Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It?

March 30, 2026 | Estimated Read Time: 2 Minutes

By Donna Levin

As a high school student dreaming of going to an elite college, you may be putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You may feel pressure to keep busy and participate in a ton of activities. You may feel pressure not to waste any time and do something meaningful with your summers.

Pre-college summer programs certainly are valuable experiences, and there are a wide variety of them to choose from. Before signing up for one, though, you need to change how you think about them. Whatever summer programs for teens you decide to do, this shouldn’t be about simply building a resume for your college applications. Your summer should mean more than that.

Are Pre-College Business Programs Worth the Money?

Yes, pre-college programs are worth the investment in yourself, though instead of focusing on how they will look on a college application, consider how they will actually prepare you for the next step in your education. These programs should contribute to your growth, confidence, and long-term development, not to mention your business knowledge.

The move from high school to college requires a level of independence many students have yet to experience. The students who thrive aren’t necessarily those with the longest list of activities. They’re the ones who have built the skills that higher education quietly demands: agility, resilience, and creativity.

That’s the power of pre-college summer programs. Colleges aren’t looking for students who have done more. They’re looking for students who can think critically, thrive independently, and manage complexity, skills they can hone during summer programs.

A New Way to Look at Summer

That’s why we need to reframe what defines summer. All of that free time shouldn’t be seen as resume-building season. Rather, it’s a season for preparing for the future.

That doesn’t mean that pre-college summer programs should be the only option for students. Whether a student spends a summer navigating a complex research project, working a demanding job, or participating in a hands-on internship, they are doing more than polishing their personal brand for college admissions officers. They are learning how to solve problems, manage time without parental supervision, and recover from failure.

For those who are interested, many summer programs for teens are available at colleges. For instance, Babson College’s summer programs for high school students will give participants the opportunity to tackle challenges, develop practical problem-solving skills, and learn about entrepreneurial leadership.

As they look to the summer, the question teens should ask themselves isn’t whether they’re keeping busy. The question is whether they’re keeping busy with experiences that will shape them, inspire them, and prepare them. Regardless of what summer programs they’re pursuing, they’re hopefully equipping themselves for future success.

About the Author

Donna Levin is the CEO of Babson’s Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which is offering summer programs for high school students at the College.