<p>I applied to 4 summer programs. NJ Scholars Program, Governors School of E & T, MITES, and Carnegie Mellon AP/EA-SAMS Diversity. I already got rejected from the first two. I don't expect MITES b/c I'm South Asian :/, and I've recently heard that Carnegie Mellon Diversity has very low acceptance rates too. I find out MITES decision in a week and CM in the first week of May, but I'm afraid I'll get rejected from both. If this does happen, where else could I go in order to make something out of my summer? I wanna apply to low ivies(Penn and Cornell) as well as high tier 1 schools so I really need something for the summer. BTW all four programs are free. Clearly, I don't wanna make my parents pay that much for my summer program. If theres no options, I would be OK with anything under $1,000, maybe even $2,000. But, maybe some research opportunities? or other summer programs still accepting apps? anything in the math/science fields basically. I really need something for the summer. Please help!!</p>
<p>Have you considered doing a community service project at home rather than doing a summer program? I realize it may sound less appealing, but Ivies look for people who are leaders in their communities and they also look for good character. Although putting a good summer program on your resume looks nice, if you were to make a difference in where you live I believe that would be significant as well. </p>
<p>I hear that Brown is still accepting applicants to their summer program and they do provide “Dean’s Scholarships” to those that require financial aid. Their acceptance rates are also pretty high. I applied and they were able to provide me with 1/3 if my tuition but unfortunately I can’t attend. They have a myriad of courses that involve math and science that go from 2-4 weeks I believe. The cost depends on the length of the program you choose, I think that the 2 week course is from 2000 to 3000 dollars but don’t quote me on that. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Hmm the community service thing seems appealing. I want to apply to M&T at Penn so maybe something in the business background? any suggestions?</p>
<p>Well there are a few free leadership summer programs still accepting applications. One of them is Alex’s Lemonade Leadership Conference. It is free and takes place at Villanova.</p>
<p>Apply for local internships. Contact some professors in universities near you. Send them a resume/CV, let them know your interests. You never know, something might happen. =]</p>
<p>has that happened to you before? i was thinking of that too</p>
<p>i’m in the same boat.</p>
<p>The University of Rochester’s Pre-College Summer Programs are still accepting apps through the first week of June.</p>
<p>Or create your own internship. Friend of D wanted to work for the CIA so talked to the local police dept. and was able to ride with officers to various calls and crimes. Got to see how things worked from the inside.</p>
<p>wow.that’s so cool.
wish i could do that.
errgh. I really need to stop coming here.</p>
<p>You could get a job!
Like at an ice cream parlor :)</p>
<p>Hahaha, are you sure you aren’t describing my life? Seriously, I applied to the same first two programs (NJ Scholars and NJ Gov School E & T) and didn’t get in also. Now I’m scrambling for inexpensive, research-based programs, too. </p>
<p>Suggestions:
-I just applied to the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab Internship and it sounds excellent. The deadline is this Friday so you’d need to do things quickly. However, I heard that this program is also highly competitive but it is worth a shot (and an easy application). It’s a commuter program so you would need to live in central Jersey or be willing to take a bunch a trains/public transportation. (I’m assuming you live in NJ, haha) You also get paid 
[Princeton</a> Plasma Physics Laboratory](<a href=“Science Education at PPPL”>Science Education at PPPL)</p>
<p>-Alfred Summer Camps. I did the Astronomy Camp two years ago and it was amazing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. You learn a ton, you meet a lot of cool people and you use really cool equipment. It is also under $1000 and is residential. However, it is only a week long and it doesn’t look amazing on applications. But it is tons of fun. They also have a bunch of other programs you may be interested in.
[Alfred</a> University : Summer Programs : High School Programs](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/summer/hs.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/summer/hs.cfm)</p>
<p>-Rutgers Astrophysics Institute. Again, this is another commuter program. Nevertheless, it is an amazing experience. The program consists of a four week summer research portion and then a yearlong follow up independent research (which I really need to work on… xD). It’s real research in astrophysics using the archives of real NASA data from satellite telescopes. Perfect if you want to do research. However, I needed to go through my school to do it. Ask your physics teacher (you need to have completed physics to do it) and maybe he/she will be interested in e-mailing the people to let you go. Also, when the website describes all this stuff the teachers must do, they really don’t have to do it. My teacher didn’t do any of the extra work.
[asi_general[/url</a>]</p>
<p>-My school’s science department also organized a list of possible summer programs that sound interesting. I haven’t looked at the list deeply, but there are some interesting programs there. Also, coincidental, it includes all the programs I’ve mentioned here. ^^
[url=<a href=“http://www2.hvrsd.org/academics/science/Pages/SummerPgms.aspx]Summer”>http://www2.hvrsd.org/academics/science/Pages/SummerPgms.aspx]Summer</a> Programs](<a href=“http://xray.rutgers.edu/asi/asi_general.html]asi_general[/url”>http://xray.rutgers.edu/asi/asi_general.html)</p>
<p>-As the above posts say, you can always get a job, volunteer or ask around for internships. I know how you feel, though. I, at least, don’t really want to spend my summer scooping ice cream when I have/had the opportunity to research real science. But they can always serve as a last resort for both of us 
</p>
<p>Wow, this is a long post. Most of it has to do with the programs I’ve done, but I really hope it was helpful! Maybe you have similar interests. And remember, I know exactly what you are going through. Also, f you find any programs that are what we are looking for, please post them!</p>
<p>Sorry to revive an old thread, but I’m applying to the PPPL summer program this year and I’m really interested in the program, does anyone have any advice about the application / interview?</p>
<p>I’m on the same boat. Working as an intern for your local university, volunteering, or finding a job is just as good as a summer program.</p>