<p>In looking over a lot of these colleges, I have noticed that many have summer programs available for high school juniors and seniors. Does attending one of these programs have any effect on future college admission to these schools? Or is it just a nice thing to have on your resume? Other than having the chance to look over the campus- sleep in the dorms, eat the cafeteria food, etc. are there any advantages to taking a course?</p>
<p>When it comes to the top colleges – places like HPYS-- attending their expensive summer programs gives NO admission tip. Attending such a program may be a tip if one attends a program for a college that cares about demonstrated interest. </p>
<p>Attending free, highly select programs like TASP or RSI is a tip factor for probably all colleges.</p>
<p>It would be a sign of demonstrated interest at colleges that look at such interest, but that’s not most of the CC usual suspects as Northstarmom says.</p>
<p>I’m not sure top colleges look at it as ‘a nice thing to have on your resume’. It suggests nothing much more than that you can afford it. The free programs or a job at McDonalds get many more brownie points.</p>
<p>^^ I agree with all the posters above. Neither of my kids had attended any of the collge summer programs. They spent their summers on non-academic ECs that they enjoyed ( & are still enjoying in college) !!</p>
<p>It depends on the school-- hyps probably doesn’t matter. Cornell it helps</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter for admission and it’s generally not something that colleges will be impressed by on your resume.</p>
<p>I don’t think it would necessarily help, but in my son’s case I think it did. He took a summer course in American history in a fantastic program where he got to go visit different historical sites, did hundreds of pages of reading every day, and wrote a paper every day. He earned four college credits for it, and because he actually does have a serious passion for history that was demonstrated in other ways as well, I think it added to the story of what it told about him. I don’t think it was NECESSARY, but it just added another little piece of the puzzle that explained who he was.</p>
<p>My son took a computer programming course at Columbia for similar reason’s as Endicott’s son. I think it was just one of the many ways he showed his interest in computer science. He took it because he was interested in the course not because of any expectation that it would help him either at Columbia (where he didn’t apply) or anywhere else.</p>
<p>Agree with everyone above. If it’s a course your student would take even if NOT applying to the college, OK. If it happens to highlight a particular strength in the student, even better. If done strictly as a “tip” then save your money (for SAT prep?).</p>
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<p>Anyone who has money should spend it on books, in the opinion of Erasmus. </p>
<p><a href=“http://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_i_get_a_little_money_i_buy_books-and_if_any/13319.html[/url]”>http://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_i_get_a_little_money_i_buy_books-and_if_any/13319.html</a> </p>
<p>Yes, as all replies above have said, there is little or no admission value to attending college-specific summer programs. Attend if they are affordable (apply for financial aid if that is in doubt) and if it looks to you like a worthwhile program. See </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/343495-summer-programs-look-good-college-applications.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/343495-summer-programs-look-good-college-applications.html</a> </p>
<p>for discussion of other kinds of summer programs that MAY impress colleges–although that still wouldn’t be the reason to attend them.</p>
<p>The Val from our local HS a couple of years ago went to one of the Harvard summer programs. She is an exceptionally bright girl and was the State AP scholar among other things. Harvard was always her dream. She did not get in. So I would say the answer is no.</p>
<p>No, it doesn’t help at Cornell either. Thee were a number of student with great apps that did the CSC program @ Cornell and were rejected. I think pretty much any T25 university will not give much sway to expensive summer programs.</p>
<p>I’m always curious when I read folks writing that this or that ‘helped’ their kids get into a college. I have three kids who have gotten into probably 35 school between them. For one I know his essay helped because he got a letter about it from the Director of Admissions. At all the other schools my kids applied got into, how would I have any way of knowing why they got in?</p>
<p>In the case of summer programs, the top schools anyway make it clear the summer programs don’t help.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom: I’m curious where the young woman ^^^ wound up going. Yale??</p>
<p>I don’t honestly remember. I know she got into several good schools including a very competitive program at JHU. I am not sure where she actually went in the end.</p>
<p>My son just attended an overnight at the college he will be attending. He actually met the woman in the admissions office who first read his file. He asked why she chose him. She told him his essay, his summer school class, and other activities all contributed to the “story” of his passion, and it was clear what kind of person he was (he had great grades, SATS, too, but this was his “edge”).</p>
<p>My son attended CTY for four years (however, the last summer was before freshman year in HS) taking various science courses. We were specifically told by the GC not to put it on the application. She said colleges just look at those programs as something wealthier kids can do that other kids can’t. (Also, she said they don’t care about anything before H.S.) CTY is a selective program, but it’s based on SAT scores, so I don’t know how much it would say about my son anyway.</p>
<p>My d spent her summer before sr year at an ivy. It was terrific for her, and in hindsight, I think she got alot out of it. It also added to her academic record, as she took 2 college classes in subjects which she loved. It certainly made her college apps stronger from the aspect of having pursued academic interests outside of school. She did not apply to any ivies, but did have successful apps at 9/10 of her schools. She has friends today still from that program. It probably helped her adjust better when she did enter her uni. But…of the 200 or so there that summer, she knows of only one who was accepted the following spring. Two or three got into other ivies. However, the rest did get into other top schools. You can get a recommendation from a prof if it goes well. She decided when she came back not to apply to that ivy, even though she loved it, it made her know more about what she did in fact want in a college…but she did spend a summer with some awesome kids. In her case, that uni’s regular students were in the same classes. Also, one of her profs was a regular prof at the campus; one was not. I think this is something I would look into before deciding on classes.</p>
<p>I guess I would say to do it if it fits your student’s desires for that summer and for her goals. But not to get an edge on that college’s admissions.</p>
<p>Older S went to a pre college ivy summer program. The best thing about it for him was to create focus. He had a great time, took 2 course (for credit), made friends and had a taste of what he was working so hard for. He came back and it really gave him the energy to push through senioritis and all the distractions. One of his experiences became a part of his essay. </p>
<p>Second S is going to a pre college program this summer, for the same reasons. From watching his brother, he knows it will help eliminate some of the anxiety of going into a college classroom for the first time, and he likes the idea of having the credits, and the course choices.</p>
<p>So, no, it doesn’t help get into that specific school, but any good and enlarging (growth) experience has merits that may not be measurable.</p>
<p>“My son attended CTY for four years (however, the last summer was before freshman year in HS) taking various science courses. We were specifically told by the GC not to put it on the application. She said colleges just look at those programs as something wealthier kids can do that other kids can’t. (Also, she said they don’t care about anything before H.S.) CTY is a selective program, but it’s based on SAT scores, so I don’t know how much it would say about my son anyway.”</p>
<p>I can see putting CTY on one’s app even though it is a pricey program. Since it’s based on SAT scores, it’s fairly select. Students also tend to do it because they want to delve into a particular subject area. Most students – even bright ones – wouldn’t think that such a program is fun, but CTY junkies thrive on it.</p>
<p>While I doubt that participating in it opens doors at places like Johns Hopkins where students can do CTY programs, participating in the program could reflect one’s passion for a particular subject.</p>