Summer Residential Programs: Academics and Beyond

Abstract

Every summer, bright students participate in highly challenging residential programs on university campuses. Since many students return year after year, they must be finding something of great value. Although we have confirmation of their academic achievement, little has been done to ascertain the students' own perceptions of the total program experience. This study employed the qualitative research tool of interview and the principles of phenomenology to discern how a group of students saw and interpreted the value of the summer programs. Twelve students who attended Purdue University's residential programs for at least 3 years were interviewed to discover what stood out in their minds as important events during the programs; how they interpreted the effect of the programs on their academic, social, and emotional lives; and what brought them back year after year. A telephone interview was also conducted with a parent of each student to collect their perceptions of the value of the programs for their children. The interviews revealed the importance of summer program experiences for these students. The satisfaction of challenging course work taught by caring, expert teachers and the opportunity to live on a university campus were significant to them; making friends and gaining confidence in their own abilities were equally vital.