Attending summer programs with financial aid

[Anonymous]

My DC attended a summer program this year. It is a competitive program, and we applied for need-based financial aid and she was awarded quite a bit. Is this something worth mentioning while filling out the Activities List on the Common App, like:

[Summer Camp Name, with financial aid] - learned how to do XYZ at camp

[Anonymous]

Why would you mention financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you mention financial aid?

OP: it's a selective, but very expensive program at around $8K. We're low income so want to make sure it didn't come across that she attended a pa-to-play program.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your situation. If you are full pay, there is no need to mention that, it might give a wrong signal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on your situation. If you are full pay, there is no need to mention that, it might give a wrong signal.

OP: absolutely not full pay. Will be applying for financial aid for college. In this case, should she mention she got aid to attend the summer camp?

[Anonymous]

No you don't mention it. When you apply for aid, they will see your income. And, if its that good, nothing wrong with splurging on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on your situation. If you are full pay, there is no need to mention that, it might give a wrong signal.

OP: absolutely not full pay. Will be applying for financial aid for college. In this case, should she mention she got aid to attend the summer camp?

If I am in your situation, I will mention it. [highly selective][awarded financial aid]
But it's just me. I cannot see anything wrong with that approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you mention financial aid?

OP: it's a selective, but very expensive program at around $8K. We're low income so want to make sure it didn't come across that she attended a pa-to-play program.

I see what you mean. I don't think they really care, but if it doesn't make the list too wordy, sure.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't mention it. The admissions officers are supposed to be "need blind" and separate from the financial aid folks. Plus, there is nothing wrong with pay-to-play programs. Everything that's not a job is pay-to-play - music lessons, club sports, summer school, pre-season school sports, etc. This idea that pay-to-play is a negative needs to be quashed.

[Anonymous]

The really prestigious programs don’t cost $8,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The really prestigious programs don’t cost $8,000.

I found this really misleading.
SSP cost $9800. Of course there are a couple of more "really" prestigious ones, but SSP is certainly prestigious enough. The point is there is no need to downplay other kids' achievement just because your snowflake got in something "really" prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The really prestigious programs don’t cost $8,000.

I found this really misleading.
SSP cost $9800. Of course there are a couple of more "really" prestigious ones, but SSP is certainly prestigious enough. The point is there is no need to downplay other kids' achievement just because your snowflake got in something "really" prestigious.

What camp is SSP?