Does going to a summer program help show Demonstrated Interest at Top 20/30 (but not Ivy) schools?

[Anonymous]

I am aware that pricey pay-to-play research programs are disparaged by some. My question is more strategic: If your kid does a pre-college program at a school like Northwestern, Tufts, Wash U, does that help to show demonstrated interest for purposes of applying regular? In asking, I am considering the courses that you sign up for (not the research programs that have a competitive application process since those are competitive and you are likely to apply to multiple research programs since they are hard to get).

(I know that visiting shows demonstrated interest. Why wouldn't going for a summer course also demonstrate that interest?)

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. I am aware that going to a pre-college program at an Ivy does nothing. Asking about the next tier(s) of schools.

[Anonymous]

The one that helps is Chicago. ED0.

[Anonymous]

It might. Just don’t include included on your activity list for other schools.

[Anonymous]

Yes, if your kid goes to the summer program AND applies ED. If applying RD, the school will know that it was not your kid's first choice and will wonder if they actually want to go there (and if not, why did they not apply ED or even ED2).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It might. Just don’t include included on your activity list for other schools.

Don’t this to this person. They were previously told they were wrong on another thread. My kid put Yake Young Global Scholars on every application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if your kid goes to the summer program AND applies ED. If applying RD, the school will know that it was not your kid's first choice and will wonder if they actually want to go there (and if not, why did they not apply ED or even ED2).

ED is the best way of demonstrating interest. With ED, you don’t need the pre-college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might. Just don’t include included on your activity list for other schools.

Don’t this to this person. They were previously told they were wrong on another thread. My kid put Yake Young Global Scholars on every application.

What? I never responded anywhere else.
And I would absolutely put YYGS on EVERY app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might. Just don’t include included on your activity list for other schools.

Don’t this to this person. They were previously told they were wrong on another thread. My kid put Yake Young Global Scholars on every application.

Pre-college programs are very different than YYGS.

[Anonymous]

I personally know of students at both Wash U and Tufts that did the summer programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am aware that pricey pay-to-play research programs are disparaged by some. My question is more strategic: If your kid does a pre-college program at a school like Northwestern, Tufts, Wash U, does that help to show demonstrated interest for purposes of applying regular? In asking, I am considering the courses that you sign up for (not the research programs that have a competitive application process since those are competitive and you are likely to apply to multiple research programs since they are hard to get).

(I know that visiting shows demonstrated interest. Why wouldn't going for a summer course also demonstrate that interest?)

Northwestern is top 10 (ranked the same as Penn, Duke)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am aware that pricey pay-to-play research programs are disparaged by some. My question is more strategic: If your kid does a pre-college program at a school like Northwestern, Tufts, Wash U, does that help to show demonstrated interest for purposes of applying regular? In asking, I am considering the courses that you sign up for (not the research programs that have a competitive application process since those are competitive and you are likely to apply to multiple research programs since they are hard to get).

(I know that visiting shows demonstrated interest. Why wouldn't going for a summer course also demonstrate that interest?)

Northwestern is top 10 (ranked the same as Penn, Duke)

sure but it isnt as selective the ivies save for maybe the state parts of cornell

[Anonymous]

Will help with writing the “why us?” essay. That may be only help, but it’s something.

[Anonymous]

Go those schools run their own programs or are they run by 3rd parties?

[Anonymous]

No, the programs are all a money grab and do not help your child get in to the school. Period. Full stop.