How much do college summer programs help with admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None. Zip. Zero.

Really, they do not help one bit. They are a money grab.

Almost always, this is the correct answer. But, our experience was quite different. Was strongly encouraged to apply to two of the top Ivies and offered recommendations. No lie, Not an exaggeration. Never applied to either due to other offers and interests in the top two programs for desired major.

There are summer programs which result in discussions or offers, but these are typically programs involving sports or acting.

[Anonymous]

My kids each did a short summer program before 11th grade. I think of it as essentially an expensive camp. It was useful for them for confirming their interest in the fields they ultimately decided to major in and gave some exposure to life on a college campus. I noticed DS especially, who hadn't done any away experience other than that, was really relaxed about moving into a dorm, having an unknown roommate and I think his exposure during the program helped in that way. Also, pre-11th grade was good timing, giving them an idea of what all the crazy amount of work in junior year was working towards.

Neither kid applied to the colleges where they did the programs and I had zero expectation that this would give an advantage in admissions, other than maybe showing how they developed an interest in these fields. DS did end up discussing it in one college supplement that asked about why he wanted to pursue that major. DD talked about it in interviews, again as explaining the development of her interest.

I think they are a good thing to do if you can afford it and go into it purely expecting it to help develop your kids' interests and give some exposure to a college environment. They are better IMO when staffed by faculty and students from the college not an outside entity that essentially leases space for an unconnected program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense of how much pre-college summer programs help with:

1) admission to the college where the program is held?
2) admission to other colleges, esp if summer program is at prestigious school?
3) admission to any college when program is used to indicate interest in specific field?


More generally, are these programs legit or does it just look like the kid is trying to "buy" their way in thru expensive summer program options?

About 15 years ago, attendees to Penn's summer program could buy their way into Penn if they paid a group of Penn admissions consultants $10,000 and applied ED. At the end of each summer session, the consultants for hire (who were then admissions officers at Penn or one of Penn's grad schools) presented their services to the students. All who took up the offer and applied Ed were admitted according to newspaper articles back then.

Another prominent school located nearby is well known to like money. However, things have probably changed since the Lori Loughlin admissions scandal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally depends on the program. The for profit ones that just rent out the college facilities, not so much.

If actually run by the college, it can show interest in a particular field or potentially demonstrated interest for a college. Some are for credit and can show your child can meet the rigor of a college course.

Some are super competitive to get into and can look good on an application.

Not a must do by any stretch and they tend to be expensive (although many offer financial aid). For both of my kids, they helped rule out a major that would not have been a fit (for one, it meant not choosing art school, so that was huge). It really just depends on the program and your financial situation. They are by no means a ticket into a particular school.

Do you mind sharing whether your DC did the RISD program, New School, or something else? Thanks!

RISD. They write graphic novels and are largely self taught. They ended up feeling that RISD was Intellectually not varied enough and did not like the one dimensional focus of an art school. They also felt the graphic novelists were looked down upon by the studio artists and they did not enjoy the classical training.

It was a great way to try out an art school without applying. RISD also does a portfolio review and helps the students build their portfolios over the summer. Had they decided they wanted art, that would have been very helpful. They enjoyed the program a lot and felt it gave them a real taste of art school. They also made 2 close friends. I call that a win.

This is OP. Thanks for this detail. I have looked into that program.

[Anonymous]

Zero
It's a money grab thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally depends on the program. The for profit ones that just rent out the college facilities, not so much.

If actually run by the college, it can show interest in a particular field or potentially demonstrated interest for a college. Some are for credit and can show your child can meet the rigor of a college course.

Some are super competitive to get into and can look good on an application.

Not a must do by any stretch and they tend to be expensive (although many offer financial aid). For both of my kids, they helped rule out a major that would not have been a fit (for one, it meant not choosing art school, so that was huge). It really just depends on the program and your financial situation. They are by no means a ticket into a particular school.

Do you mind sharing whether your DC did the RISD program, New School, or something else? Thanks!

