Attend Summer@Brown non-credit program or take dual enrollment classes? HELP!

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>Hello everyone. I'm afraid that I am in a dilemma in which anyone's advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>I recently got accepted into the Summer@Brown program, which I know isn't much of a big deal since this program basically accepts anyone that is willing to give them money. Although, I was given a full Dean's Scholarship based on my academic merit and household financial difficulties, meaning that the cost of the program dropped from thousands of dollars to 0 dollars. :D Basically, I can choose between taking a 1-week course, a 2-week course, a 3-week course, and etc. at no cost.</p>

<p>As you all probably already know, the class that I will be taking will offer no credit. Just an "evaluation" of my performance. Now, for the past 2 summers (I am currently a junior) I have been taking dual enrollment classes at my local community college. These are absolutely wonderful because I have been taking loads of classes (and quite a few which pertain to my hopeful major) that bring up my weighted GPA tremendously. Currently, my weighted GPA stands in the top 5 of my class, which is thanks to the credit that these classes have given me. Unfortunately, the Summer@Brown non-credit classes will contribute nothing to my GPA.</p>

<p>Now, there is a possible solution to this. The summer schedule for dual enrollment classes in my school allows me to attend a 1-week course at Brown. But, ONLY 1-week course. Any additional weeks and classes at the local college will have already begun and I will lose my chance to enroll.</p>

<p>My mother suggests that attending the program for only 1-week wouldn't be practical, especially if the scholarship I received covers for any amount of weeks. She believes that I should attend the program for a longer period of time and take full advantage of the opportunity I have been given. She doesn't see any harm in me giving up a chance to take dual enrollment classes.</p>

<p>On the other hand, many of my peers will be spending their summer in those dual enrollment classes. They will be boosting up their GPA's while I won't be.</p>

<p>So what should I do? Should I attend the Summer@Brown program for only a week and still be able to take some dual enrollment classes? Or should I attend the program for a few more weeks and take full advantage of it like my mother says, but lose the opportunity to earn college credit/boost up my weighted GPA?</p>

<p>I would love to hear your suggestions! :)</p>

2

<p>Three weeks, of course. It’s the experience.</p>

<p>Stop fussing about your GPA and enjoy life. Unless you think dual enrollment is really super duper fun, spend three weeks at Brown and relax.</p>

3

<p>Summer programs at the Ivies are as you suspected, experiences for gifted students to pursue lofty dreams at their dream schools which parents freely support financially. They are usually seen by college admissions as “fluff.” I am not talking about intense science programs, advanced math, music intensives and the like. I am talking about vague topics with no credit and “experiences” with a vague theme just for the sake of going to an Ivy campus and logging it on a transcript. Admissions is wise to that, and it will not help. </p>

<p>You have been given a scholarship. If you really want to go to Brown, and you would like to see the campus, location, dorms, go for the week.</p>

<p>I think as you suspect, getting the GPA with college credits is superior to a non credit summer course. Better yet, consider working or an internship, and do real life learning. I think working or interning at your level is the most important. You have already proven yourself academically and have all of college to do more academics.</p>

4

<p>CTMOM56, I think I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly. Thank you for the advice guys.</p>

<p>Does anyone else have any other thoughts on this? Any input would be wonderful.</p>

5

<p>If you hadn’t taken dual enrollment classes in the past, being someone who did Summer@Brown, I would say take the classes for credit. However, since you have taken a few already apparently and you are going pretty much for free, I would do the Summer@Brown for at least two weeks. I knew a few people who did it for one week and it seemed like two or three weeks (I did it for three) was a much better experience. No, it will not help very much for college admissions (if at all) but it will definitely be a wonderful experience. You’re only a kid once :)</p>

6

<p>Rainbowrose, I can see where you’re coming from. The experience would indeed be great, but I have many experiences to look forward to when I go to actual college :stuck_out_tongue:
I rather do what’s best college admission-wise right now, and leave my experiences for when I’m in college already.</p>

7

<p>You’re so serious about life … why not take a summer off and just have fun?</p>

<p>Man, I gave up trying years ago and it opened my eyes so much.</p>

8

<p>If you think it would be fun to go to Brown then do it for 3 weeks! </p>

<p>Colleges don’t always except credits from other schools. For instance, Cornell’s policy is that if you used a class for dual enrollment credit it can’t count towards your degree. You could probably place into higher classes even if you didn’t get the credit. </p>

<p>I’ve read on CC that the leadership programs at Summer at Brown were more serious, like the environmental one.</p>