Asheville, NC – August 16th, 2017 – Blueprint Summer Programs, Inc., the leader in pre-college summer programs for high school students, has been recognized as No. 851 on Inc. Magazine’s 2017 list of America’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies.
Blueprint now joins an elite group that in past years has included GoPro, Clif Bar and Patagonia, and is the only summer program company to make this year’s list. Blueprint experienced a three-year growth rate of 529%, and created over 250 full and part-time jobs in the past year. The company has plans for further growth in the coming year.
Founded in 2007 by Asheville residents Michael Dodson and Justin Laman, Blueprint was created to help students get ready for college. The company offers academic, residential summer programs for high school students that empower them to decide what type of college is the best fit for them, pinpoint their major, understand the college application process, and learn skills for navigating daily college life.
“We’re very excited to be recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the country, and see this as a testament to the demand for this type of college readiness programming,” said Michael Dodson, Blueprint’s CEO. “Choosing which college is the best for you, and then getting into it, can be a harrowing process when you’re operating in the dark. We’re looking forward to helping even more students navigate the process and arrive at college prepared for success.”
Blueprint Summer Programs is the leader in Pre-College Enrichment programs for students entering grades 9-12 and has educated thousands of students since its inception in 2007. Programs are residential, focus on College and Career Readiness, and have been hosted at UCLA, Georgetown University, University of Florida, University of Virginia, and many other highly-regarded institutions of higher education.
For more information, call 877-415-1111 or email justin@bpsummerprograms.com
8 Reasons To Attend Pre-College Programs!
/in Why Blueprint /by Katherine BrownSummer is right around the corner! With most high schools pushing through second semester, it’s easy to dream of pool lounging and Netflix binging. But, don’t give in to that temptation! (at least not entirely…)
Spend a couple weeks this summer on a college campus, getting ready for the upcoming years. If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, here are just 8 of the many reasons to attend pre-college programs (especially Blueprint!)
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How To Save Money On College Campus Visits
/in College Admissions /by Katherine BrownYou already know how important college campus visits are for making the final decision about what school to attend, but with so many options, visiting each one can put a serious dent in your wallet. Especially when considering colleges far from home, the cost of airfare, rental car, meals, and more can add up. However, there are some things you can do to save money on college visits; there are even some colleges that will pay you to come visit!
Reduce travel costs
Though most people know to check Kayak or Priceline for good deals on flights, there are actually some websites that offer discounts specifically for students. Check out STA Travel and Student Universe. You should also start asking around and connect with friends or other students interested in similar schools. Having a few more people to split the cost of gas and hotel rooms with can help lower your travel costs.
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5 Worst Reasons to Attend a Pre-College Summer Program
/in College Prep /by Justin LamanAttending a pre-college summer program is a great way for high school students to prepare for the transition to college. Experience life on campus. Test drive a future major. Meet students from all over the world. Develop skills to succeed. Pre-college programs help students get ready for college in a number of ways!
In speaking to parents and students interested in pre-college summer programs, one question I always ask is “what interests you about attending a pre-college program?”
Every student arrives to a pre-college program for their own reasons – just make sure you’re attending for the right reasons. The list below is a brief overview of the worst reasons I’ve heard for attending a pre-college summer program.
If any of the 5 below apply to you (or your family), we suggest that you take another look at your summer plans and reconsider.
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How To Decide Where To Apply To college
/in College Admissions /by Katherine BrownBlueprint offers many resources about how to impress college admissions advisors: take challenging classes, maintain a high GPA, rock your standardized tests and fill your schedule with extracurriculars.
But how do you decide which college admissions advisors you want to impress?
It’s time to take a look at the schools that make up your top five list and decide where to apply to college. Developing your personal list of top choice colleges and universities is a critical step in the college admissions process. Filling out applications, writing all those essays, takes a lot of time (and can get quite costly!) Narrowing down where you want to apply will create less of a burden on your time and wallett!
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What You Need To Know Before Going To College
/in College Prep /by Blueprint ProgramsLearning the college admissions process. Determining the best way to study for tests. Figuring out how to get along with a roommate. These are all things high school students (hopefully) learn before heading off to college. But what about everything else? Those things that will make your college experience 10x better, but aren’t as common to talk about.
