Is Summer Residential Governor’s Schools a big deal?

[Anonymous]

I attended a residential governor's school in a different state in the late 1990s and had a terrible experience. I hated every minute of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The educational component wasn't intellectually stimulating. It consisted mostly of navel-gazing debates and group problem-solving exercises that seemed designed to juice our egos and make us think we were expanding our intellectual capacity while our friends at home were letting their brain cells rot. I would've learned more reading Tom Wolfe novels by the pool with one eye scanning the sun deck for chicks.

The lack of intellectual engagement would have been forgivable if the overall experience had been fun or memorable. But it wasn't. They structured our schedule from morning to night, leaving us very little time for fun, and even the "fun" things they scheduled for us were just cheesy and lame. As much as I love a game of "never have I ever" (with Sprite in our cups, of course) with a bunch of geeks who act shocked when someone takes a sip for "skipped school," I wanted to be with my actual friends having actual fun.

And they were so strict about the rules. In what should have been my second summer of true freedom (I'd gotten my driver's license in the spring of the year before), I had to spend a month with no access to a car, no ability to run out and get food when I wanted, no freedom to set my own schedule, VERY limited gym access (my bench dropped by at least 20 pounds), and worst of all, few opportunities to do what 17-year-old boys enjoy doing the most: chasing girls. There were maybe two or three DECENT-looking girls (definitely not hot) at governor's school, but it was impossible to hook up with them because they monitored us so tightly during our so-called free-time, of which there wasn't much to begin with.

From almost the minute I got there I was counting down the days until I could return home and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer at the gym and the pool. I would've rather gotten a regular job that summer lifeguarding or even bagging groceries. At least then I could've clocked out after my shift and done what I wanted.

It also made no difference in my college admissions. I took a guaranteed, matrix-based scholarship to a top-100 university. They probably didn't even look at the part of my application where I listed governor's school.

If I could go back, I never would have filled out that governor's school application. I would've thrown it on the ground and urinated on it. My advice to any teenager reading is that you only get to be the age you are now once. If you apply yourself and keep your head screwed on straight, your future will work out, I promise -- even if that future doesn't involve a hyper-competitive college full of strivers who opted out, either of their own volition or at the behest of their parents, of having a real childhood and adolescence in order to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended a residential governor's school in a different state in the late 1990s and had a terrible experience. I hated every minute of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The educational component wasn't intellectually stimulating. It consisted mostly of navel-gazing debates and group problem-solving exercises that seemed designed to juice our egos and make us think we were expanding our intellectual capacity while our friends at home were letting their brain cells rot. I would've learned more reading Tom Wolfe novels by the pool with one eye scanning the sun deck for chicks.

The lack of intellectual engagement would have been forgivable if the overall experience had been fun or memorable. But it wasn't. They structured our schedule from morning to night, leaving us very little time for fun, and even the "fun" things they scheduled for us were just cheesy and lame. As much as I love a game of "never have I ever" (with Sprite in our cups, of course) with a bunch of geeks who act shocked when someone takes a sip for "skipped school," I wanted to be with my actual friends having actual fun.

And they were so strict about the rules. In what should have been my second summer of true freedom (I'd gotten my driver's license in the spring of the year before), I had to spend a month with no access to a car, no ability to run out and get food when I wanted, no freedom to set my own schedule, VERY limited gym access (my bench dropped by at least 20 pounds), and worst of all, few opportunities to do what 17-year-old boys enjoy doing the most: chasing girls. There were maybe two or three DECENT-looking girls (definitely not hot) at governor's school, but it was impossible to hook up with them because they monitored us so tightly during our so-called free-time, of which there wasn't much to begin with.

From almost the minute I got there I was counting down the days until I could return home and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer at the gym and the pool. I would've rather gotten a regular job that summer lifeguarding or even bagging groceries. At least then I could've clocked out after my shift and done what I wanted.

