High School Experiential Learning Programs in United States

I enrolled in the Art History course because, at the time, I was considering studying the subject in college. New York felt like the perfect place to explore every aspect of what I was considering for my future, and I found it to be an amazing experience. My favorite day of the program was when a group of friends and I went to SoHo together. All of us were from different backgrounds, but we all bonded that day. We went to a nice cafe, shopped a bit in SoHo. My experience at Summer Institute helped me to transform my passion for art history into a concrete plan to pursue it further in college. It also exposed me to different cultures and languages, further reinforcing my interest in international relations.

I decided to enroll in Summer Institute because I’ve always known I wanted to work in the art market, and this program felt like a perfect transition into that world. The first week focused on the buying and selling of artworks in auction houses, while the second week introduced us to galleries of all scales—from small independent ones to mid-tier and blue-chip galleries. I took the Art Business course because I am captivated by Sotheby’s auctions and look up to auctioneers like Phyllis Kao. My favorite day of the program was our visit to Sotheby’s auction house. I even got to stand behind the auctioneer’s podium! In the auction room, my class participated in a Q&A with professionals from private sales, finance, and marketing, where we were able to ask questions and hear about their experiences firsthand. My day-to-day experience was a wonderful mix of structure and exploration. Speaking with professionals from Sotheby’s and different galleries confirmed that I want to study art history in college, just like them, and eventually pursue a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute.

I was curious about how the art world really operates beyond the studio, and Summer Institute felt like the perfect place to explore that intersection. I enrolled in the Art Business course. What I loved most was how the program made these big ideas accessible and real through site visits and discussions with industry professionals. It gave me a much clearer sense of direction and made me realize that I want to pursue a career where I can bridge creativity with business, possibly in art management, advising, or luxury branding. My days were always packed with new exciting experiences for example we visited the Guggenheim to see Rashid Johnson’s show. The exhibition was incredible. The best part was that we actually ran into Rashid Johnson himself that day, and totally by chance! It felt like one of those unplanned New York moments that make the city and this program so special. Going into the program, I felt uncertain about how to turn my love for art into a future career. Summer Institute gave me the clarity I needed.

I enrolled in the luxury business course because it aligned closely with my interests in contemporary art, the art market, and fashion. I was also motivated by my interest in curatorial practice. One of the most interesting aspects of the program was seeing how interconnected the art world is by looking at how history, commerce, creativity, and global perspectives all converge in the city in a very tangible way. One of my favorite days during the program was when we visited the Museum of the City of New York and saw the influence of street art, dance, and culture throughout the decades. Another significant day for me was when we visited Sotheby’s auction house to look at pieces of jewelry that were planned to be auctioned. As someone who has always been immersed in the jewelry world, seeing these pieces was surreal, especially as we learned about both their monetary and historical value. Summer Institute clarified my interests and gave me greater confidence in pursuing a future within the art and cultural sectors, more specifically, a career in curating. It helped me understand the many career paths available and showed me how academic study can translate into professional practice.

I attended the MEI International Business program and would highly recommend it to any students looking to learn more about business and investing. This is an action packed course with great teachers and lessons that are a great preparation for the future.

Our son participated in the reciprocal exchange over summer, meaning our family hosted a great French student Achille for 3 weeks in San Diego and then our son spent 3 weeks in France with Achille’s family. It was so awesome for our family learning so much about French culture and having fun showing off California. Then our son had the best summer he could have asked for - he saw so much of France, beach, lakes & Paris (even going to the Olympics!) with a fabulous French family. Charlie’s French was SO much better afterwards. It really was the experience of a lifetime and the friendship and connection with Achille’s family is something we will treasure.

The most memorable parts were the service project with SBP, the alligator tour, and the tour around New Orleans. The guides and tour leaders were amazing! Really patient with us all, and really good people!

On this trip I met so many amazing people and I tried new foods and tried new things that I normally wouldn’t do and pushed myself out of my comfort zone and I don’t regret it at all I had an amazing experience this summer seeing the Grand Canyon and going to California and I recommend so many other people do so.

My first TFT trip was incredible. I got to see the various types of beauty found along the pacific west cost from national parks to vibrant cities. Not only were the destinations wonderful but so were the TFT staff. They were immensely caring and fun people to be around. Some of my fondest favorite memories came from those friendships. One of my favorite aspects of this trip was that we were taught to be travelers not tourists. Where we are encourage to seek and explore all corners of the earth. I loved my TFT trip and I hope to never stop traveling.

No one would really think that if they could travel, they would go to Alaska. I was totally like that. But after seeing what this trip had to offer, I decided to sign up and do it. It was such an amazing experience! By far, my favourite Travel for Teens trip. I was with a small group and we all got along so great. The activities were amazing like going sea kayaking and seeing seals, going hiking and seeing a herd of wild goats and a glacier, and going whitewater rafting down a canyon! I would totally do this trip again, if I could, I loved it so much. Travel for Teens is a great company to travel with because you’re going with great kids your age and you’re very safe. Also, the dinners and breakfasts are included and the counsellors, food and accommodations are great! I absolutely love Travel for Teens and would totally recommend signing up for the USA for Older Teens: Alaska Service & Adventure trip (only if you like the outdoors though).

