The IECA points out that character, as a discreet factor, had largely disappeared from admission decisions over the last 20 years, but it is making a resurgence. Among the reasons for the resurgence is that colleges correlate good character and strong values among the student body with a positive campus environment.

 
The implication for parents of high school and middle school students is twofold. First, exposure to a proven character development program, such as SuperCamp’s 8 Keys of Excellence, benefits every young person, particularly during their formative teen and pre-teen years. Second, intimate knowledge and use of a character development program can be leveraged effectively during the college admissions process, including their college admission essay.

 
Further to this second point, the IECA survey indicates that in answer to the question, What’s the single most important aspect of the application essay?, an overwhelming 93% of IECA members responded with “Providing  insight into student’s personality, values and goals.” The IECA says that the essay is less about perfect grammar and more about helping an admission officer understand who you really are by providing insight into your personality. This helps explain why SuperCamp grads have had success choosing their SuperCamp experience as the topic for their college admission essays.

 
Other top criteria in colleges’ admission decisions include a rigorous curriculum, strong grades, and high standardized test scores. Again, parents can look to SuperCamp for help. The learning skills students acquire at SuperCamp help them in all subject areas. The effective study and test-taking skills they gain enable students to manage a rigorous curriculum and perform better on their standardized tests.

 
Another interesting survey response among IECA members is that 88 percent of respondents say that colleges want to see students challenge themselves with rigorous classes even if their GPA falls a bit. The work SuperCamp does with students in the areas of building their confidence, inspiring their goal setting and instilling self-motivation in them all contributes to a student’s desire and ability to take on a stimulating and more challenging course load.

 
Strong counselor and teacher recommendations climbed in the IECA’s criteria ranking from number 10 to 6, indicating a growing importance of distinctive, personalized references. In addition to the aforementioned benefits that students who attend SuperCamp receive, another value is the communication strategies and techniques they obtain. As a result, SuperCamp grads are better able to build solid relationships with teachers and counselors through their enhanced communication skills, as well as their visible enthusiasm for school and becoming their best self.

 
The IECA is made up of professionals who assist students and families with educational decision making, including helping students choose schools, colleges or programs that meet their individual needs and goals. Over SuperCamp’s 37 years of helping prepare students for academic and personal success, countless families have been referred to SuperCamp by IECA members.

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I’ve heard the phrase “neurons that fire together wire together” more times than I can count since starting at SuperCamp in March. But what does this phrase mean, and why do I hear it so often?

Plagued by these questions, I went in search of answers. I’d like to share them here to give you a window into our world and why SuperCamp is structured the way it is.

The Origins of the Phrase in Neuropsychology

Although I wish we could claim it as our own, SuperCamp did not coin “neurons that fire together wire together.” This clever phrase was first used in 1949 by Donald Hebb, a Canadian neuropsychologist known for his work in the field of associative learning.

Hebb’s axiom reminds us that every experience, thought, feeling, and physical sensation triggers thousands of neurons, which form a neural network. When you repeat an experience over and over, the brain learns to trigger the same neurons each time.

Examples of the Neural Network in Action

It can be beneficial to have neurons wired together. The neural network helps us learn, store, and recall information in an effective way. For example, when you’re getting to know an acquaintance, the neural network helps you to remember the person’s name through many subtle triggers.

However, the network can go awry when we try to unwire or rewire neurons to respond to a situation in a new way. A tragic example would be a child who has suffered abuse. Physical contact of any kind might be enough to trigger a fight-or-flight response, even when it isn’t appropriate.

What Hebb’s Axiom Means for Academics

When a student has a poor classroom experience on a regular basis—perhaps they’re bored by the curriculum, or a teacher shames them repeatedly in class—the student begins to think of academics as something negative.

Over time, the negativity becomes embedded in the student’s neural networks, and they learn to respond to school on the basis of that negativity, often by mentally checking out.

How We Use Hebb’s Axiom at SuperCamp

Unfortunately, many students associate academics with boredom and anxiety. Teachers and parents try to bring the joy back into learning, but it’s a difficult mindset to change, as you probably know.

Yet again and again, in a matter of seven to ten days, SuperCamp breaks through mental barriers and rekindles students’ love for learning.

How do we do it?

First of all we recognize that children are born wanting to learn, and for many years they love learning. Their learning in those early years is fueled by curiosity and joy. They’re eager to discover everything they can about their world, and they’re not afraid of making mistakes—that’s how they grow!

At SuperCamp we give that joy of learning back to students and a lot of what we do relates to rewiring their neural networks. We do this by putting them in a brand new environment and teaching them in brand new ways.

Instead of lecturing students at a whiteboard, which is sure to shut many of them down, we take a dynamic, fluid approach to teaching. We play games. We move our bodies. We listen to music. As students do all this and more, it sends signals to their neural network, saying in effect, “Hey! Learning isn’t what you thought. Learning is fun!”

How SuperCamp Affects the Brain Long Term

By the end of camp, new connections have been made in the brain, and students return home with a positive attitude about learning. Students find that even a traditional classroom setting feels more engaging and enjoyable than before and academics comes more easily.

This is part of “the SuperCamp shift,” and it’s a major focus of our programs and curriculum development. We want to inspire your child not just for a summer or for an academic year, but for a lifetime of learning.

“Neurons that fire together wire together.” It’s a simple concept, yet the ramifications are huge for your child. For more information about SuperCamp and how it can change your child’s life, contact our enrollment specialists at 800-228-5327 or request an information packet.

Photo courtesy of juliendn.

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CHICAGO, – Only 46% of high school students are prepared to face the rigorous demands of college, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Summer enrichment programs are one way that parents are helping their teens prepare better, focusing on academics, social and communication skills.  

SuperCamp, an academic, life and career skills camp, is holding programs this summer to help teens improve grades, confidence and motivation. “It’s about helping students discover that learning can be fun, which leads to intrinsic motivation,” says President Bobbi DePorter. “More students are applying to top colleges than ever before. They need to know how they learn best and gain powerful strategies that help them excel. ”

Even top-performing students may find themselves unprepared. Many students with academic talent coast through middle and high school, earning A’s with little to no effort, says DePorter. When they go to college and find work that challenges them, their work ethic and study habits often aren’t sufficient to succeed.

Researchers from the CRIS initiative argue that college readiness extends far beyond academic success. Determining success rates among students, they insist, requires new and different ways to measure college readiness that extend beyond test scores and grades. 40% of high school students are chronically disengaged from school, and confidence and motivation are often overlooked.  

Craig McKenna, a SuperCamp graduate from Hinsdale, says that he left the program feeling better about his relationships and better about himself. “I met some incredible people who pushed me to a level I never thought existed in me,” he says. “If you want to learn how to succeed in life, this is the place to be.”

About SuperCamp:
SuperCamp is the world’s leading academic and life skills summer camp. For more than 35 years, SuperCamp has helped students increase their grades, confidence and motivation. During these intensive summer camps, students acquire the academic and life skills necessary to compete in the 21st century. SuperCamp has made a difference in the lives of over 75,000 graduates worldwide. For more information, please visit www.SuperCamp.com or call 800.228.5327.

The post [Press Relesase] More Than Half of Illinois Students Are Not Prepared For College – Summer Programs May Offer Help appeared first on SuperCamp.