The Virtual Summer Bridge Experience is a 4-week program starting July 8th open to all graduating high school seniors preparing to enter a U.S. college/university. The program will run Monday-Thursday for roughly 6 hours per day, giving participants the opportunity to engage in other activities during their summer before heading to college.
The Virtual Summer Bridge Experience leverages a modular curriculum design to enable economies of scale while maintaining a sense of community. Participants will engage with other students and professionals around the country in virtual sessions designed to increase their academic preparation and skills, improve their self-understanding and self-confidence, and broaden their social and professional networks.
Domains
Participants will be able to choose an industry-based domain that aligns with their long-term career aspirations. Each domain will be sponsored by a company, government organization, NGO, or non-profit. Participants will be able to expand their professional network, gain access to internships earlier in the college journey, and have a clearer roadmap to their future career.
Increased Retention
Only 66% of the nearly 2.3 million freshmen enrolled full-time in US four-year colleges & universities in the Fall of 2022 re-enrolled in the Fall of 2023. This has a negative impact on the students, who often dropout with student loan debt and without the increase in earning potential associated with a college degree.
Participating in a transition program like the Virtual Summer Bridge Experience is one of the best ways to increase the likelihood that your scholar continues to excel during the first year and beyond.
Benefits of a Fast Start
The experience of college students varies significantly based on how they start academically. Students who get off to a fast start typically enjoy benefits such as:
Potential Earnings
Higher GPAs often lead to opportunities at more competitive companies, leadership rotational programs, and higher starting salaries. An early investment in a student’s education can pay significant dividends over a lifetime.
As an example, based on a starting salary of $60k:
Better Understanding of the Game
Successfully navigating college life requires a certain level of gamesmanship that is not taught in high school. Some areas that pose a particular challenge to incoming students include:
The Virtual Summer Bridge Experience addresses these topics and many more.
Parental Engagement
Often times parents struggle to adapt to the sudden changes that occur when a child leaves for college. There is a delicate balance between being over engaged (i.e. helicopter parenting) and leaving your scholar to fend for themselves. The Virtual Summer Bridge Experience will host a number of sessions for parents/guardians to help them form a sense of community and learn practical advice for handling this transition.
Multiple Giveaways
Participants will have the opportunity to win incentive-based and random prizes, including:
In addition, a few lucky parents will receive random prizes including:
Matthew Nelson is the Founder of Ace The Transition and creator of the Virtual Summer Bridge Experience. Matthew is a Doctoral Candidate in the Design Science program at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, where he also earned a B.S.E. in Industrial and Operations Engineering and a M.S. in Design Science. As a former college dropout, Matthew is no stranger to the challenges incoming freshman will face throughout their college journey. Matthew has spent his professional career supporting students along their college journey. His previous roles include Program Evaluator with the UM Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research; Interim Executive Director of the Michigan Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation; National Chairperson of the National Society of Black Engineers; and CEO of Orisa Design LLC.
Adrienne Waller is an experienced K-12 educator and administrator with experience both domestically and internationally. Adrienne is also the owner of Worldwide Educator LLC; an education consulting company focused on empowering educators to own their instructional genius while activating students. Adrienne earned a B.A. in Organizational Studies and Sociology from the University of Michigan and a M.A. in Teaching from National Louis University. Adrienne is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dr, Kelli Hughes-Jones is a professional educator and librarian with nearly 15 years promoting equity and literacy. Kel earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Oral Roberts University; a M.L.I.S. in School Library Media from Wayne State University; and a Ed.D. in Metropolitan Education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her research interests include care ethics, othermothering, teacher recruitment and retention, and Black feminism/womanism in education. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and as an education consultant.
Dr. Matthew Cavalli is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Western Michigan University. He oversees the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences STEM Talent Expansion Program and the advising office. Matthew earned a B.S. from the University of Wyoming; and a M.S. & Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, all in the field of Mechanical Engineering.
More speakers to be announced soon
Reserve a spot for your scholar today.
The cost to participate in the Virtual Summer Bridge Experience is $1497. Ace The Transition has enabled a number of options to make the cost more affordable.
Select for individual registrations
Need a discount?
Click on the button below to share the program on your Facebook page and receive a coupon code for an additional $25 off registration costs.
Donations
Despite the immense value that The Virtual Summer Bridge Experience offers for the cost, some students may not be able to afford the program. If you are willing to help support these students, any donation would be greatly appreciated.
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