<p>Is this a legit program? Did anyone else receive a letter about this?</p>
<p>I did… I think I got the letter because I have an account on princeton review… I usually get stuff through them recommending companies to me in areas of interest… I remember cambridge something. But I don’t know. I’m wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>Don’t go. I’m a Cambridge student and know that the program is run by an outside company that rents space at a couple colleges and is just there to take your money.</p>
<p>Thanks. Good to know.</p>
<p>Excuse me, I went on this program and I would reccommend it to everyone. I went on it summer after my sophomore year and took A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Physics, British and American Intelligence: The Art of Espionage from WWI to the Present, British Cultural History, and Introduction to AP Calculus AB. The physics class helped to prepare me for my Honors Physics class in the fall and the Introduction to AP Calculus BC helped prepare me for my AP Calculus BC course. It’s really more about the experience than it is about the classes. If you have the means, it really will give you a taste of college life, studying abroad, and making lasting friendships. My director, what we call counselor, is an actor in the West End, London. Almost every single director is a young alum of Cambridge University. It’s definitely an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>well…sorry for replying on such an old thread, but something popped up on this programme and I thought I’d better help clarify. </p>
<h1>3 is right. Cambridge university itself doesn’t tend to run these programmes, so if you see any, chances are they’re by external companies, who employ students and staff members --ReachCambridge is another one. we get recruitment notices on mailing lists. So, yes #5 is right the people involved would be young alum of cambridge – but that’s not really that special – there are a lot of young alums of cambridge in cambridge looking for some summer job, it’s not hard to get them to work in these programmes. so, I would agree with #5 that it’s the experience not the classes, if you have a means of paying for them. There is no means of getting cambridge classes without being a cambridge undergrad [unless you sneak into lectures], and there’s no academic training programme conducted by the university for high school students in this format. But the college facilities can be rented out and the students can be hired, hence these programmes try to construct a meaningful vacation experience for high school students.</h1>
<p>In any case, the program not being run by cambridge university is less of a issue as compared to the actual content of the programme and whether they’re good value for money. So, on to the main reason why I’m posting this reply — the student employees last year have not been paid by this programme. So they are warning current students not to take up employment with this programme, while they’re trying to contact them for legal action. If anything, this would be a reason I recommend caution if you still intend to sign up with this programme.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the comments. My daughter is very keen to attend as we are going to be in the UK for the olympics anyway this summer. </p>
<p>We need to be clear on what we are signing up for !</p>
<ul>
<li><p>does this programme help in anyway when applying for university or…</p></li>
<li><p>is this just a great way to see the UK - one of those experiences in life that you never forget.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Any further feedback is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>
No, admission to Cambridge is based solely on academics (SAT/ACT, AP tests).</p>
<p>The only thing I see that helps is when you choose a college for the application.</p>
<p>
This.</p>
<p>If you really want to go to Cambridge, try Reach Cambridge. It’s less expensive. My school sponsored several students to go there.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>We heard similar negative comments about a course my daughter attended in Washington last year and she loved it.</p>
<p>Reach does not work for us because of dates, we are in UK same dates as the CCP - we have tickets for the Olympics!!!</p>
<p>Has anyone attended and felt it was a great experience even if it is not affliated with Cambridge Uni?</p>
<p>You can also contact the program office and ask for a list of references to contact.</p>
<p>DO NOT go on this programme. Foremost, it is very unlikely to even run this year as the director has no accommodation and no staff in Cambridge at the moment and you are even less likely to get your money back if it is cancelled.
I worked as a member of staff on this programme for the last two years. It’s nothing to do with the university, it’s academic standards are very low (and definitely won’t help you get into college) and while it was a fun (but ridiculously expensive) experience for the kids, it was only because of all the extremely hard work and enthusiasm of the student staff members who ran the programme with absolutely no help from the director. Taryn Edwards (the director) is very disorganised, lazy and has bad debts all over Cambridge (she owes in the region of £100,000 to colleges, staff and lecturers) and because of this, no one is willing to work for her anymore and therefore the programme (if it goes ahead) will be a complete shambles.
