Best University Summer Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any no tuition, no fee, no nothing program is worth more than pay-to-play summer programs. Some of these have acceptance rate lower than Harvard, Princeton , Columbia. If your kid gets it, high chance Harvard, Princeton, Columbia will take him or her.

What does this mean?

Many universities offer legitimate, on-line classes over the summer - some for a very low cost, and maybe some are free - I’m not sure? Is this what you mean? As opposed to the 2 or 3 week residential summer sessions designed specifically for HS students?

The summer classes I’m thinking of are typically offered for the university’s own students who want to get a course or two in over the summer, but many are also open to “visiting” students (including qualified HS kids) who are otherwise not enrolled there.

These courses are real college classes - some can be taken for credit, some can be taken for learning, without credit, some offered both options.

We’re considering one for DC, who is quite skilled with self-directed/remote learning and does not want to go “away” this summer because they’d rather be here to hang with friends.

Is this a bad idea? Are there better programs out there for motivated HS students? Our reasoning is (1) for DC to take 4-6 weeks to explore a niche topic that interests them and isn’t taught at their HS; and (2) stay a little more busy and reduce time scrolling their phone (though they will have plenty of time for that, too. 😂)

[Anonymous]

How is it pay-for-play if the programs aren’t giving students an edge in admissions? It seems more like a pay-for-experience, much like an immersion trip or other summer program. These just happen to take place on college campuses, which I think can be a valuable experience for high school students. I used to attend a summer sports program at a campus back in the 90s and I loved staying in dorms, eating in the cafeteria, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC did a summer program at BU in DC's prospective major. There was some small degree of selectivity, but we mostly chose it because it cost less than similar programs. We knew it wouldn't be particularly helpful to DC's application, but it was still well worth it:
(1) It was a kind of gift for DC's hard work--DC got to live in Boston for a summer, which was pretty cool. (DC paid about a quarter of the cost.)
(2) It let DC further explore/confirm DC's prospective major, which helped shape DC's college list toward schools strong in that major.
(3) It gave DC a chance to assess BU and whether DC might like a more urban school.
(4) It gave DC to try a mini-version of college, complete with demanding courses, dorms, and a meal plan. This also helped DC in assessing which colleges to apply to because DC had some semblance of experience.

TLDR: I don't think it helped DC's application much (although DC did well), but DC's summer program was helpful in other ways.

You think sending your kid to college program to take academic courses during the summer is a “gift” for all their hard work during the school year? What is wrong with relaxing, hanging out with friends, working, etc. during the summer? No wonder these kids are so anxious and miserable.

It was an arts-related summer program, DS was very excited about it, and, indeed, DS had a fabulous time. Now stop being a judgmental dingdong and trying giving people the benefit of the doubt once in a while.

[Anonymous]

Last summer DC accepted to Brown pre-college, great experience in overall campus living/learning.

This summer they decided they only wanted to apply to programs that offered college credit to help justify the spend. Got into a competitive program (vs a free for all pay to play) and can’t wait.

[Anonymous]

NP here: please provide input into UF CPET program. DC applied and got into it and we are skeptical!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that these programs are a good way to get a taste of a quasi-college experience, and/or to test-drive a particular school’s facilities. They have absolutely no bearing on admissions decisions for that school, or a similar school.

TL;DR: Just because you paid for your kid to live at Harvard for two weeks, doesn’t mean they will be henceforth be seen as “Harvard material.”

You are too funny. The Harvard program was a great experience and it was highly selective. The kids who did it are not going to automatically get into Harvard, but the ones we know who did the Harvard pre college program (including my own) are doing very well in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

In my experience: a near total waste of time and good money as far as eventual acceptance into college goes. DC admitted to a T5 school where T10 pre-college was not mentioned in the application and waitlisted at the T10 where DD attended pre-college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is interested in singing or theater, I highly recommend the summer program at Oklahoma City University -- Kristin Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU. The program is run by the director of opera and musical theater, and for the Ultimate Summer Experience, they do a full length musical. The students come away with SO MANY skills. It is the best program. My DD attended that and one at Carnegie Mellon, and OCU blew CMU away in terms of skills.

Did you compare it to MPulse? Michigan’s musical theater program is considered to be one of the best, if not the best in this country.

https://smtd.umich.edu/engagement-outreach/youth-programs/mpulse/

If not, hard to say OCU is the best.

[Anonymous]

My daughter did a week of "Economics & Environment" through EFL (economics for leaders) held at UCSB last summer and also other campuses.

She loved it. It did cost $2K but you aren't guaranteed acceptance and her cousin from another school did not get admitted. She loved the curriculum and the profs and made great friends!

One note: they only admit one student per high school to each weekly program, to avoid people signing up with a clique of friends. There is rolling admission so it helps to apply early!