<p>There's a summer program at Columbia University which is very expensive. On the FAQ it says that the program doesn't necessarily help a candidates chances of gaining admission to Columbia University but it does help him/her look like a "more interesting candidate." I'm not sure how to interpret that. I just want to know if attending an expensive summer program at an Ivy League College (in this case) Columbia, helps one's chances of being admitted into that college. Thank you everyone. Have a wonderful day :)</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>It shows you have some motivation to do academic work outside the regular school year. It gives you–at least, one hopes it will give you–interesting experiences that you can both write about in college application essays and carry with you through the rest of your life.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t give you any kind of an “in” with the college that hosts the program.</p>
<p>There’s a thread about CTY built around this very question on the Johns Hopkins board.</p>
<p>“more interesting candidate” as compared to what? All it shows is you’re rich enough to afford one – especially if it’s not that competitive to be accepted. Does it have value? Sure – for the experience itself. But if you think that the rural kid, who’s a math genius, but spends the summer working on the farm is worse off than the rich kid who attended a Columbia summer program, you’re mistaken. </p>
<p>Top college admissions wants kids who are involved. Show that you didn’t spend your summer cavorting by the pool or beach and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>College admission committees are well aware of how many applicants have attended these programs primarily because their parents wanted them to and could write the check.</p>
<p>The key is not the fact that an applicant attended one of these summer programs, but rather how they grew and learned from that program. College adcoms will look to see how strong a candidate is. If attending one of these summer programs helped to make that applicant a stronger candidate, then the program was worth the investment.</p>
<p>It’s not necessarily WHAT you do over the summer that’s important. It’s what you take from what you do that’s important. So perhaps you could stay close to home and do something in your community. That is just as good if you ask me.</p>