What to do with your undergraduate summers?

[Greenwood16]

I have a couple summers left before I graduate and so I am looking into what resume building things I can be doing. Are there really good programs worth applying to? Like summer study abroad or summer studies? Anyone heard of the leadership alliance and is it worth applying to?

 

If it matters, I am still figuring out what I am interested in specifically, but somewhere in the realm of philosophy of religion / theology / maybe New Testament. With that in mind, are there any really good books worth reading to prepare me for those subjects?

[Kuriakos]

I have a couple summers left before I graduate and so I am looking into what resume building things I can be doing. Are there really good programs worth applying to? Like summer study abroad or summer studies? Anyone heard of the leadership alliance and is it worth applying to?

 

If it matters, I am still figuring out what I am interested in specifically, but somewhere in the realm of philosophy of religion / theology / maybe New Testament. With that in mind, are there any really good books worth reading to prepare me for those subjects?

 

Start in on some German and French

[sacklunch]

It's always an issue of funding, especially as an undergraduate. If you are fortunately wealthy, you may consider studying at an intensive language program, either here such as Middlebury, or abroad (Germany is a popular choice). The latter option, at least through many Universities, can be funded/loaned. But I understand why not everyone would want to go into such debt.

 

Another point to make besides what to do in your summers (which, you can always relax!), is making the best of the academic year, even if that means staying beyond the traditional four year BA. Your preparation in undergrad will directly influence where you go after (presumably masters, unless you are awesome). Thus, staying on to make sure you are well-prepared isn't a bad idea. I may get some hell for saying this, but I would have benefited from staying on another semester or two and adding another minor (German, French, etc.). Point being, if you have opportunities there make the best use of them, whether in the summer or during the year, especially in those less obvious fields (for many) of language. You will eventually have to take courses in these and honestly this is the no.1 reason that keeps people from being competitive. If, as you mention, you head to a masters program interested in NT and you have no coursework in Greek, you are going to be at quite a disadvantage from all the other applicants in your cohort that came in with two years of classical (and thus when you apply for doctoral programs they are going to have 2x the coursework).  

[dr. t]

Start in on some German and French

 

This. And whatever other languages you need (Greek, Hebrew, etc. for NT). Summer language programs are intense and usually expensive ($5-8k factoring in cost to live), but clear out time from your schedule for other, subject-related courses during the semester. Several div schools (like HDS *cough cough*) offer summer programs, so that's a good way to get to know some other campuses or professors as well.

 

If money's an issue, talk with some current professors and make a summer reading list.

[musicfor18]

The only thing I would add to these suggestions is to see if your school offers any form of undergraduate research. These things are a little trickier in the humanities, but if you have professors who will vouch for you and a relatively vague application for the research grant, you can really luck out. At the University of New Hampshire I was lucky enough to have both of these and I ended up getting two $3,500 grants to work closely with professors over the summer and read in the library in a pretty relaxed environment. There were also opportunities to fund research abroad, and these grants were upwards of $8,000. UNH was given a lot of money to fund this program in the last 10-15 years, so this is a bit of an anomaly, but undergrad research grants on the whole are becoming a more common thing.

best of luck!

[11Q13]

It's always an issue of funding, especially as an undergraduate. If you are fortunately wealthy, you may consider studying at an intensive language program, either here such as Middlebury, or abroad (Germany is a popular choice). The latter option, at least through many Universities, can be funded/loaned. But I understand why not everyone would want to go into such debt.

 

To add on to this, I've done Middlebury and now live in Germany. With the scholarship I got to Middlebury (which are competitive), I paid something like $2-3,000 out of pocket. In Germany, in a city like Berlin, you can get by on $1,000 a month comfortably, and the universities can be free depending on which avenues you get into them, so adding in another $1,000 or so for a round trip ticket and the costs are comparable. Though, I did feel like I learned more and quicker at Middlebury because everything apart from the language was familiar. 

[cadences]

To add on to this, I've done Middlebury and now live in Germany. With the scholarship I got to Middlebury (which are competitive), I paid something like $2-3,000 out of pocket. In Germany, in a city like Berlin, you can get by on $1,000 a month comfortably, and the universities can be free depending on which avenues you get into them, so adding in another $1,000 or so for a round trip ticket and the costs are comparable. Though, I did feel like I learned more and quicker at Middlebury because everything apart from the language was familiar. 

 

Just a quick question, 11Q13: was your scholarship from Middlebury, or from your own institution? Thanks.

[sacklunch]

I did Middlebury's German school last year. They offer quite a few scholarships for both undergrads and grads. The money, if available, varies of course, but I think most of the people I met there got at least some money. I got around 4,500 from Middlebury, then I got the rest funded through my department (summer grant, thankfully).

[cadences]

I did Middlebury's German school last year. They offer quite a few scholarships for both undergrads and grads. The money, if available, varies of course, but I think most of the people I met there got at least some money. I got around 4,500 from Middlebury, then I got the rest funded through my department (summer grant, thankfully).

 

Right. Thanks for the info!