<p>hey im trying to decide what to do for the summer..
june i think im gonna volunteer at amnesty international
july sat prep/missions trip
august..</p>
<p>i have 3 options
1. cornell summer school (i wanna take latin there)
2. national student leadership conference at geneva, switzerland for 2 weeks
3. study abroad in spain for a month to take courses on spanish and spain history</p>
<p>which sounds most beneficial? cost is not a factor atm
im open to other ideas as well</p>
<p>Don't do things that cost lots of $$. Colleges do not like the kids that seem rich and spoiled.</p>
<p>I suppose studying Latin would help your SAT's, but it would be hard to pass up a trip to Europe. On the other hand, though, it already looks like you've got a lot on your plate for the summer (more than enough to fill two lines of "how I spent my summer vacation" on a college app). If it were me, I think I would spend August sleeping in late, hanging out with friends, and relaxing.</p>
<p>suze--i can see where ur coming from that colleges do not like kids that seem rich and spoiled.. but i do a lot of community service.. wouldn't that sway them away form their opinion?</p>
<p>bing--if i go on one of these trips.. it'd either b all of july or early august so yes i do leave parts of august for relaxation b/c i hav soccer preseason at the end of august.. but which one should i do? im leaning towards geneva or spain b/c its europe and i've nvr been there .. i've basically lived my whole entire life in the suburbs so i wanna broaden my horizons a bit..</p>
<p>my goal is cornell ed so that's why i was considering to go to cornell summer thingy cuz u kno its not gonna look bad to a cornell adcom..</p>
<p>but anyways which shows more initiative leadership camp or study abroad in salamanca, spain?</p>
<p>none of them. travel europe (or, to be cooler, your own backyard), "find yourself", hang out...makes you stand out at least</p>
<p>if you're worried about leadership, start a non-profit program in your community. if you ask me, none of those things show leadership- they show textbook activities for those who simply wish to impress an admissions officer. I am NOT trying to be insulting, if that is what you want that is what you want, but i do not think that such things would show leadership, if that is what you are truely concerned about. I sincerely encourage you to find something you REALLY want to do and immerse (sp?) yourself in that. I cannot emphasize enough to people the importance of going about it that way. However, many people do not agree with me and if you don't that is fine! I have no idea which program you should do. Also, I don't mean to rain on your thread parade, i don't think anyone has really answered your question so if i can figure out which one would be "better" i'll let ya know</p>
<p>geneva, and because it will not let me post the one word i am going to repeat myself: geneva. it has the word leadership in the name.</p>
<p>hm, i understand i think. i was kind of skeptical of the leadership gimmick.. but it tempted me. what i really love doing is.. improving my foreign language skills and learning about other cultures, i also like doing community service.. personally missions trip are my favorite.</p>
<p>Ordinarily I would pick Switzerland (Spain is probably really hot in August, and I don't think Europe is as big on AC as America), but while Geneva would be better than Salamanca (imho), a leadership conference sounds pretty dull.</p>
<p>yeah.. i speak spanish .. im a sophomore rite now on track for AP spanish by senior year..
but i also wanna learn either latin or french. is that too late now?</p>
<p>life, I go to a boarding prep school where there are many wealthy kids along with many middle class and poor kids. It's well known here that colleges are not impressed with programs that only a few can afford. Elite programs like RSI which are free are great, but $5,000 plus summer programs seem excessive to adcoms who couldn't possibly afford that for their children. So volunteer, work a real job, take some classes at a local college.
There are so many bogus leadership programs, programs at ivies that will take just about anyone, you get the picture. If you want to go to Europe, backpack and explore Eastern Europe so you'll have something to talk about other than the great fondue!!</p>
<p>yeah i go to a prep school too, i guess my gc misinformed me then.
u sed to volunteer work a real job take classes at a local college..
1. im volunteering at amnesty international and my local library
2. local college is cornell. can i just take any course i want to?</p>
<p>and please dont think im volunteering for the sake of my stupid resume. i do it because i like doing it for pure reasons. but i do admit i was thinking of the leadership camp for the sake of my resume. also, study abroad in spain was for my personal interests as well. just an fyi so i dont look like some shallow resume whore haha</p>
<p>just do whatever you find most interesting. god who cares what adcoms think of your life. it's your life and you shouldn't live four years of your life wondering what someone else is going to think of them.</p>
<p>From what I know, those leadership things aren't particularly selective or prestigious. It'll probably be loads of fun though.</p>
<p>if you are that into spanish (thats really great btw, not that many kids really get into their foreign language) you should do the spain thing. I really hope I didn't come off as harsh up there, and i'm glad you're not an application "whore" or whatever you called it :) out of the things you suggested then, i'd like to change to the spain one since that would probably be really great for you</p>
<p>yeah thanks illnevergetin for the great advice.. and all the rest :)
i've narrowed down my choices to going to spain for a month or going on 2 missions trips (jackson, mississippi and mongolia) and doing community service all summer. either way its gonna b a blast =)</p>