Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 08:56     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:Apart from U Chicago/ED0 they’re all pay to play. Some give college credit which is nice for the $$ vs the programs that don’t offer.


Isn't UChicago pay-to-play, too?? The fact that it comes with the advantage of the potential ED0 doesn't make it any less pay-to-play.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 06:55     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:I’m encouraging my kid to look at these but not for an admission advantage, to spend some serious time living on campus on possible schools she might want to attend to see if she really likes it.

She went to a sports camp last summer at one and after told us she could never live there for very specific reasons.

We think they are worth it for these reasons, if you can afford it and they want to go.


💯 My kid had a similar experience at a sports camp - confirmed the location wasn't for them. Another kid gained a lot of confidence by doing a program in a city setting- learning the metro system, living in a dorm, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 06:55     Subject: Re:Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anyone’s kid did Stanford’s humanities one or wash u humanities summer program? I know they are pay to play but there are very few humanities options
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 06:27     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
I’m encouraging my kid to look at these but not for an admission advantage, to spend some serious time living on campus on possible schools she might want to attend to see if she really likes it.

She went to a sports camp last summer at one and after told us she could never live there for very specific reasons.

We think they are worth it for these reasons, if you can afford it and they want to go.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 21:13     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:My kid is

But the school isn’t very selective, the summer program is not expensive & it’s mostly for career exploration. And to check out if the dining hall is consistently edible, lol.

There are residential summer programs/camps that are under 1.5k (sometimes much, much less) if the goal is career exploration. If in DMV, UMW has a great sounding program where a kid can pick a few areas to learn about vs very focused. Or GMU has a few options (game design & math & language) plus a few more expendive ones that earn credit. VT has STEM/data science. I think UMD has a few? Milwaukee School of Engineering has some solid options for…engineering. Susquehanna has music, writing & entrepreneurship options (it’s rare to find a business option not $$$$$).


thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 15:23     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
These programs are admissions-positive vs playing video games all summer, because they "show interest". They aren't better than having a job or volunteering.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:43     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
UNC has a program that IYKYK.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:12     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:We are starting to get mail. Pros? Cons? They are not cheap. Do they really give applicants an advantage?


Who knows. I think these programs are valuable for helping kids gain independence and see what living in a dorm is like. Also for exploring academic interests they don't have exposure to in high school. As for helping for college admissions, I do not recommend doing them for that purpose. I do think they are somewhat helpful in terms of showing an interest in an area, exhibiting intellectual curiosity and showing summers were used productively. But don't go in expecting some big advantage. If you can't afford them, there are other things you can do in your summer that are probably equally valuable.

I will say that both of my kids loved these types of programs and I saw a huge boost in confidence and maturity after they did them.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 12:47     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
My son did a summer program at a college he was interested in attending. (Not a competitive college.) It helped confirm that it was the right fit for him, so it was worth the money.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 11:21     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
My kid did. We’ll see how it pans out…
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 09:24     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There's one that is noticeably absent whenever this comes up. As if people are unwilling to share the secret. I wish I heard about it earlier because DS would have liked to get into that school (he didn't), but now I'm on the hunt for others for my younger child.


What’s the school?


PP knows the secret and won’t share. She just wants to troll DCUM.

There is no secret, PP is just making it up to be annoying.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 05:37     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous[b wrote:]The vast majority (other than Chicago[/b]) provide no advantage at that particular school. They may be useful in giving a student exposure to an area of interest, which could help a "why major" essay (and be helpful generally).


This is true. Yale Young Global
Scholars is a legit competitive program worth looking into but did not help
Most participants in getting in


FWIW, my DC loved YYGS last summer and was just accepted SCEA. Part of the thinking about YYGS was to be sure Yale truly was the top choice and worth the opportunity cost of not EDing at another school. So far their YYGS suite seems to be doing really well with admissions at top schools, but I think that’s to be expected just from the competitive admissions for the program. Most of the suite had a lot of financial aid for the program too!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 00:59     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Anonymous wrote:There's one that is noticeably absent whenever this comes up. As if people are unwilling to share the secret. I wish I heard about it earlier because DS would have liked to get into that school (he didn't), but now I'm on the hunt for others for my younger child.


Troll

All of these programs are a money grab and will not help your child be accepted to the school
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 00:34     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
I think kids who do Cherubs at Northwestern are more likely to get in but mostly if you do ED and not sure if we can afford the program or ED!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 00:28     Subject: Anybody done a summer session before applying?
Apart from U Chicago/ED0 they’re all pay to play. Some give college credit which is nice for the $$ vs the programs that don’t offer.