From Classroom to Career: High Schoolers Get a Taste of the Future at Montclair
See how high schoolers are exploring college life and future careers through Montclair’s immersive summer programs
Posted in: Homepage News, University
From sketching runway looks to producing their own sports segments, 365 high school students from across the nation spent a week at Montclair State University exploring their passions and kickstarting their futures.
Through the university’s Pre-College Summer Programs, the teens got a taste of college life — staying in dorms, making new friends and taking courses taught by experienced university faculty.
Here’s how it went:
Fashion Design
From early 2000s emo grunge and dark academia to flowy coquette dresses, students in the Fashion Design program brought their unique styles to life — sketching, sewing and even taking a field trip to NYC’s Garment District to source materials at the iconic Mood Fabrics.
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- The program was led by Sherita Cuffee, a fashion designer and CEO of womenswear brand Viscera NY, who has created looks for celebrities like Nia Long and Serena Williams.
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- “I love our professors. They’re awesome,” says Lily, a high school senior. “The opportunity to be able to design real outfits and get feedback and inspiration from actual designers is really important to me — especially if I want to go into fashion design as a career.”
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- Students learned the full apparel design process — from sketching and mood boards to selecting fabrics and constructing their final garments.
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- “The most impactful part of this program is seeing students go from sketch to finished garment in such a short amount of time,” says Jose Ortiz ‘22, a Montclair alum who returned to teach in the Fashion Design Pre-College Program. “Their passion really shows. They’re fully immersed, and you can see their unique points of view shine through in every design.”
EcoMind Explorers: Conservation Psychology
What does psychology have to do with protecting the planet? In the EcoMind Explorers program, students didn’t just learn about the environment — they studied how people think, feel and behave toward nature.
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- “It’s about understanding the human side of conservation,” says Dr. Nicole Conklin, who leads the EcoMind Explorers program. “Students are learning how to apply psychological theories to environmental issues, whether they’re observing zoo visitors, building awareness campaigns, or exploring how messaging impacts behavior.”
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- “We’ve been talking about environmental justice, plastic pollution, and other major issues in today’s world,” says Scott, a rising senior. “My favorite part was learning how certain communities are targeted by big companies — especially with air pollution — and how hard it can be for them to fight back. That really stuck with me.”
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- At the Bergen County Zoo, students didn’t study the animals — they observed the visitors. Armed with clipboards, they tracked how people reacted to different exhibits, barriers, and signs.
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- “I noticed kids are more likely to try to reach out at exhibits with glass, even if they physically can’t,” says Amber, 17. “But with fences, even when they could reach in, they stayed back. It’s interesting how the barrier changes how safe they feel even when the actual access is the same.”
Pre-Medical Professions
What’s it really like to work in medicine? In the Pre-Medical Professions program, students got hands-on experience in everything from emergency care to medical ethics — practicing real clinical skills and learning what it takes to save a life.
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- Students learned how to perform CPR with proper form — from assessing the scene and checking for breathing, to administering chest compressions and using an AED.
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- During STOP THE BLEED training, students practiced how to control heavy bleeding — including packing wounds, applying tourniquets, and caring for impaled injuries.
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- Throughout the week, students explored different medical specialties, learned legal protections for bystanders, and discovered the importance of staying calm and taking action in an emergency.
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- “They’ve worked with 3D Anatomage tables, conducted lab experiments, earned CPR certification, and met with professionals across the medical field” says Dr. Robert Meredith, professor of biology and instructor for the Pre-Medical Professions program. “It’s not just one moment that’s impactful — it’s the entire experience that helps them decide if this path is right for them.”
Explore 19 Areas of Study
From Nutrition to Animation & VFX, Montclair’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer high school students a chance to explore one of 19 different majors through hands-on, immersive experiences.
Areas of study include:
- Acting
- Business and Entrepreneurship
- Criminal Justice & Law
- Teaching
- Film & Television Production
- And more.
Why Spend Your Summer At Montclair?
At Montclair State University, high school students don’t just imagine college life — they live it.
Through our one-week residential Pre-College Summer Programs, students stay in dorms, explore campus, and take hands-on courses led by university faculty.
Whether they’re learning to negotiate like a diplomat, trade stocks like Warren Buffett, or create and measure social media content — each student gets the chance to dive deep into a subject they love.
That immersive approach is exactly what makes Montclair’s Pre-College Summer Programs so impactful.
“The 2025 Pre-College Summer Programs are a testament to our commitment to cultivating future leaders, thinkers, and innovators,” says Dominique Houze, Senior Director for Strategy and Program Development.
“These programs are more than just a summer experience — they serve as a launchpad for academic and personal growth, shaping aspirations, building confidence, and laying a strong foundation for future success in college and beyond.”
From field trips and creative projects to collaborative research and real-world skills, the Pre-College Summer Programs give teens a powerful taste of what college — and their futures — can be.
Want Your Teen To Experience It For Themselves?
Explore Montclair State University’s Pre-College Summer Programs and learn how they can explore their passions, build new skills, and join a campus community that champions curiosity, creativity and bold new ideas.