Prep Camp Excel^TM is for motivated rising 9th and 10th-grade students seeking to excel in high school so that when college application time rolls around, they have attained the best possible GPA, resume, and course of study. This seven-day camp offers students exposure to many of the same principles that older students get at College Admission Prep Camp in a similarly relaxed and fun atmosphere. Prep Camp Excel uses a three-pronged curriculum to promote high school success, including courses in Essay Writing, PSAT Prep, and Study Skills.

Essay Writing

Writing competent essays is not only critical to getting good grades, but it is also one of the most important skills a student can take away from high school. Unfortunately, the kind of one-on-one instruction necessary in learning to write well is rarely available in schools. At Prep Camp Excel, students have the opportunity to work individually with experienced, first-rate teachers. Each student will bring home one of the best essays he or she has ever written, and most importantly, will have gained the knowledge of how to write more outstanding essays for the new school year!

PSAT Prep and Test Taking Training

The PSAT is a crucial test for college recruiting as well as for the National Merit Scholarship contest, yet most students go into the exam with little or no preparation. Excel campers will take two full PSAT exams over the course of the week. Our exclusive curriculum teaches math, grammar and vocabulary building skills, which not only prove invaluable for the PSAT but also for Math and English classes in high school. The two-year average PSAT score improvement of Prep Camp Excel students, measured by entrance and exit exams, is 16.2 points- the equivalent of 162 points on the SAT!

Study Skills

Good students know that success in high school is not just about how much you know but about how you organize, display and use that knowledge. Our instructors will work with students in important areas that are often overlooked in the high school curriculum: high school planning, presentation skills, time management, and notetaking.

Life On and Off-Campus

Planned recreational excursions allow students to experience local attractions, and on-campus evening and afternoon activities balance the academic day. Living in the dorms together encourages students to build close friendships that last through high school and beyond.

A few words from our Prep Camp Excel campers!

“I was really pleased with how dramatically my PSAT scores changed.” — Riley M., participant

"It was very laid back, but we still did everything we needed to do. It was a very good environment to learn in." — Natalie P., participant

"(The writing teacher, Pam) reviewed our papers and gave us feedback as if we were adults, which really helped to develop our strength in paper writing." — Jennifer C., participant

“I would definitely recommend this camp to other students because the curriculum is exceptional, and because it is a great opportunity to meet some really fantastic kids.” — Kristin L., participant