What about the service academy summer programs?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, some programs do help if the kid does well in the program. For each of these I know kids who got into the college after attending, with help of recommendations from summer profs

Yale Young Global Scholars
Medill Cherubs (Northwestern)
Wharton Global Youth (Penn)

Hi there, do you think I might correspond with you privately ? I'd really like more information on these. My email id is mayeralyssa2@gmail.com.

WTF? I mean seriously, WTF?

There are links and quotes from college admissions professionals all stating that they offer no benefit, and the counter argument is a parable about insurance salesmen?

I'm being punked.

Anonymous wrote:

Two life insurance salesmen / financial planners were in attendance at a financial planning continuing education seminar. The two independent financial planners represented, by chance, the same life insurance company for most of their life insurance sales. The one who sold only the lowest commission product with the highest cash accumulation policy projections boldly stated to the other that he would outsell the other (steal all his clients) because the other only sold the full commission product. The other financial planner, who was much more successful, confidently countered that no, he would not be able to do so. Why ? Because the first financial planner was selling life insurance, while the second was selling himself. Restated: The clients of the first were buying life insurance, while the life insurance clients of the second were buying the financial planner.

Hopefully, this will resonate with you.

NP here. Sounds like a standard LinkedIn story. It’s unclear why the second salesman was more successful, but he’d struggle today.

In any cases, how is this related to the thread, which is about college admissions and summer programs. Most kids who have any chance at top schools are packaging themselves.

OP: Since you directed your last post to me, I have been recalling several students who benefited substantially during contact with universities during the summer by either attending summer programs or visiting during the summer. You would not believe the schools if I shared that information, but I will share a conversation that I overheard decades ago that may help:

Two life insurance salesmen / financial planners were in attendance at a financial planning continuing education seminar. The two independent financial planners represented, by chance, the same life insurance company for most of their life insurance sales. The one who sold only the lowest commission product with the highest cash accumulation policy projections boldly stated to the other that he would outsell the other (steal all his clients) because the other only sold the full commission product. The other financial planner, who was much more successful, confidently countered that no, he would not be able to do so. Why ? Because the first financial planner was selling life insurance, while the second was selling himself. Restated: The clients of the first were buying life insurance, while the life insurance clients of the second were buying the financial planner.

Hopefully, this will resonate with you.

Anonymous wrote:Also, some colleges grant admissions interviews to students enrolled in their summer programs. Some brochures even stated so, but did not guarantee anything. Research any program of interest. Good luck.

This was certainly the practice at the University of Pennsylvania, but this was before Covid so the interview policy may have changed since then.

Also, some colleges grant admissions interviews to students enrolled in their summer programs. Some brochures even stated so, but did not guarantee anything. Research any program of interest. Good luck.

Continuing on:

For our family, the summer programs yielded multiple options. So much so, that ours refused college counseling at a very highly respected nationally known private prep school. The prep school even acknowledged it in writing in a very complimentary manner. Nevertheless, those who attended the same summer programs, certainly had different results. Depends upon what one derives from the program and how that is communicated. Several classmates had great results which included decisions to eliminate a school or schools from consideration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the only value is to allow your DC to explore an interest and relay that to an AO. DC did 2 summer programs - 1 after 10th, 1 after 11. They were both in the same area and it’s not something they could study at school. Applied with that major. Don’t know if it ‘helped’ with admissions, but it helped my DC with her interest.

Statement like: "I think the ONLY VALUE is...." are too narrow minded.

Like any experience, it is what one derives from that experience and how that is conveyed to others.

Two students can attend the same program--summer or otherwise--and have very different experiences.

OP: The better approach would be to make sure that any summer program is of interest to the student beyond the hope of making a connection that advances chances of admission.

OP: I am sure know this already and apologize for the other posters that can't simply answer the question you are asking and telling you that you need to care about other things, which must be a bit frustrating to you. But hopefully you see the posters that did answer succinctly, and when challenged, provided citations supporting their answer.

No, these open, non-competitive summer programs provide no admissions benefit, even if they are on the campus of a school you are applying to. That's your answer, in a nutshell.

Not true. It is what you make of it. Been there, done that with many.

Of course, colleges will write that summer programs do not help with admissions. What do you expect them to state in writing ?

Just do not go with the expectation that it will be a factor, as it won't unless the student makes it a factor through communicating about the experience or by making connections.

If interested in attending a summer program for the courses offered or for the experience of attending college in a certain location, then do so if affordable & if it is your best option. Using the experience to help with admissions is a bonus, not the purpose. However, competitive admissions summer programs do help with admissions--but even those with near 100% acceptance say otherwise in writing.

OP: You & other posters just do not have enough experience. Also, seeking one answer is way too simplistic.

And also - some of the competitive summer programs similarly do not provide admissions benefit.
You don't have to believe those of us who are saying that summer programs are mostly - not all - mostly - pay to play and considered an indicator of privilege by admissions.
This can mean it can negatively affect the application. And it can wrongly signal to other schools that you have a preferred school (of course, you can simply not report).
No one is saying that means all programs. No one is similarly saying that it is a terrible idea to do these programs - particularly if your child just wants to and feels they will learn a lot about the subject and life in general.
There are some that are highly regarded by admissions.
Research those that you like and make your own determination, it's friendly advice to spend summers doing something else like getting a job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the only value is to allow your DC to explore an interest and relay that to an AO. DC did 2 summer programs - 1 after 10th, 1 after 11. They were both in the same area and it’s not something they could study at school. Applied with that major. Don’t know if it ‘helped’ with admissions, but it helped my DC with her interest.

Statement like: "I think the ONLY VALUE is...." are too narrow minded.

Like any experience, it is what one derives from that experience and how that is conveyed to others.

Two students can attend the same program--summer or otherwise--and have very different experiences.

OP: The better approach would be to make sure that any summer program is of interest to the student beyond the hope of making a connection that advances chances of admission.

OP: I am sure know this already and apologize for the other posters that can't simply answer the question you are asking and telling you that you need to care about other things, which must be a bit frustrating to you. But hopefully you see the posters that did answer succinctly, and when challenged, provided citations supporting their answer.

No, these open, non-competitive summer programs provide no admissions benefit, even if they are on the campus of a school you are applying to. That's your answer, in a nutshell.

Anonymous wrote:I think the only value is to allow your DC to explore an interest and relay that to an AO. DC did 2 summer programs - 1 after 10th, 1 after 11. They were both in the same area and it’s not something they could study at school. Applied with that major. Don’t know if it ‘helped’ with admissions, but it helped my DC with her interest.

Statement like: "I think the ONLY VALUE is...." are too narrow minded.

Like any experience, it is what one derives from that experience and how that is conveyed to others.

Two students can attend the same program--summer or otherwise--and have very different experiences.

OP: The better approach would be to make sure that any summer program is of interest to the student beyond the hope of making a connection that advances chances of admission.