Reply to What is the difference between a good and bad summer program?

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "What is the difference between a good and bad summer program?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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.  [/quote]

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. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics