My Wonderful Summertime College-Prep Experience

By Isabel Rettino ’22

Transitions are the time in between two things. This summer, I was lucky enough to participate in a pre-college program to start the transition to college. I attended the Summer Scholars program at the University of Notre Dame, taking a collegelevel class while earning credit. This program intends to allow its students to explore an area of learning that interests them and challenge themselves. The program also gave students information on the university to explore what they as a university offers. I took a class titled Identity and Popular Culture. In that class, my classmates and I were introduced to cultural studies frameworks such as critical race theory, intersectionality, and theories of representation.

When deciding what program to apply to, this class caught my attention because I like to be critical of the media and the open Harkness discussion format of the course pushed me out of my comfort zone. As my professor said, “I learn as much from you guys as you do from me.” My professor’s take was an accurate reflection on the course. I learned from my professor as well as my classmates. They gave their insights and experiences with the media. This class allowed me to gain confidence in myself. I was intimidated at first to take a class with strangers, but I soon found friends that I still keep in touch with after the program.

I proved to myself that I could hold my own in a collegelevel discussion and class. I carry this valuable confidence now in my senior year and will take it when I start college next fall. The program was the perfect transition for me. I would recommend this program and any others like it to any rising seniors because it is ideal for catapulting you to think about your future like where to go to college and what you want to major in. I want to go into marketing, but this class also allowed me to communicate with people and critically analyze the media industry I might fall into. I was able to study on campus, and just like in a college setting, I had the flexibility to manage my own time. Wherever I go to college I will now know how to manage time based on my class schedule which is a skill usually learned by students during their first semester.

The program included Course Facilitators who are current Notre Dame undergraduate students and young alumni who acted as mentors to the students. These mentors allowed me to ask questions about what to expect when applying to college and at college.

This program has most definitely set me up for success during my senior year and as I transition into college. I will cherish the memories and personal growth made during those two weeks of pre-college.