It also made no difference in my college admissions. I took a guaranteed, matrix-based scholarship to a top-100 university. They probably didn't even look at the part of my application where I listed governor's school.

If I could go back, I never would have filled out that governor's school application. I would've thrown it on the ground and urinated on it. My advice to any teenager reading is that you only get to be the age you are now once. If you apply yourself and keep your head screwed on straight, your future will work out, I promise -- even if that future doesn't involve a hyper-competitive college full of strivers who opted out, either of their own volition or at the behest of their parents, of having a real childhood and adolescence in order to be there.

Your advice to avoid Governor's school is spot on for teenage boys mainly concerned with their bench press and "chicks." My own DC and many others have had wonderful experiences. Of course, their priorities were much different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended a residential governor's school in a different state in the late 1990s and had a terrible experience. I hated every minute of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The educational component wasn't intellectually stimulating. It consisted mostly of navel-gazing debates and group problem-solving exercises that seemed designed to juice our egos and make us think we were expanding our intellectual capacity while our friends at home were letting their brain cells rot. I would've learned more reading Tom Wolfe novels by the pool with one eye scanning the sun deck for chicks.

The lack of intellectual engagement would have been forgivable if the overall experience had been fun or memorable. But it wasn't. They structured our schedule from morning to night, leaving us very little time for fun, and even the "fun" things they scheduled for us were just cheesy and lame. As much as I love a game of "never have I ever" (with Sprite in our cups, of course) with a bunch of geeks who act shocked when someone takes a sip for "skipped school," I wanted to be with my actual friends having actual fun.

And they were so strict about the rules. In what should have been my second summer of true freedom (I'd gotten my driver's license in the spring of the year before), I had to spend a month with no access to a car, no ability to run out and get food when I wanted, no freedom to set my own schedule, VERY limited gym access (my bench dropped by at least 20 pounds), and worst of all, few opportunities to do what 17-year-old boys enjoy doing the most: chasing girls. There were maybe two or three DECENT-looking girls (definitely not hot) at governor's school, but it was impossible to hook up with them because they monitored us so tightly during our so-called free-time, of which there wasn't much to begin with.

From almost the minute I got there I was counting down the days until I could return home and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer at the gym and the pool. I would've rather gotten a regular job that summer lifeguarding or even bagging groceries. At least then I could've clocked out after my shift and done what I wanted.

It also made no difference in my college admissions. I took a guaranteed, matrix-based scholarship to a top-100 university. They probably didn't even look at the part of my application where I listed governor's school.

If I could go back, I never would have filled out that governor's school application. I would've thrown it on the ground and urinated on it. My advice to any teenager reading is that you only get to be the age you are now once. If you apply yourself and keep your head screwed on straight, your future will work out, I promise -- even if that future doesn't involve a hyper-competitive college full of strivers who opted out, either of their own volition or at the behest of their parents, of having a real childhood and adolescence in order to be there.

So how old are you now? I'm kind of embarrassed for you that as an adult you write like this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just FYI...as someone who is not from VA...I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about.

Maybe colleges do?

Yes, colleges do. Why post if you have nothing useful to say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes,huge. got my niece the ability to register \64 college credits out of the program and start as a seoncd year student at UVA, she had amassed so college courses as a freshman that she was able to enter as a second year student, by passing first year

This thread is about the summer residential program- no college credits provided.

False. Six credits right here just for showing up. https://www.mecc.edu/govschool/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended a residential governor's school in a different state in the late 1990s and had a terrible experience. I hated every minute of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The educational component wasn't intellectually stimulating. It consisted mostly of navel-gazing debates and group problem-solving exercises that seemed designed to juice our egos and make us think we were expanding our intellectual capacity while our friends at home were letting their brain cells rot. I would've learned more reading Tom Wolfe novels by the pool with one eye scanning the sun deck for chicks.

