What is the difference between a good and bad summer program?
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Anonymous
| We did Yale Young Global Scholars. It was overpriced and the academics were largely taught by undergrads. But it was a good opportunity to see the dorms and campus. |
Anonymous
| Does anyone have experience with UMiami Summer Scholars program? It's 6 credits, which is a lot for a 3 week course. Trying to get a feeble for how challenging the academics are. My kid has an LD and we did not ask for accommodations and I'm having regret/anxiety over it. |
Anonymous
That's great! It still doesn't mean the program boosts admission for the wealthy. My assumption is that most posters on this board are not low income. |
Anonymous
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DC did CTY residential camps starting in 5th grade for a few years. Never thought of it as an admissions boost.
Definitely paved the path to finding DC's strengths and interests. Yes, it was so pricey but DC loved CTY and still talks about it to this day. And it was the only thing that we could find that would be a "constant" for DC's summers. Preparing for the summer before senior year, we did want to find a summer program that could provide an admissions boost. Looked at Yale Global scholars but it was virtual so we crossed that off the list. There was a summer History program at W&M that looked interesting enough, and specifically said "no admissions boost" DC interviewed for the Benjamin Franklin fellowship at Purdue but didn't get it. Fortunately, DC got accepted to the Governor's School, which will definitely go on the common app activities list. |
Anonymous
JHU does ask in its application whether an applicant attended JHU CTY. |
Anonymous
| It's easy to sort them out. Summer programs that cost money are a ton of fun but they don't help with elite college admissions. It's summer camp with other horny teenagers without the pesky adult supervision. Summer programs that are free (RSI, MITES, TASP, NSLI-Y) are very hard to apply, even harder to get in, lots of hard work and very helpful for elite college admissions. |
Anonymous
| But the point isn't always to help with elite admissions, at least not directly. Many think it worthwhile for DC to be exposed to the campus, stay in the dorm, take a real class or perhaps some limited version but with professors. There are some programs like that (e.g., Davidson). Others are more glorified day camps that offer little more than a stay in the dorm with no real academic window into the school. |
Anonymous
| The only kids who participate in these programs are rich kids whose parents wrongly think participating will boost college admissions chances. Colleges know this, and cater to this demographic. The programs are cash cows for colleges, and they're happy to take your money. |
Anonymous
Davidson's July Experience is the rare summer program that actually gives the kids who successfully complete it a leg up when applying for admission to Davidson (especially if they apply Early Decision). The program is run by the Davidson Admissions Office. Along with the 2 classes, the Admissions Office gives helpful workshops on applying to college. My kid was a decent B+/A- student taking a rigorous AP curriculum in a public HS but certainly not anywhere near the top of the class and attended Davidson's JE program pre-covid. Had a wonderful 3 1/2 weeks and took 2 classes with Davidson professors. Received 2 positive evaluations from those professors and was later accepted ED. Happily at Davidson now! The student counselor in the dorm told the kids off the record that if they successfully complete the program, they'll have a better than 80% chance of acceptance. Can't say for sure that is true but everyone my kid knows who applied after attending the summer program got in. |
Anonymous
I think they have a much broader appeal than that, as it is likely worthwhile for many to spend time on campus, live in a dorm, etc. But I agree that many programs, particularly those run by third parties, are just cash-sinks without much if any upside. Trouble is, some run by the schools themselves are likewise sketchy. But not all. |
Anonymous
We're not exactly rich, and I also take issue with your assessment. Our kid is participating because they aren't old enough to work, don't want to do an intense sport or outdoor camp this summer, and we have an affinity for the school where they're headed for a few weeks. It's a lot of money, which I am SURE they are happy to take, but it's also just kind of worthwhile for a kid to have a sleep away experience, right? Not all kids want to swim in a lake for two weeks. So while I'm sure there are definitely kids there whose parents want an admissions boost, there are others who just...want to be on a college campus with other kids for how weeks. |
Anonymous
Meh. The kid could volunteer or something. Doesn't need to "practice" living in a dorm -- the real thing will come soon enough. Besides, you're doing it because you have an "affinity" for the college, as you said. You're secretly hoping for an admissions boost. |
Anonymous
| Anyone have experience with Brown's summer program? Is it well-run? |
Anonymous
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I think there is a poster here who is terrified someone else’s kid might get a boost that theirs is not.
As others have said, they vary. Obviously, the elite, free ones are best. But Ones that are run by the school give closer to an authentic experience than the for profit companies, especially if taught by actual professors. Some give credit. Sounds like Davidson gives a boost. Most don’t but it helps in that it is something substantive to put on your application, especially if graded and/or giving credit. My kid did one at RISD and they did a portfolio review, which was really helpful for kids who wanted to apply (mine did not, but the summer program helped them rule out art school, which was worth its weight in gold). So it’s not an easy in, but if you can afford it, it’s better than playing video games all day. If you can’t afford it, there are plenty of other things to do over the summer that look good on an application. There is more than one approach. |
Anonymous
Well first of all, how do you know he doesn't volunteer? And how do you know he doesn't want to go spend time away from his family, having a huge sense of freedom, having his own experiences? Volunteering for 90 minutes at a food pantry isn't quite comparable to a two week residential camp experience. You know this, right? They aren't even remotely similar. The experience of these camps is just that: a unique experience that is really fun in and of itself! And as for the admissions boost, I literally work in a college directly with admissions, so I think I probably know a little bit more about this than you do, unless you also work in college admissions, in which case, touché. Ya'll people need to worry less about other people's choices. There really isn't an admissions boost involved here. If anything, a lot of the kids who do these programs and are attracted to them have the grades and extracurriculars and MEANS to boost their own chances (and yes, that is gross, and no, my kid isn't hugely motivated, so that's not really us). It seems like harpies are actually concerned there might be a boost and are trying to discourage others from attending to smack that down. Who cares. It doesn't matter. Do your own summer the way you want to do it. |