<p>"Summer programs from accredited universities are not scams. They are expensive, yes, but not scams."</p>
<p>yep.</p>
<p>A lot of them are ripoffs, and quite frankly borderline scams, but I recently went to China with one of your so-called scams and had a great time. Paying thousands to go to DC is downright crazy - but the "tuition" for most of the programs were the same mostly and I really wanted to see the country. I am not a superstudent and I don't have the 5.0 / 2400 (more like 3.4/2100) that it would take to go on such a program for free. I may have overpaid a few hundred but I can tell you that it was worth it. The programs in canada, england, etc would not have been for that price but mine was imo. Did I get an edge in admissions? Not for putting down the program - but I did get a total of one credit hour added to my transcript (yes there was work and preparation involved) and I was able to write a decent essay about my experience. As far as finances, my tuition for the past few years of school was dirt cheap compared to what it would have been at my old school (think elite private vs parochial)- so this made sense for me. I would not go if it did not make as much financial sense - there is just no point really in that case. I say this because you can just as easily do a study abroad over the summer after your freshman year in college and have the experience (at least some of it) plus get some courses out of the way and best of all not be under the watch of chaperone-type people. No way would I have had that experience by getting a "job or internship somewhere" unless you have some nice connections.</p>
<p>how about Harvard model UN? It's not really a summer program, but is that worth anything to colleges?</p>
<p>how about TASP at cornell, has anyone heard of that one??</p>
<p>TASP is a highly prestigious program. It's hard to get into, and I suppose well-worth it, I've heard. Me and a lot of people from my school have tried out, but none of us got in.</p>
<p>I did CSLC "Lead America" in DC over last years Spring Break. At first I thought it was a horrible experience and that I had wasted my Spring Break and money but the social aspect of it all was completely awesome. I met the chillest people and some really hot chicks from all over the place. I still keep in touch with a few people to. I would never do it again tho, because I dont think the social part would be as fun because it could never live up to the first time. Also the academic part was a joke. But I could seriously say that that week was incredibly fun and it only started off more good times to come.</p>
<p>SoCalBum</p>
<p>The Junior Statesmen Summer School is based on the year-round program for the Junior State of America. </p>
<p>There are programs at Stanford, Yale, Northwestern, Princeton, and Georgetown. </p>
<p>Was it a scam?</p>
<p>I learned American Government from professors around the country, had debates every other night with kids from all over the US, stayed in Georgetown dorms for a month, heard speakers like Dennis Kucinich, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, and the directors of the National Organization for Women and the NAACP. I met Senators, went their offices, visited embassies, and toured D.C. </p>
<p>Is that a scam? You tell me.</p>
<p>Granted, there are some scams out there. But as long as you do some research on a program, you should be fine.</p>
<p>Lol, JSA rocks. Never been to the summer school, but if it's JSA sponsored, then I'm sure it's good. ;)</p>
<p>Well, people from my school have been to it, and they say it's good.</p>
<p>Anomous99(sorry if I spelled this wrong)
I have heard of the new york Film Academy program. I am thinking about applying for this summer. Just to warn you it is really expensive-like around 3000-5000.I have enough money because of babysitting and working at a diner
I don't know if it has any prestige-I made a thread about it earliar but I really did'nt get a response.</p>
<p>haha...yes. I wen't last year...I'd never been to California, and I thought that it was going to be a great experience. Anyway, once you get past the money hassles (they almost charged us twice...be careful about that!), it's pretty much smooth sailing. I did the one at Universal Studios, and I will say that I learned a ton. But, I will also add that it was EXTREMELY expensive, but then again, producing videos is expensive. We lived in luxary apartments for the one week I was there...they were great!...and the meals were IMO pretty good too. They had three meals a day, and the lady made special vegetarian food (i thought it was good!). Anyway, twas fun, but for the short 3 minute film I was able to make, it was too expensive. Add the experience I got, and I'll say that if I paid half of what I had to, then it would have been worth it. Anyway, I got my movie in the mail a while back...it was okay, but nothing special. </p>
<p>Have fun with it! BTW, most of the people that go there are EXTREMELY RICH, so don't feel intimidated if they act rich.....I'm just saying from my expereince.</p>
<p>My D did JSA Georgetown this summer, it lived up to all its promises and so much more</p>
<p>We are from Calif and she met both Senators, wanderered the halls of the Capital, met the French Amassodor, had great Profs, DOD people, and so much</p>
<p>It was great and is very respected</p>
<p>One Kid was in the halls and Frist asked him if he wanted to watch the shuttle launch in a private room with a HUGE screen</p>
<p>They watched the Congress in action</p>
<p>The White House Tour</p>
<p>PM if you have any questions</p>
<p>Anonymous99-I am thinking of going to the Universal Studies one too!!!