The lack of intellectual engagement would have been forgivable if the overall experience had been fun or memorable. But it wasn't. They structured our schedule from morning to night, leaving us very little time for fun, and even the "fun" things they scheduled for us were just cheesy and lame. As much as I love a game of "never have I ever" (with Sprite in our cups, of course) with a bunch of geeks who act shocked when someone takes a sip for "skipped school," I wanted to be with my actual friends having actual fun.

And they were so strict about the rules. In what should have been my second summer of true freedom (I'd gotten my driver's license in the spring of the year before), I had to spend a month with no access to a car, no ability to run out and get food when I wanted, no freedom to set my own schedule, VERY limited gym access (my bench dropped by at least 20 pounds), and worst of all, few opportunities to do what 17-year-old boys enjoy doing the most: chasing girls. There were maybe two or three DECENT-looking girls (definitely not hot) at governor's school, but it was impossible to hook up with them because they monitored us so tightly during our so-called free-time, of which there wasn't much to begin with.

From almost the minute I got there I was counting down the days until I could return home and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer at the gym and the pool. I would've rather gotten a regular job that summer lifeguarding or even bagging groceries. At least then I could've clocked out after my shift and done what I wanted.

It also made no difference in my college admissions. I took a guaranteed, matrix-based scholarship to a top-100 university. They probably didn't even look at the part of my application where I listed governor's school.

If I could go back, I never would have filled out that governor's school application. I would've thrown it on the ground and urinated on it. My advice to any teenager reading is that you only get to be the age you are now once. If you apply yourself and keep your head screwed on straight, your future will work out, I promise -- even if that future doesn't involve a hyper-competitive college full of strivers who opted out, either of their own volition or at the behest of their parents, of having a real childhood and adolescence in order to be there.

So how old are you now? I'm kind of embarrassed for you that as an adult you write like this!

+1. Must be one of the kids who came over from Reddit

[Anonymous]

DC received a notification yesterday that his application (humanities) has been sent forward to VDOE for consideration. Not sure where it came but it mentioned that VDOE would notify applicants in early April. Does it mean that VDOE would perform another round of review at the state level? What is the acceptance rate at state level? Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC received a notification yesterday that his application (humanities) has been sent forward to VDOE for consideration. Not sure where it came but it mentioned that VDOE would notify applicants in early April. Does it mean that VDOE would perform another round of review at the state level? What is the acceptance rate at state level? Thanks,

Is this from FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended a residential governor's school in a different state in the late 1990s and had a terrible experience. I hated every minute of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The educational component wasn't intellectually stimulating. It consisted mostly of navel-gazing debates and group problem-solving exercises that seemed designed to juice our egos and make us think we were expanding our intellectual capacity while our friends at home were letting their brain cells rot. I would've learned more reading Tom Wolfe novels by the pool with one eye scanning the sun deck for chicks.

The lack of intellectual engagement would have been forgivable if the overall experience had been fun or memorable. But it wasn't. They structured our schedule from morning to night, leaving us very little time for fun, and even the "fun" things they scheduled for us were just cheesy and lame. As much as I love a game of "never have I ever" (with Sprite in our cups, of course) with a bunch of geeks who act shocked when someone takes a sip for "skipped school," I wanted to be with my actual friends having actual fun.

And they were so strict about the rules. In what should have been my second summer of true freedom (I'd gotten my driver's license in the spring of the year before), I had to spend a month with no access to a car, no ability to run out and get food when I wanted, no freedom to set my own schedule, VERY limited gym access (my bench dropped by at least 20 pounds), and worst of all, few opportunities to do what 17-year-old boys enjoy doing the most: chasing girls. There were maybe two or three DECENT-looking girls (definitely not hot) at governor's school, but it was impossible to hook up with them because they monitored us so tightly during our so-called free-time, of which there wasn't much to begin with.

From almost the minute I got there I was counting down the days until I could return home and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer at the gym and the pool. I would've rather gotten a regular job that summer lifeguarding or even bagging groceries. At least then I could've clocked out after my shift and done what I wanted.

It also made no difference in my college admissions. I took a guaranteed, matrix-based scholarship to a top-100 university. They probably didn't even look at the part of my application where I listed governor's school.

