Finished 9th grade? This summer you build your foundation for studying abroad
You have your first year of high school behind you: you tried out subjects, activities, ideas. This summer is when you decide what to keep going with and what to add on purpose. For students planning to apply abroad, the summer between 9th and 10th grade is the critical window where you shift from exploring to building. Three months of vacation can be worth two years of regular school, if you use them well.
- What to do with the summer between 9th and 10th grade, from summer programs to personal projects
- How to pinpoint your academic direction from what you tried in 9th grade
- 4 categories of activities that work for Upgrade students and how to choose between them
- How to move from "testing things out" to "building with intention" in 10th grade
- BONUS: a free 1:1 session with a mentor plus a personalized summer plan
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What you'll learn in 60 minutes
Your most open stretch of time
In 3 months of vacation you can do more for your profile than in 2 years of regular school, if you choose with intention. The summer between 9th and 10th grade is your moment to make the shift.
Categories of activities
International summer programs, personal projects, online courses (Coursera, edX, Khan Academy), structured volunteering: which one fits you?
Session with a mentor
A free one-on-one session with an Upgrade mentor for a concrete summer plan, tailored to what you discovered about yourself in 9th grade.
Who's presenting the webinar
A graduate of the dual bachelor's in politics and economics at Sciences Po Paris and Freie Universität Berlin, now pursuing a master's in communication. She represented Romania at the European Commission in a Youth Policy Dialogue and co-founded a political NGO in Romania.
Insights you can apply right away
The summer between 9th and 10th
Why this summer is the moment you shift from testing to building, and how to use it without burning out.
The direction that emerges
How to identify which of the things you tried during 9th grade genuinely draws you in.
Summer programs
Summer programs, online courses, and internships over the break: options that fit students finishing 9th grade.
Setup for 10th grade
How to enter 10th grade with a plan instead of confusion. This summer is when you build it.
What students who've been through it say
Let's build your admissions plan together
Join the webinar and get a personalized plan, plus a free 1:1 session with an Upgrade mentor.
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