Academic Outreach Camp

The University of South Carolina Upstate, BMW Manufacturing in Greer, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System are teaming up for an Academic Outreach Camp to introduce students to exciting and real world applications of mathematics, statistics, and physics.

The camp will emphasize how mathematics and science are used to improve the processes to build things like BMW vehicles and how other industries and organizations, such as healthcare, finance and the armed forces, use similar processes and tools.  In addition to honing and improving team work and leadership skills, students will gain hands-on experience in learning and applying Lean and Six Sigma tools to computerized challenges, physical simulations, case studies, and teaching games.  An in-depth tour of BMW's manufacturing facility and USC-Upstate's Healthcare Simulation Center are included.  Students will also have a chance to improve their driving skills behind the wheel of a BMW vehicle at the BMW Performance Center.

The Academic Outreach Camp will be held June 15-19 and June 22-26, 2015, at USC-Upstate's George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg.  Participants will be required to attend both weeks.  Students must be rising seniors at the time of application and must apply online at www.uscupstate.edu/bmwcamp.  The camp is free; lunch and snacks will be provided.  The deadline for applications is March 16, 2015.

For questions or for more information, please contact:

Donette Stewart - dstewart@uscupstate.edu or 864503-5280
Tim Ellis - tellis@uscupstate.edu or 864-552-4235

What is your favorite book?

So honestly, how many of you genuinely love to read?  Or even like it, for that matter?  I've heard all the excuses...English class ruined reading for me; I just read too slowly; books are boring; and so on.  

I was thinking about what topics could be helpful to you rising seniors as you move towards your final year of high school and the college admissions process looms large, and I thought books would be a great place to land.  So I started hunting, and I came across several articles about how reading really should be a part of your lives.  One article from the Washington Post included a interesting anecdote by the author:

It was late June 1991, and I sat upright on the edge of the plush chair in the admissions office, pictures of brick buildings and cheerful coeds adorning the walls.  Nervously I fidgeted with my hands, being sure to make eye contact as my counselor had instructed.  The admission dean fired off softball questions about my high school in attempt to put me at ease.  I was on Day 5 of my first college tour and every campus was starting to look the same.  As I sat in that office, much like the others before, my mind wandered.  Was I in New York or New Hampshire?

I was jolted back to the moment, as the interviewer smiled and delivered the question.  It was the one question that I still remember 20 some years later.  “What is your favorite book?”  A simple inquiry, but one that stopped me in my tracks.  My mind raced.  ’What does she want to hear?’ ‘Should I go the intellectual route?’  'Should I try and be unique?’  'Does this college count a famous author among their graduates?’   ‘Which college am I at anyway?’ I paused for what seemed like an eternity.  “Mama Day” by Gloria Naylor, I offered.  A story of race, family, tradition and relationships, it was the last book we had read in junior year before school let out for the summer, so weeks later it was the only one stuck in my mind.  It is with great clarity that I recall the answer I gave that summer day.  Maybe because it is when I suddenly realized that college would be about books and studying, not just independence and fraternity parties.  Or perhaps it was the first time I started considering what it means to be a thoughtful reader and when I appreciated the opportunity that the space and time that summer provides to explore fine literature.

"I suddenly realized that college would be about books and studying, not just independence and fraternity parties."  Yes, you actually have to learn while you are at college.  The great thing is that everyone is learning together, so you get to have interesting conversations spanning majors, topics, beliefs, and ideas all the time.  Starting the habit of reading now will aid you in these types of situations.  Reading will help you become more articulate, it will improve your vocabulary, and make you a better writer.  It will open your mind to new ideas and different ways of viewing the world and the people in it.  And, in all honesty, it will help you become a well-rounded, knowledgeable, and interesting person (and who doesn't want that?).  


Where to start?  I always ask my friends, family, and coworkers what they have read recently and enjoyed.  They have given me lots of ideas, and I just keep track of their suggestions so when I go to the library (getting a library card is step #2), I can remember what I want to read next.  I also like to look at the New York Times bestseller lists, or those overly dramatic lists you see about the "Top 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die!".  Scan through the descriptions and pick out the ones that seem most interesting to you. 

All that being said, here are some suggestions for places to start reading:

A summer reading list from college admissions counselors
28 Summer Reading Suggestions from College Admission Experts
My Summer Reading List #dukereads
New York Times Bestsellers
Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels
30 Books Every Christian Should Read

Now when you are asked in your college interview or application about your favorite book or the last several books you've read, you will have something interesting to say...proving that your dream school would be lucky to have such a thoughtful, well-rounded person like yourself attend their university.

Duke Open House

Duke University is hosting an Open House on Saturday, June 14, 2014.  

