The Summer Synergy Project will NOT be offered for Summer 2024.

Summer Synergy Project

We are excited to offer the Student Synergy Project for summer 2025 for our CURRENT College Calm clients. Please click below to sign up.

What is the Summer Synergy Project?

We have taken everything we have learned is important to student success in our college counseling practice—understanding personal strengths, developing interests, taking initiative, collaborating with mentors and finding purpose to create a flexible summer program for high school students.

The Summer Synergy Project (SSP) is a flexible summer program where students work with a coach to brainstorm their interests, narrow down concepts, perform research, refine their ideas, create a plan, meet with experts, and present a final project.

The SSP is important because colleges seek students who take initiative in their areas of interest. The SSP helps students identify these areas and demonstrate intellectual curiosity and leadership. On a college application, students must be able to articulate their academic interests and contributions to the community. The SSP works with students to start developing their narrative, one they will build on throughout the rest of high school.

The Results

As a result of participating in the Summer Synergy Project, our evaluations show that ALL students:

What the Parents & Students are Saying...

The most useful part of SSP was the first session where you gave us a sheet with tons of different very specific topics so we could narrow it down. At least for me, I have a lot of interests and narrowing it down can be hard.
SSP Participant
college students

Frequently Asked Questions

Students will receive pre-work in May and begin meeting with their coach in June. Over the summer they will meet three times for an hour 1-1 with their coach in addition to frequent phone/email check-ins. The program culminates in August with a group presentation meeting focused on feedback and next steps. Students will need to put in significant time outside of the meetings to research, plan, and develop their project. This is a student-driven project and this past year students spent an average of 15-25 hours outside of program meetings. We believe it is an incredibly valuable use of a student’s time.

The SSP is a great way to build the foundation to answer many of the UC Insight Questions, including “Think about an academic subject that inspires you and describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom” and “What have you done to make your school or community a better place?” The SSP also helps students tell the story for the common supplemental essay “What do you want to study at X University?”

The program includes pre-work inventories, three 1-1 sessions with a coach, and two phone/email/facetime check-ins between sessions. Families will also receive additional resources for college planning and networking. Currently the program is open only to current College Calm Clients.  If you sign up before April 15th the cost is $600/student. After April, the price will go up to $650. Space is limited to 10 students for the summer.

Students have the option to meet virtually or in our office in San Carlos. Students will start with pre-work and then meet 1-1 with their counselor beginning in June. The meeting times are flexible and based on student and coach availability. Students are encouraged to attend a final group session in August. Once we have our cohort, we will determine the dates. 

Recent Summer Synergy Projects

    The Student Synergy Project is a meaningful self-directed summer project for high school students. Below is a completed project by one of the student participants. Learn more about the Student Synergy Project The Project: Genetic Modification Tool CRISPR CAS-9…

    The Student Synergy Project is a meaningful self-directed summer project for high school students. Below is a completed project by one of the student participants. Learn more about the Student Synergy Project The Project: Mental Health and Media  Student…

    The Student Synergy Project is a meaningful self-directed summer project for high school students. Below is a completed project by one of the student participants. Learn more about the Student Synergy Project The Project: Nursing Brochure for my High…

The Student Synergy Project is a meaningful self-directed summer project for high school students. Below is a completed project by one of the student participants.Learn more about the Student Synergy ProjectThe Project:  Animation Explaining the Negative Effects of Plastics on Our…

If you still have questions you can Email College Calm

If you are a current College Calm student and ready to sign up, click here to add your information and we will bill you for the program. Your coach will then reach out in April to get started.

Summer Synergy Project (SSP)

Jump start your Summer Vacation!
$ 649
00
  • Plan your project with the help of a professional coach
  • Create and execute a meaningful project
  • Get a head start on the College Application Process