Even though it is more expensive I think I may do the four week camp because you are able to make three videos, each longer than the rest. My dad lives in California-really nearby the studios so I can commute back and forth. It may be a little bit hectic but the lodging is really expensive so there I can save some money.
Don't worry i know how to deal with rich kids-whack them over the head wiht a mallet :)-JK
For everyone- has anyone here heard of the World Horizons international Organization? They have some really cool programs and I just wnated to know if is worth it.
The one I am most intrested in is in Bulgaria where you make learn the art of puppetry and then perform for orphans. I am thinking of doing this the summmer before my Senior year.</p>
<p>people to people isn't a scam...</p>
<p>"Coffee with John Kerry"</p>
<p>Not when I went. I tried to meet with my congressman, and NSLC couldn't even get that right.</p>
<p>Model UN is a reputable academic program offered by many high schools. The one at Harvard is one of many model UN's. My DS has dome the HArvard one twice because his school participates in it. He liked it but didn't love it. Most of it doesn't even take place at Harvard, it is in a hotel in downtown Boston. He did Model UN at Yale last year, which is a much smaller event, and loved it, was assigned to a terific committee, ended up writing his college essay about it.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, a program for which you get paid (research, internship, military) is better than one that you pay for.</p>
<p>I agree with some of you... the fact is, just because some of these programs are not necessarily soley volunteer oriented, does not mean they are scams or do not afford the student an education.</p>
<p>Having said that, my son went on a People to People trip to the UK in the summer of 2004. While the People to People program is billed as an "ambassador" program, it is more a teen travel group. BUT, aside from a bit of false marketing, it still was a magnificent, wonderful experience - for many reasons: He was a 16 year old traveling and experiencing places and culture far from home (England, Ireland & Wales) for 19 days with a group of teens and a few adults as chaparones. They saw and did things many tourists do not get to do (home stays, etc.)... yes, they did see the traditional sights... and yes, they did shop too... but I think, on the whole, it was educational in its own way! I also feel that travel with one's own family can be very educational as well (at least the way my family travels! :-))... One does not always need to toil, volunteer or sweat to learn about cultures. Traveling around for 19 days with a group of 40 teenagers that you never knew (before you met them 6 months before your trip) can be quite an education in itself!</p>
<p>BUT, if someone is looking specifically for a program to USE to benefit their resume for college... I don't think it fits the bill (my son didn't mention it on his resume)... But not everything you do has to have a purpose other than your own interest and enjoyment!...(reminds me of when my son was in the Cub Scouts... his particular troupe did things for the SAKE of GETTING BADGES, not for the FUN or INTEREST of DOING the thing itself - quite sad, in my opinion. :-(</p>
<p>Scam is the wrong word to use for these "commercial/for-profiit" summer programs that seem like over-priced day camps for people who just like to shell out a lot of $$$$. Student participants often (but not always) have fun and a rewarding experience.</p>
<p>It is the way these programs are marketed that they come over as a scam. Participating in these programs, thinking that they will add prestige to a college application, is the scam that you place on yourself. Adcoms are not impressed with these programs, unless you describe in a personal essay how the experience impacted your college/career choice. Just listing LeadAmerica, People to People or NYLF on an application does not score any points!</p>
<p>There are some summer experiences that are selective and competitive...and then there are these others that are open to anyone who can afford to purchase them. The scam is really that you choose to spend money on them thinking that they sound prestigious and will give you an edge with college admissions.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone looking into the P2P program would think it could possibly give them "an edge with college admissions." Why would they think that? - It's first, and foremost a teen travel program. They do market it as an ambassador type program (I guess, in a way, any group or person traveling to and meeting people from other countries, is in a sense, an ambassador from our country), but anyone delving into what it is, will soon reveal that it is basically a really nice teen travel program, very well run, I might add, with some unique cultural experiences thrown in.</p>
<p>Often, students first hear of P2P because they received a letter or other notification that they were nominated to participate. It is not marketed as just a teen travel program, and many families get caught up in the hype (whether real or imaginary) that participation will somehow lead to status, prestige and college admissions. </p>
<p>And this is where the scam aspect rears its ugly head. If P2P organizers were really operating from a place of 100% ethics and integrity, they would simply make it very clear that P2P is just a teen travel program with no connection whatsoever to any college admissions process! They would clear up any misunderstanding or misinterpretation.</p>