Summer Programs - do they matter?

[Anonymous]

TIA for any info you can provide. We are kind of new to the college application game and I know things are always in flux. DC is a current sophomore and, in our opinion, could be a viable candidate to go to DH's alma mater -- a T20 that is discussed on this forum quite a bit. Friends of DH have kids who have matriculated to the school and some - not all - did a summer course during high school. Those who did it are convinced it mattered. Those who didn't, don't (obviously).

We are all for DC attending a summer course there and we think they could get a lot out of it. But DC is hesitant. First, their sport (for which they are competitive to play in college - but not at DH's college) is a summer sport, so they are reluctant to take time off. Also, as much as DC would love to go to that school, they understand that, even with greater than qualifying scores, grades, and ECs (so far), it's still a crapshoot -- so they're not sure there's enough juice for the squeeze, if you will.

TLDR: is there an admissions advantage to DC applying for, and attending, the summer program at a T20 for which they already have a legacy hook? Or are these summer programs just a low key money grab by the school to attract interest?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't push it if your kid is not interested in going to the summer program. They are expensive and they are a money grab, but despite what I've read here, I've heard of many kids going to the college where they completed a summer program at that college, and I'm sure that their participation in the program allowed them to write better "why [this college]" essays and helped them stand out from a yield management perspective.

[Anonymous]

RSI at MIT matters.

[Anonymous]

My vague recollection is that, several years ago, it mattered for Penn - there was a blog article or something about this. Not sure if that's still the case.

Obviously, it matters for UChicago, which offers ED0 (ED zero) for participants of a certain summer program. I think in that case, both the students and school get to try each other out, a test run of sorts.

I don't think it matters for most top schools, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't push it if your kid is not interested in going to the summer program. They are expensive and they are a money grab, but despite what I've read here, I've heard of many kids going to the college where they completed a summer program at that college, and I'm sure that their participation in the program allowed them to write better "why [this college]" essays and helped them stand out from a yield management perspective.

OP here. Thanks for your input. This is kind of where we're landing because DC has been exposed to the school enough that they could certainly write a "why this school" essay. That said, we're hesitant to turn our heads at a chance to show that DC would fit in well in that school community.

I guess the question comes down to whether anyone knows if those summer programs are "tracked" in any way by the admissions office to be the deciding factor in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Most of the on-campus summer programs are meaningless for applicants - but they are happy to take your money

[Anonymous]

YYGS is selective — no guarantee for Yale, but the kids who get in seem to do well in college admissions. (Probably not causation, maybe just a practice for college apps?)

[Anonymous]

lol...just name the secret top 20 college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TIA for any info you can provide. We are kind of new to the college application game and I know things are always in flux. DC is a current sophomore and, in our opinion, could be a viable candidate to go to DH's alma mater -- a T20 that is discussed on this forum quite a bit. Friends of DH have kids who have matriculated to the school and some - not all - did a summer course during high school. Those who did it are convinced it mattered. Those who didn't, don't (obviously).

We are all for DC attending a summer course there and we think they could get a lot out of it. But DC is hesitant. First, their sport (for which they are competitive to play in college - but not at DH's college) is a summer sport, so they are reluctant to take time off. Also, as much as DC would love to go to that school, they understand that, even with greater than qualifying scores, grades, and ECs (so far), it's still a crapshoot -- so they're not sure there's enough juice for the squeeze, if you will.

TLDR: is there an admissions advantage to DC applying for, and attending, the summer program at a T20 for which they already have a legacy hook? Or are these summer programs just a low key money grab by the school to attract interest?

kid got into six T20s, four of them T10, and did not do any summer programs at colleges. They did do other competitive summer programs, arts as well as academic. i would be very surprised if any T20 gave a real boost for their summer program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't push it if your kid is not interested in going to the summer program. They are expensive and they are a money grab, but despite what I've read here, I've heard of many kids going to the college where they completed a summer program at that college, and I'm sure that their participation in the program allowed them to write better "why [this college]" essays and helped them stand out from a yield management perspective.

OP here. Thanks for your input. This is kind of where we're landing because DC has been exposed to the school enough that they could certainly write a "why this school" essay. That said, we're hesitant to turn our heads at a chance to show that DC would fit in well in that school community.

I guess the question comes down to whether anyone knows if those summer programs are "tracked" in any way by the admissions office to be the deciding factor in the admissions process.

Never heard of them being tracked or making a difference to that college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My vague recollection is that, several years ago, it mattered for Penn - there was a blog article or something about this. Not sure if that's still the case.

Obviously, it matters for UChicago, which offers ED0 (ED zero) for participants of a certain summer program. I think in that case, both the students and school get to try each other out, a test run of sorts.

I don't think it matters for most top schools, though.

Definitely does not matter for Penn. Four kids at our top private did penn summer. They specifically told them it does not help. none got in. The two who got in did not do any summer programs anywhere, and they were unhooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YYGS is selective — no guarantee for Yale, but the kids who get in seem to do well in college admissions. (Probably not causation, maybe just a practice for college apps?)

its lost its prestige in recent years. now its seen as pay-to-play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol...just name the secret top 20 college

Give some reasonable advice and maybe she will.

[Anonymous]

No, unless it's the program at Chicago that sets kids up to apply ED0.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Do it. Even if it does not help with their admissions outcome, your kid will make friends, take in-depth courses and have something to put on their application. Ignore everyone who says they’re pay to play. While it’s not wrong, there’s still a huge benefit and so many kids do them. And guess what, they get into good schools.

Choose the program wisely.