We have a sophomore who is middle of the road academically (3.7 gpa) and isn't sure what he's interested in majoring in. He is doing an "Intro to Engineering" camp for a week to see if anything sparks his interest. It's at a school he's interested in attending but that is probably a reach for him. I'm hoping it will at least help him with some direction.

Anonymous wrote:We are considering one of these for our not-so-high performing DS. If at all we decide to do it, does it make sense for him to go to one at a top school where he doesn't stand a chance of getting in (e.g. Harvard) or go to one where stands a good chance and can talk about it in essays (e.g. GMU)?

If your kid, as you say is not-so-high performing, I'd look for programs that best fit their interest rather than going to Harvard so you can put down "Harvard" on their resume or application.

I have a high-performing kid who went to the Center for Talented Youth for years. We knew it would have zero impact on college admissions. Didn't even mention it on the activities in Common App. Have the courses taken in their resume but did not list CTY or Hopkins. While It was a pay-to-play (after qualifying on a test), my kid just loved it, and really shaped their interests and career direction. I thought they'd write about it in their essay, but they did not.

The kid did get accepted to the Governor's school one summer. It was competitive and free. They wrote about the extra research they did during the program to enhance what they were learning. They wrote about that in their supplemental essays, which I think is what really helped with their college apps.

I would recommending searching. There are several threads that lay out the prose dn cons in detail.

Anonymous wrote:OP, no summer program will help your HS kid get into college. Only do it if you think there's a reasonable chance it will get your kid excited about school and his future. Otherwise it's a big pile of money down the drain.

The free summer programs do give you a boost eg TASS and RSI. Maybe ASSIP and SEAP too.

Many of these college Summer programs are not really run by the the colleges. Read the fine prints before you sign up.

Anonymous wrote:
Unless they teach a specialty subject that your kid loves and that's in line with what they want to do in college, don't waste your money. These programs dangle a possible admit boost but they don't actually help at all. All it screams in applications is: "My parents are rich enough to send me to this summer program!". It's one rung below the "building houses in Guatemala" summer program.

I don't know of a single one that dangles an admit boost -- every single one I've looked at was very clear that attending the program had absolutely no bearing on future admissions. Equating these to building houses in Guatemala? My DD attended several summer music programs, taught by the music faculty at the schools, and came away each time a better musician. It was worth every penny in terms of helping her hone her craft. The schools also gave scholarships for those who could not afford it.

Anonymous wrote:
Unless they teach a specialty subject that your kid loves and that's in line with what they want to do in college, don't waste your money. These programs dangle a possible admit boost but they don't actually help at all. All it screams in applications is: "My parents are rich enough to send me to this summer program!". It's one rung below the "building houses in Guatemala" summer program.

+1 Agree

Better spend time in meaningful volunteer work than on those costly Summer programs.

Your DC may try to apply NIH or NIST Summer Internship. Slim chance to get in but worth a shot.

Agree with everyone on that these programs are nothing but a way for schools to generate additional revenue during those summer month. The programs help to fill the empty dorm rooms and keep the dining halls humming. They will NOT increase your child’s chance at being admitted to that school as an undergrad.

However, if the program offers a course that your child has a keen interest in, go ahead and spend the $$$. Otherwise, your child can spend the summer working at Harris Teeter and still have a great common app essay w that experience.

Unless they teach a specialty subject that your kid loves and that's in line with what they want to do in college, don't waste your money. These programs dangle a possible admit boost but they don't actually help at all. All it screams in applications is: "My parents are rich enough to send me to this summer program!". It's one rung below the "building houses in Guatemala" summer program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering one of these for our not-so-high performing DS. If at all we decide to do it, does it make sense for him to go to one at a top school where he doesn't stand a chance of getting in (e.g. Harvard) or go to one where stands a good chance and can talk about it in essays (e.g. GMU)?

If he does this he should go to a program that matches his interests. Most of the help in his college essays will be in showing his enthusiasm for a subject rather than the prestige of the college where the program is held.

+1 it should be about the quality of the program, will he be doing things he's interested in, who is teaching the classes? My kids both did short summer programs the summer before junior year and the choice was 100% driven by what they wanted to do that summer. DS did one at a college he had no interest in attending. DD did one at a college that might have made her list but in the end did not. But it was a similar type of LAC to where she ended up. Both did talk about those experiences in some supplements re why this major and education goals. The specific college name was irrelevant.

Sure, all else being equal, it would have been nice for them to try out a college they wanted to go via a summer program before senior year (when they had a clear idea of their lists) but their leading choices didn't offer any.

Anonymous wrote:We are considering one of these for our not-so-high performing DS. If at all we decide to do it, does it make sense for him to go to one at a top school where he doesn't stand a chance of getting in (e.g. Harvard) or go to one where stands a good chance and can talk about it in essays (e.g. GMU)?

If he does this he should go to a program that matches his interests. Most of the help in his college essays will be in showing his enthusiasm for a subject rather than the prestige of the college where the program is held.

Much better off doing it at a school they want to apply to. The Harvard and Brown programs take everyone and are filled with kids who think it will help them at a Top 20. If you child wants to go to GMU they should apply for ASSIP. Very hard to get in, all the TJ kids take the spaces and then leverage it for Top 20s. But these local programs are so much better bc the kids do so much more. Its like working at a startup. You get coffee and run social media and also talk to clients. Whereas at a big company you just make copies. You can leverage all these experiences into a nice essay.

OP, no summer program will help your HS kid get into college. Only do it if you think there's a reasonable chance it will get your kid excited about school and his future. Otherwise it's a big pile of money down the drain.

Our kid went to one last year. Honestly 99% of the kids are really into it. I wouldn’t do it. I also used to teach at one of these in my 20s. The kids who don’t want to be there are kind of negative standouts. Consider a community college weeklong course or summer class instead.

We are considering one of these for our not-so-high performing DS. If at all we decide to do it, does it make sense for him to go to one at a top school where he doesn't stand a chance of getting in (e.g. Harvard) or go to one where stands a good chance and can talk about it in essays (e.g. GMU)?