It is also a complete rip off money making scheme for Taryn Edwards. She is very stingy with the budget when it comes to actually putting on activites for the kids, we worked out she is making a gross profit and providing very little for what you pay. There are much more worthy summer schools out there if you really want your child to experience Cambridge, or for the same amount of money your child could travel around the whole of the UK and half of Europe once they are 18 and have a much more enriching experience.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but I cannot warn you away from this programme enough!</p>
<p>I am a parent considering sending my child to this program. I have seen the news reports about the student counselors and am concerned. Are you one of the students who was not paid? Can you give me an update of where you think the program stands now, and a contact at Cambridge University to verify whether this group is in good standing? Thank you for any assistance you can provide.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This program isn’t affiliated to the University of Cambridge in any way. I don’t think they can help you.</p>
<p>I am a recent college graduate and not-so-recent Cambridge COllege Programme participant. I went in 2005 so a lot may have changed but this was the most amazing thing I could have done as a high school student. The feeling of independence, yet having a unique and diverse group of friends (many of who I am still friends with 7 years later) to trust and come to with homesickness (and this was back when we had to use the pay phone to call home!) was just outstanding. I loved the program and it changed my life for the better. I loved my classes and all the excursions they had for us. Wandering aimlessly around Cambridge on weekends is still one of my favorite memories. Again, I went in 2005 so a lot may have changed but I highly recommend this trip if you can afford to send your student.</p>
<p>I SO agree with this. Speaking as a former lecturer on this course, the director owes money to all lecturers too. Please do not waste your money.
Read:
[Cambridge</a> University students cheated out of earnings by summer school - Telegraph](<a href=“Cambridge University students cheated out of earnings by summer school”>Cambridge University students cheated out of earnings by summer school)</p>
<p>But I am afraid that you (Mayanicolle) are deluded. Your parents spent a very great deal of money on you which lined the director’s pockets. That money would have been better spent on your college fees. Doing CCP will NOT help you get into Cambridge. If you want to experience culture and Europe, then go on holiday to Cambridge.
In fact, why not take the proper University-organised and accredited summer schools:
[Home</a> - University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education](<a href=“http://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/]Home”>http://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/)</p>
<p>Is there an update on the 2012 program? My daughter supposedly was one of 5 students who won a scholarship to it through the NSHSS (National Society of High School Scholars). We received letters, tee shirts, etc. from Taryn Edwards and NSHSS says it is still on, but when you check the NSHSS website for the list of 5 winners, nothing can be found, and no award/acknowledgement was received from NSHSS as promised. Anyone know anything?</p>
<p>I would like to confirm that the staff of the 2011 programme - students and teachers alike - have still not been paid. </p>
<p>CCP has been banned from operating out of Cambridge colleges. It took place in 2012 after booking at the last minute and under a fake name. The programme was run entirely by American volunteers, with no UK supervisors. A very restricted number of teachers were hired and most of the academic courses DID NOT RUN. Trips to the Olympics were advertised that DID NOT TAKE PLACE. </p>
<p>A few further points to consider before booking this programme:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Despite claims on her website, Ms Edwards has no traceable association (past or present) with Cambridge University</p></li>
<li><p>The teachers on the programme are NOT associated with Cambridge University</p></li>
<li><p>The programme is not safe. The American volunteers last year were left without the support needed to look after the students. When it was run with UK paid staff we were not vetted in any way. I did not meet Ms Edwards at all until the very last day of the programme!</p></li>
<li><p>Advertised trips and courses will not always take place.</p></li>
<li><p>The programme is vastly overpriced. Better alternatives in Cambridge exist. (I would recommend some but due to working for another summer school now WHICH ACTUALLY PAYS my opinion is probably biased. Do an internet search and several will come up)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I would be happy to be contacted to provide any further information on this. Please consider very carefully before deciding to go on the programme in 2013.</p>
<p>The CCP is a disgrace to all summer programs </p>
<p>[Disgraced</a> fake don’s debt-dodging summer camp set to return to Cambridge | The Cambridge Student Newspaper](<a href=“The Cambridge Student”>The Cambridge Student)</p>
<p>For halco1209 </p>
<p>My daughter has the opportunity to apply for this NSHSS scholarship but I was wondering whether it is worth the time to get it and go to the Cambridge College Programme. I’ll appreciate your help. Thanks.</p>