<p>Hey, does anyone here know anything about the Breakthrough/summerbridge program? I was just looking through their site and it seems pretty cool.</p>
<p>Did it last summer. Best thing I've ever done in my life. Be warned though, I was the only person under the age of 20 there, but I found that the people were pretty easy to click with. The students are some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet, but be warned, the work is DIFFICULT. You have over 8 hour days, and be prepared to lesson plan over the weekend. Don't divide your stipend with the amount you work, because it comes out to be about 1.10 per hour. </p>
<p>I'm doing it again this year.</p>
<p>Is the application process hard/selective? So do they give college students first dibs? Also, did you have to find your own housing? (None of the sites are close to where I live.)</p>
<p>It does sound really exciting. Especially for the famously relaxed (ahem, boring) summer before college that I have coming up. :-)</p>
<p>I did BT last year at San Jose, so I commuted about 90 miles (round trip) per day. If you are under 18, none of the sites will let you stay at their homestay (insurance/liability reasons). I don't think they give college students top priority, if your app is excellent, they send an email to all the candidates to schedule an interview (phone or inperson). I think there were about 18 college students and 2 high school students, and the selection was about 1 hs and 9 college. It's all about impressing them at the interview.</p>
<p>haha i'm applying for san jose this year and i hate interviews. fun fun fun! and ninety miles is.....insane.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm doing San Jose this year as well! I'll see you there :)</p>
<p>ah, well, I'll be over 18 come next month. Yeah, I'm suprised that they have nothing down in the greater LA area (where I live.) hmm...I guess the bay area is the closest, hehe</p>