Pay to Play Summer Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These programs have no impact at all on the admissions to the school in question, except for UChicago (always the exception).

Disagree.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have done alumni interviews for a top school for many years. Unclear how much my opinion matters. I generally prefer a kid who works at a camp or scooping ice cream to one doing one of these programs. But I do not view the programs negatively. It is all how it fits into the overall narrative.

I see no harm in doing it at a different school than mine - I likely wouldn't ask, but a simple answer of "I spent the summer at that school but realized I like your school better because of XYZ" or "I chose them for this specific reason" easily explains it - just be prepared to explain.

These programs are much better than teen tours, which are the ultimate sign of privilege. Particularly domestic ones. International ones are very hit or miss.

I can see this. My child goes to a full summer sleepaway camp and I’ve noticed many of the counselors are in or set to go to top colleges, and have been either a camper or camp counselor every yr through middle and high school. They wouldn’t have been able to do these pre-college programs. I do think it speaks to some resilience and mental fortitude if you can spend 7 weeks without electricity, A/C, or a phone at summer camp wrangling kids and tweens.

What camp does your child go to? Sounds awful. Most camps don't have AC but no electricity? Really? Working at a sleepaway camp is great. Day camp is also great. As I mentioned, scooping ice cream or bagging groceries is great.

I was just referring to the fact that they have a job with real accountability, answering to other people, is impressive to me. Much more than claiming to have done critical work at mommy's hedge fund (tell me the name of the fund so I can withdraw my money if a 17 year old is really actively involved) or going on some international trip where it is really just hooking up and drinking.

But does it stand out though? Serious question.

How does volunteering at a non-profit, or scooping ice cream or bagging groceries or working at a sleepaway camp stand out when applying to T20?

It provides "texture'. Doing those + the standard overachiever ECs makes you stand out among the overachievers

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My daughter almost did one of those programs, but she ended up getting a real internship doing research at UMD. So I think that is going to be a more impressive story than the pay to play situation. Plus, her internship is 5 weeks...a bigger commitment. She will be working with a graduate student.

That's great! Was it through your connections or did she manage it on her own?

lol what do you think

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but just checking if the PP will acknowledge the nepo baby privilege.

Crickets--I too am curious how a high school kid gets a "real internship" doing research at UMD without connections.

Cold emailing?

[Anonymous]

Do it if truly interested or to see if they like that academic focus/school. Don’t do it to get into college. In face, all of HS life should be handled this way. HS is life too. Not just a prep for life.

[Anonymous]

Mine will be doing a month-long investigation of plastic production and sustainability in a university lab. Don't expect any impact on college application but the investigation is tied with DC's interest in environmental science so DC chose this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the school tracks demonstrated interest, their professors are teaching the classes and runs their own summer program (not an outside company), it definitely helps with admissions. They all say it doesn’t, but it does. I have seen this many, many times over the last 10 years. If the school doesn’t consider demonstrated interest, probably not a boost beyond showing fit to major.

+2 This is the correct answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine will be doing a month-long investigation of plastic production and sustainability in a university lab. Don't expect any impact on college application but the investigation is tied with DC's interest in environmental science so DC chose this one.

Plastics! (if you don't get the movie reference, take a two hour break from DCUM and watch The Graduate).

[Anonymous]

Reasons I would send my kid to a summer program (provided the cost of reasonable)/

1. Experience dorm life and being away from home.
2. Be around people who aren’t from their school/hometown and learn from them.
3. Hopefully improve some executive functioning skills
4 Get a sense of the bigger world outside their immediate school or hometown bubble

Unless it’s one of those Uber-competitive, all costs paid, meritocratic summer programs, I don’t think most “pay-to-play” summer programs offer any long term academic or college admissions edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reasons I would send my kid to a summer program (provided the cost of reasonable)/

1. Experience dorm life and being away from home.
2. Be around people who aren’t from their school/hometown and learn from them.
3. Hopefully improve some executive functioning skills
4 Get a sense of the bigger world outside their immediate school or hometown bubble

Unless it’s one of those Uber-competitive, all costs paid, meritocratic summer programs, I don’t think most “pay-to-play” summer programs offer any long term academic or college admissions edge.

We did it for #1 and also because it was something productive to do with the summer— it can be awkward to find good ways to spend the summer in HS, esp. after sophomore year.