RISD. They write graphic novels and are largely self taught. They ended up feeling that RISD was Intellectually not varied enough and did not like the one dimensional focus of an art school. They also felt the graphic novelists were looked down upon by the studio artists and they did not enjoy the classical training.

It was a great way to try out an art school without applying. RISD also does a portfolio review and helps the students build their portfolios over the summer. Had they decided they wanted art, that would have been very helpful. They enjoyed the program a lot and felt it gave them a real taste of art school. They also made 2 close friends. I call that a win.

This is OP. Thanks for this detail. I have looked into that program.

Happy to provide further detail if it is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you.

Has anyone had their kids do these after which the kid confirmed an interest in a program or decided not to apply to certain schools after doing the program? That would provide value as well. Just wondering whether to even pursue these at all.

Thanks.

Wake's summer program absolutely drove DS away.

Then it had value for you and them.

True but that was already stated.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they help that much with admission generally, but they do have enormous value. I'm over 40 and I still remember those two summers as very transformative for me.

They helped me to understand the value of learning, the joy of being around like-minded people, the responsibility that comes with Independence, that there was definitely more out there than my high school and my town had to offer. It may not be as impactful to some of the super privileged youth of today. Idk. I'd still recommend it to anyone.

[Anonymous]

My DCs went to St. Andrews for their summer pre-college program. They had a wonderful experience and made friends from around the world. One tried out engineering and the other business, which is what they decided they want to study in college. Neither decided to apply there because that it was too remote. However, several of their friends from the program plan to attend there full-time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense of how much pre-college summer programs help with:

1) admission to the college where the program is held?
2) admission to other colleges, esp if summer program is at prestigious school?
3) admission to any college when program is used to indicate interest in specific field?


More generally, are these programs legit or does it just look like the kid is trying to "buy" their way in thru expensive summer program options?

There are certain select programs that in fact do help with admission to the school. For example the MIT RSI program is completely free to attend if you are accepted, but is very competitive and only 100 kids are taken each summer. Nearly all those kids apply EA to MIT and their admission rates are easily 50%+.

Those programs are few and far between, but absolutely will give you an edge in admissions. Not sure what other schools offer the equivalent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense of how much pre-college summer programs help with:

1) admission to the college where the program is held?
2) admission to other colleges, esp if summer program is at prestigious school?
3) admission to any college when program is used to indicate interest in specific field?


More generally, are these programs legit or does it just look like the kid is trying to "buy" their way in thru expensive summer program options?

I say depends on the school and who is running the program. If the school runs it and it tracks demonstrated interests, then it may help admissions, especially if the summer program is competitive. Upenn's global youth program is one example.

[Anonymous]

Just signed up my current sophomore for one of these programs. I don't for a second think that it gives her a direct edge in admissions.

But it is located at the college she currently wants to attend and the class is in an area she has an interest in and may want to pursue. We think it will give her a sense of whether she likes that school (in terms of size, buildings, location) and let her spend some time exploring some interests over the summer. So as somebody else said, not unlike a normal summer camp.

She is looking forward to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't.

But status seeking parents, who are easily parted with their money, somehow think it gives them a leg up.

The schools depend upon that type of parent for mucho dinero.

I disagree with your snide comment about status-seeking parents. Your generalizations are ridiculous.

OP, pre-college summer programs will not help with admissions; rather, they offer your student the opportunity to see what the school is like and somewhat showcase in front of the faculty (if the program has faculty teaching it). My DD is a music student and attended several different summer programs. She worked directly with faculty, learned a great deal, and came back a better music student. She’s also got to see what it was like living on campus and actually made some decisions about those colleges (decided not to apply to one of them) based on her experience. That is the value in the summer program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you.

Has anyone had their kids do these after which the kid confirmed an interest in a program or decided not to apply to certain schools after doing the program? That would provide value as well. Just wondering whether to even pursue these at all.

Thanks.

My kid did one in his area of interest and very much enjoyed the experience. It helped solidify his interest in schools that have similar degree programs. It was expensive but I think it was useful for him to go away from home and meet other students with similar interests.

[Anonymous]

Some of these programs can lead to a good recommendation.