Summer Advantage is a 4-week program from June to July and is available to all incoming freshmen before their first semester at High Point University. Students earn up to 8 credits and get a feel for HPU’s campus, but with sign-ups for the 2023 program being open, the real question is, what’s pulling students in, and what’s driving them away?
By Lauren Schena
Q News
Lack of Snacks
According to an anonymous assessment of Summer Advantage from the 2022 participants, many students suggested that the program could improve upon the lack of dining options offered.
One respondent wrote, “There should be more dining options in the summer. It was way too limited.”
Another student responded that there should be, “More options for healthy food. It’s been very hard to eat healthy if I want to eat on campus.”
During the Summer Advantage program, students are able to eat at Starbucks and the Cafe in Slane, and The Point Sports Grille in Wanek. In a typical school year, the amount of dining options for students is nearly tripled in comparison to the summer dining plan.
One student, Robert Miller, participated in the Summer Advantage program in 2022. He noted that the limited food options were difficult for him as a diabetic.
"I think the food offered, especially for me being a diabetic, was not the best at all. Options were very limited and I found at the end of the day that I was not able to control my levels whatsoever," Miller said.
Wondering whether fewer dining options should steer students from the program? Below, Cailee Calabrese, a freshman at HPU, shares her positive experience from Summer Advantage.
Calabrese participated in Summer Advantage in the summer of 2022. From her experience, Calabrese made friends, got ahead, and is now a student assistant working for the program.
“Ironically enough, summer advantage really gave me an advantage during the school year. I had a leg up on all my classmates because I already knew the campus and people and how everything runs. It made me feel comfortable being away from home and being on my own for the first time,” Calabrese said.
Calabrese talks about how grateful she was for her experiences and how they lead her to now work for the progrm during the fall and spring semesters.
“It was a great first job experience getting to talk to people about something I enjoyed,” Calabrese said.
In her current position, Calabres attends freshman orientation events where she gets the opportunity to talk to incoming freshmen about her experiences at Summer Advantage and how much she recommends the program.
“I wanted to share my experience with others,” Calabrese said.
Calabrese emphasizes how it was not only her academic experiences, but her personal experience meeting friends and getting acclimated on campus that made her experience everything she hoped it would be.
“It was challenging, the classes kept me busy and my mind occupied, but it also let me have fun and bond with my classmates. I made so many friends and made such great memories,” Calabrese said. “The experience was great.”
To hear more about the benefits of the program, below director Jim Scott speaks on the pros of Summer Advantage for incoming freshmen.
Pros From a Pro
Scott highlighted the measurable growth students have shown coming into the program compared to when they left.
“We’ve had some students that had very low overall GPA performance in high school compared to other admits, but at Summer Advantage, the lights go on. All of a sudden they produce a grade point average that is substantially higher than they had in high school.” Scott said.
Scott mentions that despite the common misconception, Summer Advantae is more than just an academic program.
“It’s more than just going to class and getting good grades, it’s making friends, and making yourself feel right at home at High Point University so that when the fall hits and five thousand people descend upon you, you don’t feel isolated and alone. You already have your crew, you know where you’re going, you know what you’re doing, and you have enormous confidence,” Scott said.
Visit the Summer Advantage website or your Panther Page for more details.
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