Does participation in summer college programs for HS students give an edge?

[Anonymous]

Many colleges have Summer Programs for HS students and DD is interested in a few. They are costly, so I'm wondering if participation in these programs give any sort of advanage if student applies there for college. I know most say that it doesn't, but what is the "truth"?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

I'd say there's zero advantage unless it's a particular program that helps bolster your kid's "story." But even then, no.

[Anonymous]

I did this as a child. I went to NOVA and took a bunch of college courses and transferred them later. It is very useful.

[Anonymous]

No, but it identifies the family as needing little in the way of financial aid merit or otherwise.

[Anonymous]

CHrist sake. For the love of GOD!!!!!

Encourage your child to do something JUST. BECAUSE. SHE. WANTS. TO!!!!

Not everything growing up need to be done so your child has a edge.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but it identifies the family as needing little in the way of financial aid merit or otherwise.

OP here. This is interesting. I never thought of this fact. I guess if I can afford $1500 to send DD to a program for a week, then maybe I don't need financial assistance. Get it, but so untrue!! Been paying $150 a month since Sept, and will make a large payment from refund money and pay for airfare.

[Anonymous]

These programs offer aid.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's coincidence BUT . . . my daughter, my nephew, and my neighbor's daughter (currently, college freshman and sophomores) attended summer programs at Duke, Princeton, and WUSTL in the summer before their senior year of high school and each was admitted to those colleges when they applied in the fall of their senior year(and for each of them, their summer experience formed a key part of their college application essays--e.g., Why Duke? Why Princeton? What experience changed you and how (general Common App question)?. Others who attended the summer programs along with them were also admitted to the specific college that housed the summer program; but, of course, just as many, and probably more, were not admitted -- so who knows? In hindsight, I wouldn't have spent $2k+ for my daughter to attend the summer program JUST to get "an edge" in the admissions process but I think, all things being equal, it could have given her (and nephew and neighbor) an edge for admissions purposes when selecting among comparably qualified applicants for the Class of 20XX (perhaps in those situations the admissions officer is more inclined to choose the applicant who has already spent time on campus, loved the program he/she partiicipated in and/or the professors/teaching staff from the summer program loved the applicant, and the applicant is enthusiastic about joining the college as a full-time student).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did this as a child. I went to NOVA and took a bunch of college courses and transferred them later. It is very useful.

You wouldn't have gotten into NOVA without doing the summer program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's coincidence BUT . . . my daughter, my nephew, and my neighbor's daughter (currently, college freshman and sophomores) attended summer programs at Duke, Princeton, and WUSTL in the summer before their senior year of high school and each was admitted to those colleges when they applied in the fall of their senior year(and for each of them, their summer experience formed a key part of their college application essays--e.g., Why Duke? Why Princeton? What experience changed you and how (general Common App question)?. Others who attended the summer programs along with them were also admitted to the specific college that housed the summer program; but, of course, just as many, and probably more, were not admitted -- so who knows? In hindsight, I wouldn't have spent $2k+ for my daughter to attend the summer program JUST to get "an edge" in the admissions process but I think, all things being equal, it could have given her (and nephew and neighbor) an edge for admissions purposes when selecting among comparably qualified applicants for the Class of 20XX (perhaps in those situations the admissions officer is more inclined to choose the applicant who has already spent time on campus, loved the program he/she partiicipated in and/or the professors/teaching staff from the summer program loved the applicant, and the applicant is enthusiastic about joining the college as a full-time student).

OP here. This is what I was thinking. If DD attends their summer program (a field that she is interested in), gets to know the school and the culture, she can possibly use that experience on the essay or interview. I figure it can't hurt, which is one of the reasons we chose college programs where she was already interested in attending. I guess we will see in time, but if nothing else, she will have learned about her chosen field and if it is really something she wants to do as a career (the #1 reason for the programs).

[Anonymous]

If admission is competitive (MIT) for the summer then yes it helps
Otherwise it helps your kid grow up, do homework, get motivated etc
So it's worthwhile if it's some subject they like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but it identifies the family as needing little in the way of financial aid merit or otherwise.

This is not true.

[Anonymous]

I did one at Cornell, had a fling with a student, and was later admitted.

[Anonymous]

I think getting admitted to and going to the Telluride Association Summer Program at Cornell during the summer following my junior year was ultimately one of the reasons that I got into Yale. It's a really competitive program and it frankly kind of woke me up and made me take my education even more seriously than I had before. Really a great program. You may need a certain PSAT score to apply. http://www.tellurideassociation.org/programs/high_school_students/tasp/tasp_general_info.html

I also applied to a state Governor's School for the Arts that same summer and would have gone there if I hadn't gotten into TASP.

[Anonymous]

Yes in that it may give the student something interesting to write about, discuss. And the student may have a better idea of what they want/where they fit in.