Seventy-four students. Thirty-six different colleges & universities.
Those are the numbers from Pritzker College Prep’s last Summer Of A Lifetime cohort. One of those students was Abigail F., a junior, who spent her SOL experience at Yale University– where she delved into a two-week neuroscience exploration. Take a look at what she had to say about this transformative experience:
Q: What motivated you to apply for this program, and how did it align with your personal goals?
A: “What motivated me to apply to Summer Of A Lifetime was my determination to gain experience of not only a college campus but also the college experience in terms of classes/courses… Since my dream career is to be a neurosurgeon, I wanted to understand more about neuroscience, so Summer Of A Lifetime allowed me to gain the knowledge I can apply to my next years of education.”
Q: Can you describe a particularly memorable moment or activity from the program that stands out to you?
A: “A memorable moment from the program that stood out to me was attending my first seminar about computational neuroscience. This was memorable because I was looking forward to learning more about neuroscience—specifically computational neuroscience. I was glad to have had the opportunity to research case studies of people with schizophrenia; this allowed me to expand my knowledge and interest in the medical field.”
Abigail F. (third from the left) with her “family” - similar to an advisory in the program
Q: What did you gain from this experience?
A: “I gained a new sense of independence; I learned to speak up for different causes; I learned about diseases and the technology used to address them. I also built new connections with other people. I am not the most talkative person, but I got out of my comfort zone.”
Q: What advice would you give someone thinking about doing Summer Of A Lifetime?
A: “Summer Of A Lifetime is an amazing and life-changing experience that will allow you to step into a new environment to learn more about others around you, yourself, and what you want to pursue in your future.”
Q: What was your favorite part of this trip?
A: “My favorite part about this trip was learning about neuroscience and meeting people from all over the world, which has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and learn more about others’ stories and perspectives.”
Abigail (middle) sitting outside with friends she made at the program.
Q: What would you tell a parent about Summer Of A Lifetime?
A: “Encourage your student to do it—this is a life-changing experience. I will never forget this experience because of what I learned and the people I met.”
Q: How will the Summer Of A Lifetime program impact your future endeavors?
A: “Summer Of A Lifetime will definitely impact my future endeavors because the two weeks I spent at Yale University have been life-changing. The knowledge I gained from my seminars and lectures has helped me better understand what I want to pursue in the future, and the connections I made with scholars from around the world helped me step out of my comfort zone. I know that Summer Of A Lifetime has changed me, and I will cherish those experiences all my life.”
Abigail’s experience echoes the sentiments of many of the students at Pritzker and Noble Schools. They return not only with academic knowledge but also with newfound confidence and focus.
Brianna Rodriguez, Pritzker’s SOL coordinator, says her campus’ ongoing success in having many applicants is mainly due to SOL alums like Abigail, who share their incredible experiences with their peers.
“I was shocked to have so many SOL alumni want to share their experiences with other students and parents. They realize that experiencing college life has made a difference in their drive and future, and they want to pass along that joy and challenge,” Rodriguez said, “Our students belong on these (college) campuses but don’t always envision themselves there because of finances, family history, or just lack of representation. I know that with the encouragement of SOL alum, Pritzker sophomores will continue to take advantage of the opportunities that SOL brings and go off to expand their perspectives on college and life.”
While applications wrapped up for sophomores this school year, there is still plenty of time for Noble first-year students to consider applying for next year. If you are a freshman (or a parent of one!), make sure to reach out to your campus’ SOL coordinator to learn more.
