Camp offers teen girls chance to explore college options

For more than 30 years, Meredith College has been helping teen girls sort out exactly what they'd like to do after high school graduation.

"Looking Toward College: A Residential Program for High School Women" gives rising sophomores, juniors and seniors an opportunity to explore what college life is really like. They sleep in dorms, eat in the cafeteria and take "classes" though these focus on topics such as communications skills, career planning, college selection, financial aid and more. Evenings are filled with social activities, crafts and other programs.

The program, which costs $350, runs June 21 to June 24 this year.

Ann Gleason, Meredith's dean of students who runs the program, tells me that for many teens, the college decision is the biggest one they've made in their lives so far.

"It's really to get them in that frame of mind about what choices are best for them, really trying to explore who they are and what they're interested in," she said. "It's not a hard sell about Meredith. It's really more about the college experience."

Though seniors are accepted, rising sophomores and juniors, who are just beginning the college application process or in the middle of it, really are encouraged to attend.

Gleason said organizers try to keep the program fairly small. Between 25 and 55 kids typically attend the four-day program. They come from North Carolina and beyond. In some cases, friends come together and can room with each other. In other cases, they come on their own and are assigned roommates, just like they'd probably experience in college.

Registration for the program starts now. For more information, call Meredith at 919-760-8521.

Gleason says she hasn't heard of any other similar programs for teen girls in the area with such a focus on college planning and preparation. I haven't either (though feel free to share about others in the area if they exist in the comments). It sounds like a great way for teens to jump start that college search process on the right foot. Girls are sent home with binders with more information and resources.