We recently asked Blueprint alumni what every high schooler needs to know about college. Here’s their advice:
10 Things Every High Schooler Needs to Know
1. Enjoy the college selection process
Now is not the time to go with the flow or get peer-pressured into attending a college you don’t love. Though you may be inclined to follow your best friend wherever they decide to go, it’s more important to choose exactly the right college for you. Choosing the right college now will save you four years or more of dissatisfaction, so be a savvy consumer! Do your research, visit your top choices and get a feel for life on campus with a pre-college summer program.
2. You should get a job
Yes, college is your job. But working while managing your college classes gives you valuable time management skills that future employers will notice. There’s no need to obsess over finding the “perfect” job – just do something that gets you out of the college bubble. You’ll make friends, learn how to manage your time and appreciate the value of a dollar.
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Make Your College Application Stand Out With These 5 Tips
/in College Admissions, College Prep /by Katherine BrownGetting accepted into college involves a combination of following the right steps and ensuring you’ve chosen a good fit. This choice will affect the next four years (and the rest) of your life. Where you live. Friends you make. Relationships you build. Career options you have. It all is impacted by the college you attend.
With a decision this big, it’s important to be prepared! Educate yourself about your options, take advantage of pre-college summer programs and create a list of your top choice colleges. Then, do your best to ensure that your top choice colleges will accept you when it is time to apply! Read more
CCR Checklist For High School Students
/in College Prep /by Katherine BrownIt’s never too early to start thinking about and planning for college. Though the end of sophomore/beginning of junior year is when most students start to get serious about college admissions, there are plenty of things to do even as you begin high school!
Ever wonder what you should be doing in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade to be getting ready for college? When should you narrow down your top picks? What summer is best for college visits?
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2017’s Best Pre-College Moments
/in Why Blueprint /by Katherine BrownBlueprint Named to Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 Fastest Growing Companies
/in Uncategorized /by Justin LamanAsheville, NC – August 16th, 2017 – Blueprint Summer Programs, Inc., the leader in pre-college summer programs for high school students, has been recognized as No. 851 on Inc. Magazine’s 2017 list of America’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies.
Blueprint now joins an elite group that in past years has included GoPro, Clif Bar and Patagonia, and is the only summer program company to make this year’s list. Blueprint experienced a three-year growth rate of 529%, and created over 250 full and part-time jobs in the past year. The company has plans for further growth in the coming year.
Founded in 2007 by Asheville residents Michael Dodson and Justin Laman, Blueprint was created to help students get ready for college. The company offers academic, residential summer programs for high school students that empower them to decide what type of college is the best fit for them, pinpoint their major, understand the college application process, and learn skills for navigating daily college life.
“We’re very excited to be recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the country, and see this as a testament to the demand for this type of college readiness programming,” said Michael Dodson, Blueprint’s CEO. “Choosing which college is the best for you, and then getting into it, can be a harrowing process when you’re operating in the dark. We’re looking forward to helping even more students navigate the process and arrive at college prepared for success.”
Blueprint Summer Programs is the leader in Pre-College Enrichment programs for students entering grades 9-12 and has educated thousands of students since its inception in 2007. Programs are residential, focus on College and Career Readiness, and have been hosted at UCLA, Georgetown University, University of Florida, University of Virginia, and many other highly-regarded institutions of higher education.
For more information, call 877-415-1111 or email justin@bpsummerprograms.com
How Pre-College Programs Help Develop CCR Skills
/in College Prep, Why Blueprint /by Britney MelloneEverything about Blueprint is designed to get students ready for college.
Obviously we have our daily CCR seminars and CCR Summit. And there’s the whole thing where you’re actually living on a college campus. But even the little things, like where you go on field trips, participating in community service and evening activities are all purposefully crafted to develop those critical CCR skills we’ve been talking about.
Good grades and high test scores are necessary to get into college, but there’s many things you can’t learn in a classroom. Blueprint sets the stage for high school students to spend a couple weeks during their summer really preparing for college and even test driving the college experience.
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