Visit admissions.duke.edu for more information.

Summer Program: 2014 Emory Pre-College Program

Discover College Life This Summer!

The Emory Pre-College Program gives rising juniors and seniors in high school an exciting glimpse of academic and residential life at a top-ranked national university.  High school students may enroll in classes with college students, earn transferable college credit, and explore topics with professors who are the leading experts in their fields.  

Students live away from home and experience the independence and responsibility of college life in a safe, secure, and supervised environment.  Students live together in an air-conditioned residence hall on the main Emory campus.  Experienced residence life staff provide supervision and help students make the most of their summer academic experience. 

Credit Courses (six weeks)

• Session 1: May 19-June 27 (commuter only)
• Session 2: June 29-August 9 (residential and commuter)

Non-Credit Courses (two and three weeks)

• Session A: June 29-July 12 (residential and commuter)
• Session B: July 13-July 26 (residential and commuter)
• Session C: July 27-August 9 (residential and commuter)
• Three-Week Institute: July 13-August 2 (residential and commuter)

Apply online at www.precollege.emory.edu. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.

For more information, contact precollege@emory.edu or 404-727-9279.

Summer Programs: South Carolina Business Week

Are you interested in going into business?  This might be the summer program opportunity for you!  And it's FREE!  South Carolina Business Week is the premier youth program of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.  The timely and customized curriculum encourages participants to excel as individuals while becoming integral team players.  Learn skills from leaders in business, education and government; CEOs from some of South Carolina's largest corporations; and experts in economics, diversity, communications, international business, management, and research and development.

THE DETAILS
Who: Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors (top 1/3 of their class)
When: July 13-18, 2014
Where: Presbyterian College
Cost: $50 application fee (program attendees are sponsored by the business community)
Deadline: APRIL 11, 2014

BONUS
Each year, South Carolina Business Week presents four college scholarships totaling $12,000 to deserving students.  The scholarships are: the S. Hunter Howard, Jr. Business Week Scholarship ($5,000), the Ron McNair Leadership Scholarship ($3,000), the Rawl Family Scholarship ($2,000), and the Chelse Ward Elliott Scholarship ($2,000).  Students who receive one of the first three scholarships must attend an in-state college or university in order to receive the scholarship money.  Students are required to submit a separate scholarship application, which will be mailed to them once they are accepted into the South Carolina Business Week program.

If you are interested in learning more or applying for this program, stop by the Student Services Office in the 100 building.  Or visit http://www.scbusinessweek.com/.

Summer Program: Emerging Public Leaders

Are you a rising senior in high school and interested in getting involved and making a difference in the world?  The Emerging Public Leaders program might be for you!  And it's FREE!  This exciting and innovative program features sessions with local, state, and national governmental leaders as well as members of the faculty of Furman's Department of Political Science.  Students attend lectures, participate in off-campus trips, and interact with speakers and faculty individually and in small-group sessions.  Campus lectures and special sessions will address topics such as community activism, working with the media, international politics, and issues surrounding poverty.  Throughout the week, each student also participates in activities and workshops designed to help them identify a problem or need in their own community and to develop a student-led project addressing this problem or need.

THE DETAILS
Who: rising Seniors
When: June 22-28, 2014
Where: Furman University
Cost: free
Deadline: APRIL 11, 2014

Application: http://riley.furman.edu/
For more information, contact Program Logistics Coordinator, Alexis Sprogis (alexis.sprogis@furman.edu; 864-294-3696).

Summer Programs @ Stanford

Summer Institutes
At Summer Institutes, students ages 14-17 will engage in a 3-4 week intensive study single-subject courses with instructors and peers who share their talents, passions, and interests.  Coursework is tightly integrated with the social experience in academically themed houses.  Courses in areas ranging from biotechnology to entrepreneurship and creative writing are customized to give students deep exposure and hands-on experience.

Summer College
At Summer College, students from around the world ages 16-19 will choose from more than 125 college courses in 30 academic departments, earning undergraduate course credit and an official Stanford University transcript.  Students in the residential and the commuting Summer College programs credit their own course schedules and experience what life is like as undergraduate students at Stanford.

For more information, visit http://spcs.stanford.edu/explore.

...plus you'll get to spend your summer on this beautiful campus!

Preview Days

On April 3rd-4th, Columbia International University is hosting their Preview Days for prospective students.  If you are interested in visiting or someday attending CIU, this is a great place to start!  You will get to spend the night in the dorms, participate in student-lead activities, and see what it’s like to sit in on classes and chapel as well as meet with professors from different degree concentrations.  

For more information or to register, visit http://www.ciu.edu/become-student/how-apply/undergraduate/preview-days.