Resume Building Summer Programs

[Anonymous]

Some colleges offer subject specific summer programs. Some summer programs are merit based. DS is looking to travel & learn this summer. What programs should we look at?

Which are BS and which are legit?

[Anonymous]

Well -- what kind of program? As you mentioned, most of them are subject specific. You wouldn't do a summer debate camp if you aren't a debater.

[Anonymous]

Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

Does a high school summer short study abroad program count as pay to play? Is it just the potential bad optics of looking rich?

We hoped our kid would get a lot out of his educational trip to Europe. At one point he seemed interested in international affairs as a major. He did not go on his high school sponsored pure vacation trip because it repeated places he's already seen.

In general, he felt surrounded by spoiled resume-builders and party-harders, but he liked the classes and field trips. It was two lines on the Common App in the end. He didn't feel comfortable mining it for essays because it was just 3 weeks long and he had other things to talk about. On balance we think it was worth it, but partially as a preview of people he might expect to meet at college. His top choice was just a flyover safety school to them. Very eye-opening.

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

Pay to play, even if merit-based, signals privilege in a way that's usually less appealing to admissions offices these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some colleges offer subject specific summer programs. Some summer programs are merit based. DS is looking to travel & learn this summer. What programs should we look at?

Which are BS and which are legit?

I think these are worth doing if it is a topic your child is interested in and this is an opportunity to explore it. My DC did these in subjects that weren't really available in HS and it allowed them to determine what they wanted to major in for college. (and this helped them choose colleges with academic programs in that topic area)

[Anonymous]

I think it depends. My DC did one the summer before her jr year. There was a cost, but the program was competitive to apply and included 3 weeks of intense focused activities run by several professors at the school and their grad students, plus food, lodging, and transportation. The price—around $2K — seemed worth it.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern’s National High School Institute is competitive. Limited to rising HS seniors - my daughter did theatre and they also have journalism. You need to apply and interview, and only about half are accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

Does a high school summer short study abroad program count as pay to play? Is it just the potential bad optics of looking rich?

We hoped our kid would get a lot out of his educational trip to Europe. At one point he seemed interested in international affairs as a major. He did not go on his high school sponsored pure vacation trip because it repeated places he's already seen.

In general, he felt surrounded by spoiled resume-builders and party-harders, but he liked the classes and field trips. It was two lines on the Common App in the end. He didn't feel comfortable mining it for essays because it was just 3 weeks long and he had other things to talk about. On balance we think it was worth it, but partially as a preview of people he might expect to meet at college. His top choice was just a flyover safety school to them. Very eye-opening.

Yes, anything that has a tuition. My kids are at a NE boarding school and plenty of their peers do this kind of summer program but the counselors recommend they leave them off of their applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

Does a high school summer short study abroad program count as pay to play? Is it just the potential bad optics of looking rich?

We hoped our kid would get a lot out of his educational trip to Europe. At one point he seemed interested in international affairs as a major. He did not go on his high school sponsored pure vacation trip because it repeated places he's already seen.

In general, he felt surrounded by spoiled resume-builders and party-harders, but he liked the classes and field trips. It was two lines on the Common App in the end. He didn't feel comfortable mining it for essays because it was just 3 weeks long and he had other things to talk about. On balance we think it was worth it, but partially as a preview of people he might expect to meet at college. His top choice was just a flyover safety school to them. Very eye-opening.

Yes, anything that has a tuition. My kids are at a NE boarding school and plenty of their peers do this kind of summer program but the counselors recommend they leave them off of their applications.

So do they tell prep school kids to get jobs at fast-food restaurants, lifeguarding, and amusement parks, lol....what are they supposed to with summers? Self-study for AP tests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

Does a high school summer short study abroad program count as pay to play? Is it just the potential bad optics of looking rich?

We hoped our kid would get a lot out of his educational trip to Europe. At one point he seemed interested in international affairs as a major. He did not go on his high school sponsored pure vacation trip because it repeated places he's already seen.

In general, he felt surrounded by spoiled resume-builders and party-harders, but he liked the classes and field trips. It was two lines on the Common App in the end. He didn't feel comfortable mining it for essays because it was just 3 weeks long and he had other things to talk about. On balance we think it was worth it, but partially as a preview of people he might expect to meet at college. His top choice was just a flyover safety school to them. Very eye-opening.

Yes, anything that has a tuition. My kids are at a NE boarding school and plenty of their peers do this kind of summer program but the counselors recommend they leave them off of their applications.

So do they tell prep school kids to get jobs at fast-food restaurants, lifeguarding, and amusement parks, lol....what are they supposed to with summers? Self-study for AP tests?

“Intern” at mommy’s firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our college office asks students to avoid any pay to play summer programs.

Does a high school summer short study abroad program count as pay to play? Is it just the potential bad optics of looking rich?

We hoped our kid would get a lot out of his educational trip to Europe. At one point he seemed interested in international affairs as a major. He did not go on his high school sponsored pure vacation trip because it repeated places he's already seen.

In general, he felt surrounded by spoiled resume-builders and party-harders, but he liked the classes and field trips. It was two lines on the Common App in the end. He didn't feel comfortable mining it for essays because it was just 3 weeks long and he had other things to talk about. On balance we think it was worth it, but partially as a preview of people he might expect to meet at college. His top choice was just a flyover safety school to them. Very eye-opening.

Yes, anything that has a tuition. My kids are at a NE boarding school and plenty of their peers do this kind of summer program but the counselors recommend they leave them off of their applications.

So do they tell prep school kids to get jobs at fast-food restaurants, lifeguarding, and amusement parks, lol....what are they supposed to with summers? Self-study for AP tests?

For admissions sake? Yes, working is the best.

[Anonymous]

Much better to get a competitive internship, but it is probably too late for summer 2024 for most of these. These summer internships are mostly available from governmental organizations of all types, but there are some from private companies. Obviously, it depends on the field what you go for. When I say ultracompetitive, NIH internships had a 7% acceptance rate for high school students last summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern’s National High School Institute is competitive. Limited to rising HS seniors - my daughter did theatre and they also have journalism. You need to apply and interview, and only about half are accepted.

Thank you, we will look into this!

Anything more similar to this?!