<p>Do the programs directly help ur academics at school. Say I have Bio AP the following year after i attend one of these science programs. Does taking the program help my grades in that specific AP course by introducing material that may be ultimately covered. And also what is known about the camp known as COSMOS? Is it worthwhile?</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the Rockefeller SSRP is prestigious or if colleges take note of that during the college application process?</p>
Hello everyone! I have been reading this thread lately and would like to make some clarifications. Although I am an experienced junior now, I was naive sophomore looking at summer programs just a year ago. Below, are two programs that I have experience with
Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPPS)
Without a doubt, this program is by far and wide one of the most comprehensive and immersive programs in the research field. For eight full weeks, you are engrossed in the field of translational oncology, working under some of the most established researchers in the world. For example, I worked under Dr. Charles L. Sawyers who developed Gleevec to effectively cure Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Under his mentorship, I performed authentic research in the epigenetics of resistance mechanisms in prostate cancer. Trust me when I say this, the lab work was even above what undergraduates get to experience. In addition, the lab work was supplemented with luncheons with PIs, tours of core facilities and the hospital, as well as lectures and training activities. At the end of the program, you have the opportunity to present to the entire lab and to the general public. If you’re wondering, about 600 people applied and only 19 were accepted in 2014 (3% acceptance rate). Some of the smartest kids from NYC and NJ who are now attending Princeton, Yale, Harvard, MIT, etc.
Rockefeller Summer Research Program
Recently, I was accepted to this program and plan to do it for the 2015 Summer. To begin, the application process is parallel to applying to an Ivy League university. With four rounds of applications plus interview, you get to know if you’re actually in the program in May or June. Furthermore, the applicant pool is over 1200 from the tristate area and only 50 students are accepted so, about 4%. Unlike HOPPS though, this program has been established for over 20 years and attracts some of the most intelligent students in the country (especially from the NJ, NY, CT region). Similar to HOPPS, the program is fully immersive with a strong emphasis on more basic research like structural biology, biochemistry, and computational biology. Additionally, Rockefeller is home to several nobel laureates (I actually have the pleasure to work with one of them this summer!!!). In terms of college applications, I know several alumni of the program who are now attending Yale, Harvard, Princeton, etc. Rockefeller is looked very favorably due to its high degree of research and immersive program.
Final Thoughts
Based on my assessment of the acceptance rate and the overall program, I would rank the programs as follows:
(1) RSI
(2) Rockefeller/SIMR/HOPPS
(3) Simons/Clark/NIH/Garcia
(4) Jackson/Princeton Lab Learning/Others
Simons limits the number of students that a high school can nominate to just three. This obviously restricts the number of applications it can receive from schools such as Stuyvesant which has over 800 high performing kids in their junior class alone. Without this restriction, Simons would probably receive at least double the number of apps (maybe even that much from Long Island alone) and the acceptance rate would be under 5%. In any event, the smaller applicant pool is much more competitive due to the self-selective process.
FWIW, I saw that over half the attendees from the Simons summer of 2011 went to Harvard, Princeton or Yale with all the rest going to similar top schools such as MIT, Caltech or Stanford, etc. ( A few accepted prestigious scholarships from state school programs.)
I have come to the conclusion that all of these programs are pretty much on par with each other and the name of the program does not matter as much to admissions officers as what you actually do at them. The reason why the kids do well in college admissions is that the programs are pretty much looking for the same things as the colleges, so to get past their hurdles is tantamount to getting past the admissions hurdles at selective schools. Performing high-level research that leads to an award or published paper and a great research recommendation is just icing on the cake.
@rhsswimmer How was your experience at Rockefeller? I’m considering applying, but I’m debating whether or not to apply to Rockefeller or SIMR because I’m from the Bay Area. I want to spend a summer at the east cost though. Thanks in advance.