C T Y

Pre-College Topics Summer Programs
41

<p>I went to CTY for 4 years all at LMU. Intro to biomed, fast paced chem, genetics, fast paced physics…
I have to say that CTY was one of the best experiences ever.
I do admit: it did get a bit restricting once you get older and want to have more freedom. But the quirky people you meet there and the intense classes just made my summers amazing.
If you want to do CTY in 9th/10th grade, you might consider somewhere else, because some of the courses are oriented for a younger group. But physics was certainly hard for me (and I was one of the oldest people there!). If you don’t mind a really controlled environment, go for it:)</p>

<p>I’m just sad I can’t go this year:(</p>

42

<p>For older students, I’d suggest looking into the Brown, Columbia, or Harvard programs.</p>

43

<p>I went to CTY for two years (S2 Saratoga FPHS Bio 2006, S2 Loudonville FPHS Chem 2007) and I had a blast. The first year I went was the summer before freshman year; I’d say all the cliches apply: I met amazing people, learned loads of bio (plus a fetal pig dissection, yay!), and experienced to an extent what college dorm life would be like. I still keep in touch with 10 or so people regularly, thanks to the wonders of Facebook and AIM, and not only are these the quirkiest and most unique people I’ve ever met, but come college decision time next year, I’m sure most of us will be receiving acceptances from very prestigious schools :slight_smile: That being said, in my second year, the program started getting stale. The RAs don’t allow you to go anywhere basically, and you aren’t really free to explore the campus and hang out. The program is very structured, and there are a lot of planned and forced “fun” activities. </p>

<p>More than anything, CTY is like a cult. Sometimes I feel that my friends who are more obsessed with it are living in a kind of nerd-bubble and can’t really face the realities of Life Outside of CTY.</p>

44

<p>For the student who spends the school year will slower students, CTY is a breath of fresh air. They know they are not alone.</p>

<p>Great for middle school/early HS, but for high school years there are better programs out there for talented youth.</p>

45

<p>I don’t recommend going to any CTY program after the summer before 11th or 10th grade. Not only is it a waste of time, but the strict rules can get overwhelming as a 16 or 17 year old who wants more freedom especially during the first few weeks of summer. I regret attending when I was 16 because I was treated like a 12 year old and had to follow strict schedules (11 pm lights out) and was not allowed to go anywhere by myself.</p>

46

<p>Did anyone take the fast paced biology class offered by CTY recently? Could you tell me what it was like. I’ve been to CTY before, but I took an international geopolitics course, not a science one. How was it like, and what campus did you attend?</p>

47

<p>i didnt take it but i know friends who did at skidmore. they LOOOOVED it. the bio class is also always very close and they are amazing friends.</p>

48

<p>I recommend posting on postctydepression.com and asking people on that website. They could give you lots of great info!</p>

49

<p>Ohhh god. I did Model United Nations at Stanford in '08 for baby CTY. It was when I was first introduced to this nerd camp, what with its strange traditions and this 8-minute long song and accompanying dance. I was confused, but I liked it so much that I didn’t want to go home on the weekends (I live close by.)</p>

<p>In '09 I did Logic…something, at LMU. It was probably the least fun of the three years I’ve gone…yeah, the teacher was okay, but not fun. The TA was awesome though–we called him Jack Black because he looked so much like him, and he took it well. That was the first year that I felt really sad about leaving.</p>

<p>Then last summer I went to Lancaster for Pop Culture. It was the best course I’ve ever taken and the best CTY experience I’ve ever had. I bawled my eyes out on the last day, and I still keep in touch with plenty of people, even though I live on the west coast and pretty much everyone else was on the opposite side of the country. I missed everyone terribly (and still do!), and I really wanted to go back this year for Etymology, the instructor for which everyone said was amazing, or the same course that my roommate was taking. It’s too late now though, I’m already booked for summer school in preparation for next year. T ^T</p>

<p>The atmosphere’s like no other… there, you can be absolutely anybody and you’ll still be loved and have fun. You’ll find really unique people, artsy people, brilliant people, funny people, quirky people, people that you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life and do. One of the things I noticed the most was the open acceptance of sexual preference. At Lancaster, there was an activity called GLOW (I don’t know if this was only at Lancaster or not), and in it you’d sit down and discuss topics important to identity, sexual orientation, etc. I don’t feel like I will ever feel that sense of community again, and I was amazed by the prominent acceptance everywhere. It was wonderful. Plus I made my first gay friend there (I go to a pretty conservative school where it’s not as prevalent).</p>

<p>Don’t even make me start on the traditions… ;___; there’s a Canon of music, glowsticking, specific dances, 42, acting improv, strawberry kiwi lemonade, grass orgies, silent football, positions with artifacts passed down for over a decade, lanyards, the game (sorry), spooning, duct tape, Blammo, the passionfruit ceremony…yeah. I’ll forever love CTY and it’ll forever be my favorite nerd camp.</p>

<p>And if you’re wondering if you should go, the answer is yes, and to Lancaster.
Damn all my PCTYD just came back. >___< Sorry, I wrote too much.</p>

50

<p>Winslow, I was at LAN last summer, too! Did you go first or second session? I totally know what you mean about all of that stuff. You didn’t write too much at all. It makes me smile inside.</p>

<p>Michael66, I did FPHS Biology a couple summers ago and it was great. The class was at a good pace and both my instructor and TA were great. I didn’t do it at Lancaster, but all the classes I’ve taken there were amazing, so I’m sure the Biology class is good, too.</p>

51

<p>I was going to go there, but backed away and chose EPGY instead. I’m regretting it a little, because a lot of people are saying that CTY is better.</p>

52

<p>CTY is better!</p>

53

<p>hey i am going to cty for the first time this summer. I am smart but not anything extraordinary. by some miracle I qualified for intensive studies so am taking fast paced high school biology. I saw that they have pretesting for this, why? and should I prepare for the course a little?
anyhelp would really be appreciated, thanks</p>