<p>Should the current HS sophomore attend CTY summer Intensive studies? Is the program intended for younger kids? Does the program carry any weight with the admission?</p>
<p>what is CTY?</p>
<p>You can find many previous discussions of this, but briefly: CTY is a program run by Johns Hopkins, and it includes summer sessions at several locations. It is selective, and you have to have certain scores on the SAT to attend, but it is probably not all that helpful in getting admitted to college. It’s better than doing nothing, though. And for many kids, it’s a very, very valuable experience, both for the value of the courses themselves and (even more important for many CTY kids) for social reasons. A kid who is a sophomore now would be one of the older kids, but would probably still enjoy it.</p>
<p>Most CTY programs are aimed at younger kids. They are very tightly monitored and are not allowed to leave campus at all on their own. That’s hard on a high schooler who is used to more freedom. My older son took a fast paced chemistry summer after his freshman year, but did not consider taking CTY after that. They do have some specific CTY programs aimed at high schoolers, but at least at the time he was applying none were aimed at science/math kids types, perhaps because there are already lots of other math/science programs so that population is pretty well served. My kids found that working and/or volunteering was a better use of their high school summers.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I think CTY might not be a good fit for my sophomore. Any good selective programs for STEM kid?</p>
<p>There are other gifted summer programs with HS student sessions. One is offered by the Midwest Talent Search, other is WCATY- in Wisconsin. You don’t need to be a resident to attend, WCATY has had kids from the east. Good for having fun and learning with peers. The sessions are only 3 weeks.</p>
<p>Best use of time is individual- some gifted kids don’t get the chance to be with intellectual peers during the school year despite AP classes et al.</p>
<p>Do an online search for gifted summer programs to see if one is right for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://i1154./albums/p537/TheCastilian/The_Castilian_Upgrades_pop-up_10_22_131_zpsb946380b.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://i1154./albums/p537/TheCastilian/The_Castilian_Upgrades_pop-up_10_22_131_zpsb946380b.jpg</a></p>
<p>You can also check out the Summer Program Forum here at CC.</p>
<p>JHU also has a program where kids can take 2 classes at the Baltimore campus and earn college credit. My son did CTY one summer, and then the college classes two additional summers. It was great for him. My younger son did something similar at another college. Many colleges have summer for credit programs for students now. I felt better paying for college credits, but it’s a personal choice.</p>
<p>My S absolutely loved CTY and went for four years starting the summer after 7th grade. But he was interested in philosophy, not something on offer in MS or HS. CTY is far more than the actual class, even though his classes were great.</p>
<p>There is a great list of summer camps on the American Mathematics Society website, if your child is more math-oriented than science (or if math is a strong enough interest). </p>
<p>[Summer</a> Math Camps and Programs for High School Students](<a href=“http://www.ams.org/programs/students/high-school/emp-mathcamps]Summer”>AMS :: Summer Math Camps and Programs for High School Students)</p>
<p>Selectivity varies, as does focus. I would concentrate on fit.</p>
<p>If you kid has test results (which he probably does if he is a CTY candidate), you could look at the Davidson Institute for Talent Development’s THINK program in Reno. My D2 did it for two summers and LOVED it – she was there the summer after 9th and the summer after 10th grade. And so sad she could not go back again… it was an incredibly intense academic experience. And I do think college like it (she got in everyplace she applied, including U of Chicago and Swarthmore, is now happily enrolled at Harvey Mudd).</p>
<p>Thank you for the great information!</p>
<p>Oxbridge academic program is wonderful. But it’s expensive. There is scholarship available. Oxford, Cambridge, Paris… you name it.</p>
<p>Stanford also has great Summer programs for CTY level kids-but you need to hurry as some programs are already full </p>
<p>“Space is available in the following courses:
The Mathematics of Symmetry (9-10)
Journalism (9-10)
Playwriting and Critical Drama (9-11)
Why Music Matters (9-11)
Topics in Literature (8-9)
20th Century Science, Technology & Culture (9-11)”</p>
<p><a href=“http://summerinstitutes.stanford.edu/highschoolprogram.html[/url]”>http://summerinstitutes.stanford.edu/highschoolprogram.html</a>
[EPGY</a> Summer Institutes](<a href=“http://summerinstitutes.stanford.edu/]EPGY”>http://summerinstitutes.stanford.edu/)</p>
<p>Menloparkmom, I think that referred to 2013 classes. The 2014 application hasn’t yet been released.</p>
<p>I just wanted to add that college admissions is not a reason to send a kid to CTY or any other such program, at least IMHO. They should go if they are intellectually–and/or
socially–enriched by it.</p>
<p>Although choosing such activities MAY demonstrate to certain colleges that the student is intellectually engaged.</p>
<p>Thank you. I think this is for 2013, but very interesting program!</p>
<p>Both my sons have done summer courses at CTY. It was an affirming experience for my older son, now applying to colleges confident that he’ll enjoy wherever he goes. He was at University of Maryland last summer and didn’t enjoy it nearly as much, because there wasn’t a “culture” that he fit into. However, his junior year experience at Maryland shaped his thinking about what kind of school he most desires and what he wants to study. And he got college credit. I’d prefer that he work or intern next summer, though, as he needs job experience.</p>
<p>There are a ton of summer programs for STEM kids; some are quite prestigious and have extremely competitive admissions (TASP etc). I personally would go for the less prestigious and easier admission programs. </p>
<p>[Summer</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/]Summer”>Summer Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>