为了增强自己在大学申请中的竞争力，很多同学都会考虑在中学期间，参加美国高校开设的夏校项目。一段充实的夏校经历，不仅能为学生的履历增光添彩，更能帮助学生为将来进入大学做好预备（例如提升英语水平、发展学习技能、锻炼个人综合能力等），还有机会认识世界各地的朋友，了解多元文化，以及参加有意义的社会实践活动，打开眼界、增长见识。

Summer school refers to classes taken by high school students during the summer. They are short, often residential, academic courses which fully immerse students into the subject of their choice. They serve a purpose of teaching high school students specific subjects they might not be able to take during the regular academic school year, and allows them to prepare for college. Many universities offer a variety of complementary programs you can take during the summer to improve your English proficiency as well as develop study skills, cultural awareness, and other best practices that set you up for success. You also get the chance to experience a new learning environment and meet new friends from countless countries around the globe.

我学到很多关于写作方面的内容，以及怎样利用写作去应对焦虑。

I learned a lot about writing, and how you can face anxiety through writing.

我交了很多中国朋友，我们常常聚在食堂或宿舍，了解到很多关于北方人饮食习惯的差异。但中国学生并不多，我们有一个几乎只有中国学生参加的小班课。

I made a lot of Chinese friends, and therefore learned a lot about the differences in eating habits of the people in northern cities. You would usually see the Chinese students banding together in the cafeteria or dorms, so I could tell that there weren’t too many. But we did have a smaller class where there was pretty much only Chinese students attending.