<p>So I just found out about the BU summer programs for high school students. I am particularly interested in the BU Summer Challenge program. Has anyone done and BU summer programs before, and how did you like it? And has anyone else heard of these programs?</p>
<p>I actually did the BU Summer Challenge this summer in Intro to Business and Infectious Diseases. Although I didn’t really learn much in Infectious Diseases, the labs were really interesting and for business we made teams and at the end, wrote up a business plan which we presented. The program itself was a lot of fun; they give you a lot of freedom to go explore Boston, and bring you to lots of places too. We got to go watch a Red Sox game, and some people went more than once by buying tickets off of people on the street. There are curfews, but they’re not too bad. I felt it was a really good way to explore Boston for two weeks with some new friends and possibly learn something at the same time. Plus familiar yourself with living in a dorm.
What classes are you interested in?</p>
<p>wow, thanks! I am interested in the law and communications I think. And some more questions: do you mainly hang out with the people in your classes?
Are there many people going into tenth grade, or are most people older?
Is the food good?</p>
<p>Ah, fun. I think law involves quite a bit of reading homework, but it shouldn’t be too bad. At the end they acted out a trial. Communications, I’m not too sure about.
Some of my friends were from my classes, but most of my friends were just random people I met on the first few days at lunch or something. A lot of people were friends with others from their floor, or brought friends with them to the program.
Most were upcoming juniors, I think, although there were quite a number of seniors too. There were also a handful of sophomores, just not as many.
The food’s pretty good. It may get a bit repetitive after a while, but you’ve got choices since it’s basically buffet style. Plus there’s lots of restaurants both on and off campus you can go to if you don’t like it. Little Italy and Chinatown are both just a few T stops away.</p>
<p>oh okay. Also, were the participants misty from the Boston area and surrounding states, or were there people from all over the country?</p>
<p>Quite a lot of people were from Massachusetts, NJ, NY, PA. But there were people from California, Texas, Japan, even. They’re really from all over.</p>
<p>Cool! And is it just 2 people per room? Which dorm did y’all stay in?</p>
<p>Yes, it’s two people a room. All dorms are in Warren Towers, with boys in one tower and girls in the other. There is, however, a common room/floor where the two towers connect (also where the dining hall is).</p>
<p>Oh okay. And does Warren Towers have private bathrooms in each room? Are the rooms nice?</p>
<p>There’s are two bathrooms per floor. The rooms are okay. A little small, but it’s liveable.</p>
<p>I did Summer Challenge about 4 years ago (I’m now a junior in COM/CAS and I did it before senior year) and I chose International Politics and Mass Communication. Before that program, I was really thinking about doing IR and studying foreign languages, but after that morning seminar for two weeks I realized it was way too dry of a subject for me, meanwhile I really enjoyed the hands-on approach to the Mass Com seminar (we shot short video commercials, shot and designed a print ad, shot video journalism segment, with intros to film and radio). It was much more creative and a “learn by doing” subject that pushed me into wanting to major in the communications field.</p>
<p>You live in doubles in Warren Towers, have a basic meal plan at the dining halls, and there are several excursions throughout Boston. I think we did a Red Sox game, Faneuil Hall, North End, part of Freedom Trail and the Boston Common. For Mass Comm we went out into the city to find people to interview and find locations for our commercials. It was a pretty good experience and you get a good glimpse into life as a freshman on campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. Do you know or remember how much it costs?</p>
<p>[Summer</a> Programs for High School Students | Boston University Summer Term](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/summer/high-school-programs/]Summer”>High School Pre-College Summer Programs | Boston University Summer Term)</p>
<p>Costs can be found there. If you can get into the “high school honors” program it’s probably better in the long run because you get the same basic experience but you complete one or two courses and earn academic credit. But it’s a longer time commitment and more responsibility.</p>
<p>i did the visual arts summer institute two years ago at BU and i LOVED it!! i wasn’t in summer challenge, but i knew some kids that were and they all seemed to really enjoy it. for the most part, they didn’t have much work and had a lot of freedom. the only annoying thing is the strict dorm policy, but you can do anything you want outside of the dorms</p>
<p>Hi, I’m interested in this program, but I was wondering if there is a somewhat partying atmosphere? Do people drink and smoke, or even sneak out? Just wondering, seems like a great program. Also, do you know if the creative writing programs have a good level? Thank you!</p>
<p>I did the High School Honors program and it was a really great opportunity! Personally, I’d choose that over the summer challenge since you also get credits for your classes - I took Intro to IR and Human Evolution and Behavior and overall I didn’t find my classes to be too difficult (some of the lab courses such as chemistry, however, are far more intense). Neither class required much work (just a lot of reading each night and a short 6 page paper at the end of my IR class). If you do well, there’s also the added benefit of being able to send your transcripts to help with college admissions down the road (I’m not sure how much help it is, but I think it’s one of the factors which helped me get into BU with a scholarship and an invitation to join the honors program). It’s a six week program (so basically they fit an entire semester course into six weeks) and in addition to your classes, they also take you to do multiple activities around Boston (such as a Red Sox game, Shear Madness, and so on). </p>
<p>@Sbonfils: I didn’t really find there to be that much of a partying atmosphere. I’m sure there were some people who snuck out to drink and smoke but I mostly stuck with one group of friends, so I certainly didn’t see it. There are RAs on each floor and a set curfew for each night where you have to report back to your program assistant. From my understanding, they are pretty strict about alcohol and will immediately send you packing if you are caught drinking.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help! I’m actually thinking of doing this program, but I’m hesitating between the Brown University Summer program or the BU one… Thanks again.</p>
<p>Can you tell me just how bad the weather gets? There is no AC, they recommend fans, a cold shower, and opening dorm windows at night. No portable ACs are allowed in rooms. We are from S.F. and wondering if it will just be miserable with only AC in the dining hall and study area.</p>
<p>Definitely bring a fan or buy one when you get to Boston. I pretty much kept my fan on whenever I was in my room and it really wasn’t that bad.</p>
<p>I applied to the RISE program and didn’t get in, but on the bright side, they did offer me a spot in their High School Honors Program! I just wanted to get an opinion on it - is it worth going? (my parents are a bit iffy because of the cost) And what kind of experience do you get there? any advice would be super helpful :)</p>