Planning for the summer when it is snowing outside can feel very strange, but anyone who is interested in attending a prestigious institution in the school holidays should start thinking about their options sooner rather than later.
Many universities run courses before the next academic year like the Oxford University summer program to enable teenagers and young adults to have the opportunity to learn at some of the best establishments during their break.
This means they are able to go back to school having gained a lot more knowledge of their favourite subject, as well as practical experience of living on the university grounds and attending classes, much like older students who attend university do.
What’s more, the courses are taught by some of the best tutors in the country, so parents can be confident their children will be receiving a top-quality education and keeping their brains fully engaged while school is off.
So, those who are keen to attend one of the summer courses should start thinking about enrolling as soon as the classes are available.
Although summer can feel like ages away, they book up quickly, particularly as each course is run for two weeks, meaning each subject is only available three times during the holidays.
A range of subjects are available for 12 to 15-year-olds, including creative writing, as well as more vocational topics like pharmacology, medicine and law.
There is even more choice for 16 to 19-year-olds, as students this age typically use this opportunity to hone in on their interests to help them choose what to study at university.
This large choice means that even if applicants are not able to secure a place on the summer course in the subject they want, they might be able to do another topic that is still available instead.