Mykel Billups said she had no idea whether her 16-year-old son Taylor was ready for the full college experience.
"As a parent, you can tell them what they are going to need to do, how they are going to have to manage things on their own, but at home, Mom is still doing it all," said Billups, assistant dean for student and post-graduate support services at the University of Miami Camner Center for Academic Resources.
"He’s never been away from home on his own. I wanted him to see what it’s really like to live on campus and be independent."
Billups encouraged Taylor to apply to the University’s Pre-College Program – a 2- or 3-week experience designed to give high school students a "crash course" in what it’s like to attend college – before they ever graduate high school.
Billups said she was pleasantly surprised.
"Other than a short plea to help him out with his laundry, he’s been on his own," she said. "We dropped him off on move-in day, and one by one, he has figured out everything he needed to do."
For Taylor, one of the greatest parts of the program was meeting students from all over the U.S. - and even around the world.
"It was really interesting to get to know people from New York, California, Wyoming, even from Switzerland," he said. "It’s really a great experience meeting so many new people."
This year’s cohort of Summer Scholars – more than 580 – is the largest in program history, said Pre-College Program Director Krista Lyons, who has been with the program for 12 years. Summer Scholars and Pre-College are part of the Division of Continuing and International Education (DCIE).
"I think parents really understand the value of giving their child the chance to have that mini-college experience," Lyons said. "They get to test out their academic interests, they get to practice time management, they get to know themselves better."
Billups described it as a "life-changing moment" for her son, who will enter his senior year this fall at Gulliver Prep.
"I’ve just seen so much growth in him," she said. "It really is a simulation of the college experience."
Taylor agreed and said he learned far more being on campus than in any college prep course he’d ever taken.
He said he knew a year ago that he wanted to study sports medicine – after he tore his ACL and had to endure nine months of physical therapy – but he didn’t know anything about living on his own.
"I’ve definitely gained a lot of independence and learned how to navigate things," he said. "Even in the classroom, I’m doing better because I have to stay on top of things myself. I can’t rely on others, like at home, to help me stay on top of everything."
From move-in day, where they receive their official Cane ID, some Miami swag and take photos with Sebastian, to living in the dorms and eating in the dining halls, the Summer Scholars are essentially Hurricanes from the time they set foot on campus, Lyons said.
They take classes with UM professors and meet with teams from the Office of Admissions, Financial Assistance, and Multi-cultural Student Affairs. They also participate in college prep courses, including a workshop on writing a great college essay and one on what it means to be a first-generation student.
On the weekends, they get the full Miami experience, including trips to Wynwood, Lincoln Road on South Beach, the Perez Art Museum Miami, and a Marlins game. They can also go snorkeling at John Pennekamp State Park or on an airboat tour of the Everglades.
Depending on their area of study, some students participated in a shark research excursion with the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, while others got to enjoy a dolphin encounter at Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder in Key Largo.
Carmen Presti is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. She teaches a course in nursing for the Pre-College Program and this year, she encouraged her son, Noah, 16, to apply for the program. He did and was accepted into the tropical marine biology track.
"We were excited to have him experience curriculum he is passionate about, but of course it was bittersweet to walk away without him," Presti said. "I think I made it to the elevator without tears but just barely. Our excitement and pride of having him attend outweighed any anxiety."
Noah said he enjoyed the hands-on activities offered through the marine biology program, including shark research, but he also loved the overall experience of living on campus.
"Being on the UM campus this time felt a little bit nostalgic, since I have visited many times in the past, due to my mom’s job as a professor," Noah said. "This time, however, I felt much more involved and in sync with the University."
Lyons said the growth students experience during their time in the program is clearly visible on the last day.
"We really see a difference," she said. "They are more confident in themselves and their ability to go to college and do well. It’s a transformational experience."
To learn more about UM’s Pre-College Program, visit ssp.dcie.miami.edu.
