Blog | Blueprint Summer Programs

How To Prepare Homeschool Students For College

January 29, 2019/in College Prep, For Parents /by Blueprint Programs

As children approach high school age families begin to seriously consider options for college. For the approximately 1.5 million families who choose to homeschool, college readiness is often a concern that leads to families deciding to enroll students in a public or private high school.

The need for college readiness does not take away homeschooling as an option for high school students. There are many options available, both online and in person, for high school homeschoolers to prepare for the academic and self-management aspects of higher education.

Pro Tip: Decrease Your Number of College Applications

November 3, 2018/in College Admissions /by Blueprint Programs

How many colleges should I apply to?

Truthfully, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Each case and student is completely different. Each college is different. And how they want to craft each class of students varies from year to year.

What doesn’t change too much is the basic strategy for applying to colleges: an even ratio of reach, match and safety schools is the prescription for all student’s college admissions woes.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Pre-college Programs

October 15, 2018/in College Prep /by Blueprint Programs

Summertime. Long days splashing around in the lake, taking road trips with the family and hanging out with your friends. No school work, no stress of academics. Who would want to spend their free time attending a pre-college summer program? Working on college applications and spending 5 hours a day in a classroom? That sounds boring and basically just like school.

If this was your first thought, I don’t blame you. Some pre-college programs have given us all a bad reputation. Sure they can help expose you to college courses and you get to live on campus. But who wants to spend their summer doing what they can do once they’re already in college? Pre-college programs are only for the big nerds applying to schools like Harvard or Yale. Right?

Now that’s where you’d be wrong. Pre-college summer programs offer so many benefits to every high school student. Instead of your usual summer camp, a pre-college program gets you on campus to experience college life while developing skills you’ll need to succeed. They can also help you get a head start on college readiness. And if you pick the right one, you’ll have a blast doing it!

So what are these magical benefits I speak of? Let’s go over just a few…

2 Years In a Row! Blueprint Named to Inc.’s Fastest Growing Companies

October 1, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Katherine Brown

Asheville, NC – September 11, 2018 – Blueprint Summer Programs, Inc., the leader in pre-college summer programs for high school students, has been recognized as #1384 on Inc. Magazine’s list of America’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies. This is the second year in a row that Blueprint has received this honor.

Blueprint experienced a three-year growth rate of 342%, and created over 200 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 in a low-stress, fun environment. The company offers 1 and 2 week residential summer programs that take a whole-listic approach to college readiness, ensuring students are ready for both the academic and social aspects of college. The programs empower students to tackle issues such as deciding what type of college is the best fit for them, pinpointing their major, understanding the college application process, and learning skills for navigating daily college life.

8 Reasons To Attend Pre-College Programs!

February 13, 2018/in Why Blueprint /by Katherine Brown

Summer 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!)

How To Save Money On College Campus Visits

February 4, 2018/in College Admissions /by Katherine Brown

You 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!

Tips to save money on college visits

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.

5 Worst Reasons to Attend a Pre-College Summer Program

January 30, 2018/in College Prep /by Blueprint Programs

Attending 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.

How To Decide Where To Apply To college

January 23, 2018/in College Admissions /by Katherine Brown

Blueprint 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!

What You Need To Know Before Going To College

January 15, 2018/in College Prep /by Blueprint Programs

Learning 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.

Make Your College Application Stand Out With These 5 Tips

January 9, 2018/in College Admissions, College Prep /by Katherine Brown

Getting 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

How To Prepare Homeschool Students For College