Getting to explore southern California has always been a dream of mine, and it came true with Travel for Teens! Going on a bike tour in Santa Monica was a great way to explore the area and learn about the community, and staying in dorm rooms at USC brought us closer together and showed us a little bit about the college experience. In San Diego, going sea kayaking through caves and watching the sea lions dive on and off the rocks reconnected us with the natural beauty of the United States. We then headed off to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon! This was my favorite part of the trip. The Grand Canyon was overwhelming and had us all in awe, as did Antelope Canyon. Wandering through the red rock carved by flash flooding was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget. Our counselors made me feel so welcome and did a great job planning activities for us. I love Travel for Teens!

My daughter is the entire world to me and to place her in the hands and trust of people we do not know took a lot of salesmanship on Abbey Road's part. Rachel had a wonderful, safe and educational summer and at no time was I fearful of her safety. Someone from Abbey Road staff was always on hand, from second #1 at Kennedy Airport to the conclusion of the program, in our case me meeting Rachel in Boston. She loved her experience at the Leadership Academy program in Suffolk University. Rachel came home bright and energized and with a renewed confidence. She was very proud to be able to participate at a college level program and I am hoping that this will continue into the school year. Once again sincere thanks for the remarkable job.

My latest journey to Boston for the Abbey Road College Prep Course was incredibly fulfilling for the particular time in my life that it came. It goes without saying that the majority of students approaching the fall semester of their senior year typically experience high anxiety with regard to college applications. This was especially true for me, and already by the end of my junior year a considerable amount of worry around admissions had set in. For this reason, I began to search for a way to receive adequate SAT preparation, information about colleges, and assistance with the application process. After completing my session with Abbey Road College Prep, I can honestly say that I believe it has been among the most effective and fun ways to complete all of those challenging tasks.

Immediately I appreciated the accommodating and caring staff that was always striving to ensure an enjoyable experience for students. As a program, we were able to enjoy many outings, including a tour on the Duck Adventures Boat, an afternoon at Quincy Market, an outing at Revere Beach, and my personal favorite, a visit to the Institute of Contemporary Art. As previously stated, the SAT preparation was a significant factor in my coming to Abbey Road. Initially, I was nervous that fitting the entire Princeton Review course into two weeks may not have been effective. That prejudgment could not have been further from the truth! Our Princeton Review professor was extremely thorough, continually dedicated to ensuring students’ comprehension of the material and to helping the students succeed. In fact, I would say the two-week course, compared to a longer school year or summer course, ended up as the most effective way for me to prepare for the SAT. With all of the stress surrounding college for the students, having a staff member so highly experienced and informed in the college search process was a key anxiety-reducing factor of the program. Through activities such as constructing a “Must Haves & Deal Breakers” list, drafting a résumé, and brainstorming essay topics, the writing elective course teacher effectively broke down the massive amounts of information about the college search.

Leaving Boston I had the peace of mind regarding my application essays, a more defined list of colleges that interested me, and a clear path to follow to my next SAT and to complete my application process. Not to mention, I left the program having made friends with students from all over the world that I continue to keep in touch with as we journey through the remainder of the application process. In these ways, the Abbey Road Program met all of my needs pertaining to my college search, and I could not be more satisfied with the results that Abbey Road helped me achieve!

Our daughter attended Boston 2 week SAT prep July 2018. The location was great! She got to visit several colleges during her stay and got to experience city life. The staff at abbey road was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We are very happy she got to participate in such a great program.

This past summer my son Will attended the program in Boston.  He enjoyed staying on the campus of Suffolk, and I think he got a good feel for college life.  Students were allowed to leave the campus for free time as long as they were in pairs.  He enjoyed visiting the Harvard campus and loved the day trip to Salem, MA.  The group had some international students, and Will's roommate was from Spain. The groups debated (which he loved) and researched quite a bit during class time.  With Will in his senior year now, Abbey Road has been wonderful to supply letters for college applications, and I believe this type of learning really sets students apart from other applicants. I love Abbey Road Programs and I hope to send my other children on trips when appropriate. Given the professional education of the facilitators, I believe the price is well worth it.  The trips have had a huge impact on Will.

My son attended Abbey Road last summer. He thought the program was well worth it! It was his first time traveling by himself. He felt that the instructor he had from Harvard who had a perfect score motivated him. The class itself is mostly practice questions and going over those questions. Going to all the schools in the Boston area was also very inspirational and useful. He also enjoyed the international students and their discussions/company. Overall, it’s a great experience and he said the dorm was nice and in the middle of Boston. He was happy with the food too!

My daughter, Ava (15 y.o.), attended Abbey Road last summer for the International Relations two-week program. It was her first time in Boston and the first time she had as much autonomy of schedule and leisure time. She did not know anyone in the program prior to arrival. She loved the discussions and classwork. She really blossomed over the two weeks of the program. She developed terrific friendships, toured college campuses, and developed a level of confidence in exploring the city. I was pleased with the level of supervision she received and would highly recommend the program.

My Rustic Pathways trip was great!! Not only did i snorkel in coral reefs and get a great tan, but I met and developed bonds with amazing friends from all around the world!! I travelled to Key Largo, which is very beautiful, and my trip was only a week long and the time passed so quickly. I enjoyed the new experiences and quickly learned how to snorkel. I think that Rustic does an excellent job with their programs, and I look forward to traveling with them again next summer. I want to go out of the country and explore one of their many programs abroad. I am very glad that I partook in a Rustic trip this summer:)