices 360.com is a web-based computer program available for students' use. Contains information on 2 and 4-year colleges, vocational schools, military careers, scholarships, and occupations. Various career assessments can be taken online with immediate results. Access Code NYO1253. 
• Choices Explorer has hundreds of career profiles. Discover which ones are best for you.  Your Site ID is 0100830. Your Password is: Amherst.
• Healthcare Explores Program: The ECMC Foundation offers high school students in 10th-12th grade an immersive summer internship experience allows students to have hands-on learning opportunities across our campus. Topics include Surgical Services, Transplantation, Emergency Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and so much more. 
• NORTHLAND Workforce Training Center: See website for training opportunities for a career in manufacturing jobs in WNY.
• Erie 1 BOCES Career and Technical Education: The program provides exciting opportunities for students to explore their passions and possible career paths. 

• NYCourts.gov
• Discover Degrees in Business
• Bureau of Labor Statistics - consumer price index, unemployment, productivity, earnings by industry, and wages by area and occupation
• Job Star - career guides for specific occupations
• JobWeb
• Mapping Your Future
• NY State Department of Labor
• Princeton Review
• The Career Key
• Salary.com
• Vocational Information Center

Summer Internship: Legislator Jeanne Vinal: We are looking for 4 Interns to work 20 hours in the summer at times agreed upon on Thursdays in June, July, and August. This will include observing legislative sessions and committees in June and July and research topics with a brief summary and analysis. The research topic could include interviewing government and administrative employees.

2024 danceability Summer Volunteer Registration: danceability is an individualized dance, fitness & movement program serving the special needs community in SNY. A fun and fulfilling experience. See application and fulfill your community service hours.