Hot Dogs, No. Brain Food, Yes!

Courtney Tie

O summer, that wonderful two and a half month vacation, during which the only concern is whether to serve hot dogs or hamburgers to your guests at the next barbecue. However, these were not the only things on my mind as I pulled away from the school parking lot; I had bigger fish to fry.

Starting on June 25th, I would become a student of the Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute, held every summer by the Honors College at Florida International University. Every summer, the Honors College holds this program for students wishing to earn some college credit, become involved in dual enrollment classes, and learn more about the university. All of the students in the program are covered by private scholarships including fees, parking, and textbooks.

Before applying, I had to meet certain requirements; they included: 1. an SAT or PSAT score of at least 1100, 2. completion of the 11th grade, 3. Florida residency, and 4. a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Once a member of the program, I had to choose my classes. One class was required for the program, Modes of Enquiry. Modes of Enquiry is kind of like a preview for Theory of Knowledge (TOK). The other class that I was to take was a class of my choice. I chose to take Introduction to Sociology. After eight weeks of class, two midterms, two finals, and three papers, it was over. But not without a party, courtesy of the Honors College. We spent the day playing pool, eating, and �riding the pony.� That was an experience in itself.

In my opinion, this was a great way to spend the summer. I made new friends, got to experience a little of college life, and learned a little bit along the way. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to have something to do over the summer, without feeling overloaded. I still had days off, went to the beach, went out with friends, so it was a great summer. Besides, if nothing else, I left there with six college credits and a new polo shirt. What more could you want?

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