If I could go back, I never would have filled out that governor's school application. I would've thrown it on the ground and urinated on it. My advice to any teenager reading is that you only get to be the age you are now once. If you apply yourself and keep your head screwed on straight, your future will work out, I promise -- even if that future doesn't involve a hyper-competitive college full of strivers who opted out, either of their own volition or at the behest of their parents, of having a real childhood and adolescence in order to be there.

Late 90’s is about 25 years ago. Not sure that experience even applies to today’s program and not helpful.

FWIW, DD’s BFF went to the VA program in the foreign language division last summer and really enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC received a notification yesterday that his application (humanities) has been sent forward to VDOE for consideration. Not sure where it came but it mentioned that VDOE would notify applicants in early April. Does it mean that VDOE would perform another round of review at the state level? What is the acceptance rate at state level? Thanks,

My DC (a FCPS sophomore) told me they learned their application made it to next round - and they will know in April whether accepted or not. Have no idea how many applicants make it to the round or how many spots are available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes,huge. got my niece the ability to register \64 college credits out of the program and start as a seoncd year student at UVA, she had amassed so college courses as a freshman that she was able to enter as a second year student, by passing first year

This thread is about the summer residential program- no college credits provided.

False. Six credits right here just for showing up. https://www.mecc.edu/govschool/

That's the regional program, not the statewide one. Huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in the application process now (Humanities/Music) and I’m curious if there’s any update on how last summer (2023) went for everyone? I came here looking for when people found out because mid-April seems WAY too late to make alternate plans!

Fabulous experience overall, but sad to see the current Governor limiting the students' academic freedom. Certain topics were, well, off topic.

]

oh puhleeze, take it to the politics forum. He is doing nothing of the kind

Nope, sorry. Gov Youngkin absolutely is placing restrictions on Gov School. My DC last summer and the students were instructed that they could not raise certain sensitive topics when they did their presentations.

Still a great program overall, but this part was extremely disappointing. Don't think these kids don't notice. The counselors thought the restrictions were awful too, but they were powerless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in the application process now (Humanities/Music) and I’m curious if there’s any update on how last summer (2023) went for everyone? I came here looking for when people found out because mid-April seems WAY too late to make alternate plans!

Fabulous experience overall, but sad to see the current Governor limiting the students' academic freedom. Certain topics were, well, off topic.

]

oh puhleeze, take it to the politics forum. He is doing nothing of the kind

Nope, sorry. Gov Youngkin absolutely is placing restrictions on Gov School. My DC last summer and the students were instructed that they could not raise certain sensitive topics when they did their presentations.

Still a great program overall, but this part was extremely disappointing. Don't think these kids don't notice. The counselors thought the restrictions were awful too, but they were powerless.

Well I just researched this. His office is doing no such thing. Please provide a cite

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in the application process now (Humanities/Music) and I’m curious if there’s any update on how last summer (2023) went for everyone? I came here looking for when people found out because mid-April seems WAY too late to make alternate plans!

Fabulous experience overall, but sad to see the current Governor limiting the students' academic freedom. Certain topics were, well, off topic.

]

oh puhleeze, take it to the politics forum. He is doing nothing of the kind

Nope, sorry. Gov Youngkin absolutely is placing restrictions on Gov School. My DC last summer and the students were instructed that they could not raise certain sensitive topics when they did their presentations.

Still a great program overall, but this part was extremely disappointing. Don't think these kids don't notice. The counselors thought the restrictions were awful too, but they were powerless.

Well I just researched this. His office is doing no such thing. Please provide a cite

Why are you so invested in denying this? I am relaying what my kid directly experienced last summer. If you want to discount this based on your "research," I can't help you.

[Anonymous]

Eh. The VA governors schools have always been very conservative. No matter the governor. Great programs. But crazy (sexist) dress codes and very dated ideas about gender and sexual identity in their materials for students. Still great programs.