Approximately 60 high school upperclassmen are learning the ins and outs of college living. Lesson number one is to get used to cafeteria food.
But, they're getting a taste of much more than that.
“We're basically learning about the college process and what it takes to get into college,” said Bronx high schooler Dana Hopkins.
“We learned how to write a college essay and how to fill out transcripts, so that'll probably help me in the long run,” added East Greenbush high schooler Paige Tutt.
The goal of “Camp College,” organizers said, is to guide first-generation and under-represented students down the path to college.
They're spending the weekend in dorms and classes, all to prevent getting tied up in the admission process.
“I hope that they take away the realization that college is attainable for them. And our goal is to provide them with the tools to understand that and also to pursue it,” said Union College Assistant Dean of Admissions Ellen Casper.
Even though they're still in high school, the camp has already shown them one important thing about making the grade in college.
“You're basically on your own in college. You have to manage your time, it's all you. Your mother and your father are not there to wake you up in the morning to tell you to get up, so basically it's all you,” Hopkins said.
If college is anything like camp, she said, they'll be ready to cross the stage in no time.