The students who took part in Georgetown Pre-College Summer programme.
Doha: Thirty-nine high school students from Qatar and abroad recently completed Georgetown University in Qatar’s (GU-Q) fourth annual Georgetown Pre-College Summer (GPS) programme, a three-week course that prepares future college students for university life.
The series of full-time classes covers a full range of topics necessary for university success. The programme helps students develop reading, writing, and research skills, and includes a review of maths and economics.
Practical preparation for SAT standardised testing, a requirement for admission to Georgetown University and other top universities in Education City and worldwide, is another important element in the GPS programme. Career counselling, CV writing skills and interview training are also covered.
The programme also introduces students to Georgetown academics through sample courses taught by Georgetown faculty, and to international affairs majors offered at GU-Q such as international politics, international economics, culture and politics and international history.
For many students, the programme is the first opportunity to experience university life, and begin taking the steps of what can become a very competitive admissions process.
Dimaa, a high school senior from Qatar, said: “Not many people notice that the transition between school and university is really huge and this has really prepared me for university. It was not easy. It was not that programme where I come back home and leave my books aside. I had to get my books out, study, and do the research.”
The intensity of the programme can be an eye opener for university-bound students, such as Alicia, from Dubai.
“In terms of work ethic and workload, I initially complained,” she said about the programme.
However, dedicated students committed to their goals of pursuing the best education possible, quickly realise benefits of the programme’s rigours.
“In hindsight, the (GPS) programme gave me a picture of what university could potentially be like and how I need to get my act sorted if I find this difficult.
“What I got from this experience is the reassurance about the decision that I am making moving forward. The skills that I have acquired in terms of applying to colleges are important things that I need to take into consideration.”
For the peer tutors involved in the programme, such as Mariam, a GU-Q sophomore who taught advanced English classes to participating students, the learning works both ways. “GPS is a great experience because it develops leadership and team-building skills, community development, and helps you learn more about yourself and other students.”
While all students who enrolled in the summer programme sought a personal competitive edge in the pursuit of higher education, many expressed a broader understanding of the increasing importance of academics in the region. The Peninsula
