Another one I’ve lots about are summer programs by the National Hispanic Institute. Anyone out there had much experience with either of these?
Are Summer PreCollege (like NSLC - National Students Leadership Conference)Programs worth the money?
They can be interesting and fun, but they won’t get you into college if that’s what you’re thinking. I definitely wouldn’t strain myself to pay for them if they seem too expensive.
I think the general consensus is that the free ones are the most useful for college apps. TASP, MITES, etc.
The others can be worth the money if your kid is interested in the program. My D did 3 less prestigious summer programs (they were expensive but she got a scholarship) and loved them, she learned a lot, met people, lived away and found what she wanted to study. Will colleges she is applying to care that she did them? I don’t know, maybe not beyond just reinforcing her interests, but she got a lot of value from them.
Tell us more about the particular program.
It’s possible that the benefits will be more refined college goals, not improvement in acceptance rate. But that could still be a good thng.
Son did a leadership conference in Wash DC. Really interesting and had a great time. It did help define goals. But it was expensive and if that was a concern we wouldn’t have done it. Don’t think it was necessary for college app if that’s your thought.
D did a weeklong program in a subject that she really liked. It was a great experience for her. She gained some new skills, had an introduction to college life, and got to spend time at a school that she was seriously considering. It was very worthwhile.
Daughter did a Pre- nursing program. Invaluable in answering “why nursing” prompts. I think without that it would have been hard and thus harder to have gotten in.
My kid did the medical NSLC at UMD about 8 years ago. She really loved it…but it was not a bargain, and we didn’t send her to give her a college application edge.
My D thought she was interested in 3D animation, and ended up finding another design career that she really loves. Programs that will give you more insight into interested career paths (many excellent design programs are somewhat rigid in requirements, and you are in the program that you are in.) We are really glad that we sent her. She also developed great confidence, came out with some amazing portfolio pieces, as well as with a great “fire” for her future.
DD attended an NSLC event.
She had a very positive experience. She felt that she learned a lot and made some friends that she stayed in touch with.
Having said that, it was not cheap, and I do not think that adding it to an application helps at all. DD did not list it on hers. The value is in the experience.
If you are looking for a summer experience to impress others on an application, this will not do it.
DS13 did the medical NSLC at Northwestern. He had fun and learned that he did not want to be a doctor. DS17 did the theater NSLC in New York City. He loved it and had fun. NLSC is not cheap. I don’t think it help a college app. But they both felt it was a worth while experience.
DS13 also did a summer camp(Genetics) at Michigan Tech. It was a lot cheaper. I would look at local colleges to see what kind of summer programs they have. They will most likely be cheaper and you will still learn a lot.
I think it also allows your kids to have an independent experience…but really it is up to you if you can afford it.
I’ve heard admissions reps say that they aren’t influenced by NSLC and similar programs that are very costly. (Though I suspect that they might use them as an indicator that the family has financial resources. 
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My D did the Global Issues Seminar at Notre Dame. It was free but competitive admission. It was great for her to meet students from all over the country and expand her horizons. She also got a good feel for the Notre Dame campus. She ended up applying there, but decided not to go in favor of a strong merit offer in state.
These summer programs are good if your kid is really interested in the topic and if you can afford it. Even if money is an object, some have financial aid. But be cautious, these programs for the most part have no bearing on admission to the tippy top schools, especially the Ivies. Go to the admission threads and you will see tons of kids who attended special summer programs who have been deferred or denied admission.
That being said, my D went to Brown between junior and senior year to take a Literature class. She loved it though it truly hurt my pocketbook.
^ Brown is very generous with need-based aid for summer programs though. By “generous” I don’t mean it reaches up into middle class income but rather that if the need is there they cover about 95%o f the cost.
My son went to Yale Global Scholars between junior and senior year. There was little sleep and a lot of work and socializing. The major impact was that my son had originally intended to apply to MIT, CalTech, etc. but decided to apply SCEA to Yale based on the people he met – it worked out well for him.
I think it really depends on the program. My dd went to the Iowa Young Writers Studio a couple of years ago. It’s expensive, but quite competitive to get into. Of the 60 or so high school kids attending in her session, 6 are at Stanford, 4 are at Brown, 4 at Harvard and others are at Yale, Hopkins, Amherst, Carleton, Princeton, USC and Vanderbilt. It’s impossible to know if attending the IYWS helped them get into good colleges or if the IYWS is so competitive that if you can get into the program, you stand a good chance of getting into a great school.
In any event, she didn’t do it to help her college resume. She did it because she loves to write the way the rest of us love to breathe. It was an amazing, transforming experience for her.
Right. Hard to say what came first since these programs select kids who are tailor made for these schools
My son did one with student ambassadors and TIP, but didn’t mention those on application. More relevant was going to a state program for science kids, a competitive program, and free for the few accepted. (He was admitted for summer after junior year, so didn’t help with admissions)