<p>Is it true that attending a summer program at a university (particularly Ivy+) help you get into the school you really want?</p>
<p>I've heard some of those programs don't even hire the instructors who are professors at the same university. And plus, even if you go there, it's not like you will get to know the admissions officer?</p>
<p>Am I right or am I wrong?</p>
<p>idk...but i do think those programs help...at least they show how you are meaningfully spending your summer</p>
<p>Assuming you get a grade for the courses you take. If you do well in the summer program, it may or may not help you. If you do bad, it will hurt you. If you don't attend a summer program, then it will have no effect.</p>
<p>August you heard right. Most of the programs are simply ways for the universities to make money for their grounds during the summer when it's empty.
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If you're thinking of using a summer program to show your interest etc in something, I would recommend not to bother unless your parents don't care about the cost and/or the program offers something you're very interested in.</p>
<p>P.S. I went to Duke TIP once, I think right after there was a lot of problems with sex etc which meant that my year was dry, no contact with the opposite sex seemingly, and the worst summer of my life. At least at my local university (classes free of charge for my state to high school students) the classes were real classes and I was able to have fun at the same time.</p>