<p>I’m a mom who has has headed my regional alumni interviewing committee for Harvard, and also has served on national and regional scholarship committees based on merit.</p>
<p>It’s not true that going to those expensive summer programs like National Leadership Forum will help you get into top colleges. While those programs can be educational, top colleges know that they are not competitive programs except for the fact that students whose parents can afford the hefty fees get to go. One’s participation in the program reflects one’s parents’ income, not one’s brains or motivation (since parents may force one to go).</p>
<p>Programs that do impress colleges are the highly competitive, free programs like TASP.</p>
<p>Working a job – any job including as a fast food server – is far more impressive to colleges than participating in an expensive “community service project” abroad or National Leadership (fill in the blanks). Colleges also know that the so-called service programs abroad are resume dressing offered to well off families. Participation reflects the students’ family income level. </p>
<p>Jobs – particularly boring, menial jobs and any job that a student is working out of financial need (could include working in a family business, family farm) demonstrate a great deal of responsibility, far more than is required for packaged, expensive ECs. Colleges weigh jobs more than they do most ECs because any job requires a level of responsibility that is far greater than virtually any EC that a h.s. student would be doing. </p>
<p>Colleges also assess students in light of their environments. Far more is expected of students from highly educated parents who had the money for tutoring, SAT prep, expensive summer camps, etc.</p>
<p>Also, one doesn’t have to pay for expensive SAT prep to do well on the tests. There are free sites, including the College Board, and even CC (Check out Xiggi’s tips) where you can get help. One also can do very well on the tests by using prep books.</p>
<p>And, the more you read good literature, the higher your CR scores will be. Books are available for free at the library.</p>