Get ready for summer!

I know. It's cold and there's a little bit of snow out there, and we are only a couple of weeks into this new semester, but, it is really time to start thinking about, if not planning, what you are going to do this spring/summer. The reason I bring this up is because opportunities are already available, and your chance to partake may be limited the longer you wait to make a decision. My post this week will go over different opportunities I am pondering, as well as some (hopefully) useful links to get your mind-juices flowing. Summer Abroad According to the Summer Abroad Website, “The Summer Abroad programs are designed to enrich students’ academic lives by providing an exciting and educational international experience. Students complete full-year University of Toronto undergraduate degree credit courses from the Faculty of Arts & Science that are relevant to each location.” Where else can you travel and live in a foreign country for 4-6 weeks while earning a U of T credit? This year, Summer Abroad is offering courses in countries and regions such as:

• Central Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Poland)
• Hong Kong, China
• Shanghai, China
• Ecuador
• England
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Southeastern Europe (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia)
• United Arab Emirates
• Taiwan
• India
• Switzerland

The cost for the programs range from $3154 for India to $7953 for Kenya, with the figures including airfare, accommodations, meals, and course fees. Those numbers may seem daunting, but there are financial aid opportunities for each destination. The programs, which can include classes in subjects as varied as Shakespeare and Astrophysics, vary in start time from early May to August, and end from early June right up until September 2.  If this is what you want to do, there is a timeframe that will fit your busy summer schedule. Explore If the thought of getting away is appealing, but you want to stay closer to home, or cannot afford the price tag associated with the Summer Abroad, then maybe check out the Explore summer language learning program. The program is five weeks long and takes place in universities across the country. Over the summer, you will learn and enhance your French-language skills in this intensive program, the costs of which are almost entirely covered by a lottery-awarded bursary program! To be eligible for the program, you must meet these requirements;

• Be a Canadian citizen (those studying on visas are not eligible
• Be in at least grade 11 during the preceding school year or be enrolled in a post-secondary institution
• Have been full time at least one term during the current school year

For the majority of you out there, you will qualify, and you may be able to transfer the credits earned towards your U of T degree (the site recommends you check with your institution). Internship Program (ACT FAST!) The Ontario Internship Program offers a two-year paid position in a wide array of roles within the Ontario ministries. The program is open to people who are graduating, or have done so within the previous two years. But, if this is what you want to do, you must act VERY VERY FAST! The deadline for application is January 25^th. That’s TOMORROW. Check out more information at the Ontario Internship Site. Summer Job Finding that perfect summer job can enhance your summer by providing you with some good, honest work experience to bolster your resume. It may even lead to something part-time for during the school year! With the extra money you are bringing in you can go crazy wild over the summer partying, or, more practically, save the money for the next school semester. The easiest way to start looking for summer jobs is on the U of T Career Centre site. You can specify your job search to list summer positions. Alternately, you can search for student jobs at the Canada Job Bank. Summer Classes at U of T Summer is a great time to get ahead in your program, or pick up an elective credit that you may not have the time for during the fall or winter semesters. Classes are generally smaller. However, they go at twice the pace as classes during the school year. A half-credit class generally meets two to three times per week for six weeks, and full credit classes meet for twelve weeks. OSAP applications can be amended to provide additional funding over the summer. To help you start planning for the summer, the U of T has released its preliminary timetable for the summer, indicating whether the classes being offered will be during the evening or day. These are just a few of the ideas that are floating around in my head, and I hope I have gotten you thinking about how you are going to spend your summer. Do you have something interesting being planned for summer? Share it with us in the comments section! Best, Jon