<p>How does this program compare to Harvard SSP?</p>
<p>Hi, I did the program this past summer as well and have to disagree with you. My class was not in the slightest bit easy. I also was in a class with only 16 other students so my professor knew my name and wrote me a amazing evaluation at the end of the program that was about a page long personalized to my work. I also sent this to about all of my colleges and have only been rejected from one school so far. You are correct though about that food sucking because that was deff. true I spent so much money on buying lunch and avoiding the cafeteria although after a while I just sucked it up to save money. I thought that this program was deff. a good educational experience as well as a great social experience. I did have my good amount of homework every night but I still had a chance to make great friends and explore all of NYC.</p>
<p>^ Just curious, which class(es) did you take?</p>
<p>Did anyone ever take this class? It looks pretty interesting to me. And these huge 100+ people classes you're talking about, is that the college prep program? it seems like that would be the most popular option. and does columbia arrange for the transportation for the trips to shows and whatnot? thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I speak for the course in Genetics and Molecular Biology when I say that I had maybe 20/30 people in my class. They split it up into 2 sessions so that the class wouldn’t be too large. And the lab was taught by a few recently-graduated Columbia students, but was still instructional. The lecture part was taught by an actual Columbia professor. He was great.
I agree though that it was a lot of socializing and going out-I don’t think I stayed in one night. They hold a lot of RA-sponsored activities such as white-water rafting, Rocky Horror, and many many Broadway shows. Definitely one of the most fun summers of my life.</p>
<p>Any program follow this rule: you will get out of it what you put into it. </p>
<p>If you pay attention, do the reading, do the homework, particpate and chase down the professors you will grow and learn and have something to write about in essays on college application.</p>
<p>If you were dumped there by your parents, goof off and just list it on your college aps, high-end colleges will know that you are a sap from whom they can extract money.</p>
<p>College want to see on your applications what you did and how you grew: at a college program or painting your mom’s house. They want meaningful essay that look into your soul.</p>
<p>I was hoping this program was pretty good but clearly it is not. Thanks for the warning.</p>
<p>I am on my last day at Columbia’s program, so here is what I thought.
(I took creative writing)
I had an absolutely amazing experience. My class only had ten people, and I had 3 different sessions with 3 different teachers, who were all young and chill. Our only homework was writing the pieces that we were assigned, and in class we workshopped all of them. The teachers knew us all personally, and we had individual conferences with them every week. As far as the teaching, I respected all three of them and learned a lot. I can honestly say that my writing improved during the course of the program.<br>
The kids in my class were all intelligent and awesome people!
I’m only speaking for the creative writing program, so all I can do is recommend the class I took.<br>
I think the people above are either exaggerating, or their class was just really boring. If you are planning on doing the program, make sure to take a class that you know you’ll enjoy!<br>
And John Jay food is actually not gross at all.</p>
<p>@MSteve: I can’t say much for the Columbia program, but I have a friend who is currently at Harvard for SSP and she loves it. She’s probably the smartest person at my school, and I can’t think of anyone who would be valedictorian besides her, and we have a competitive school which is IB. </p>
<p>I don’t remember what exact classes she’s taking but she’s definitely enjoying herself and she posted on FB that she was able to use the observatory with all of it’s high-tech tools and the whatnot.</p>
<p>If this is really how the summer program is like, I don’t think I would be interested anymore…
Do you think this reflects on the school’s integrity and promise?</p>
<p>I took Constitutional Law this summer at Columbia and had the time of my LIFE. It was literally the best 3 weeks of my life. With that being said… the academics were a joke. Other than writing a 5 page paper one Sunday afternoon I didn’t do anything. It pretty much just gives you an idea of what college is like. Ultimate freedom, classes, partying every night, dorm life, cafeteria food (sucks), diverse people, etc… oh and minus the workload. Anyone who went… Furnald 4 parties rocked the house!!</p>
<p>I was also in the summer program this last year. I took a class called Diety, Darwin and Intelligent Design. It was a wonderful synthesis of the philosophy and history of 19th-21st century science and religion. The class was taught by a professor and fellow from the university of British Columbia who attended Columbia as a student. There were seven students total in my class and everyone was able to receive individual attention. The lectures and activities were engaging and very educational. The class made me question my own beliefs and seriously made me think. The letter I received was wonderful and will add a lot to my resume.</p>
<p>Aside from the wonderful education I received I literally had the best three weeks of my life. I made wonderful friends and had a true taste of freedom. The RA’s were wonderful and had wonderful insights on the college selection and admission process. They were truly there to help the students and I found them all to be outgoing and fun.</p>
<p>If money isn’t a problem then there would be no way that I could say anything bad about the program. It really was the best time I’ve ever had in my life.</p>
<p>Bump 10 char.</p>
<p>Furnald 4 Parties woop woop!</p>
<p>Don’t expect these things to be very academic, but all the random hooking up is awesome.</p>
<p>I went to the program last summer and had the best experience of my life. Everyone in my dorm was very serious about school, although the classes were extremely easy. My engineering class was a mix of TA’s (undergrads at Columbia) and guest professors, but one professor was actually very helpful with any questions.
That being said, my main reason for attending was to be in NYC and meet people, which benefited me because now I have many international friends, which is very exciting for me since my Southern California school doesn’t get much diversity.
If you have the money and want to have the best summer of your life then go, but if you’re in a financial bind I’m sure there’s better opportunities for you.</p>
<p>That sucks that you had a bad experience with Columbia’s summer program.</p>
<p>I attended Harvard SSP this summer and it was absolutely incredible. The class I took, worth 8 undergraduate credits, had about 7 High School Students, 3 MIT students, 4 Grad students, and 10 Harvard Undergraduates. </p>
<p>You definitely got to know what a college experience was like. Everyone that I knew there also had rigorous courses. </p>
<p>Almost everyone there is having a good time, intelligent, and doing what they like to do.</p>
<p>They paid for my tuition, I just had to pay for food and dorm stuff. It is seven weeks and the total cost was approximately 3000.</p>
<p>Did you say parties EVERY night? Where do I sign up!.. no but seriously though, you should never apply to one of these so-called “Ivy summer classes” just for the sake of impressing an admissions officer or something like that because these programs really don’t matter on your college application.</p>
<p>You definitely got a good deal, how did you apply for the program?</p>
<p>I went to the Columbia University Summer High School Program the past summer and I can honestly say it was one of the best summers of my life. </p>
<p>Pros:
- Decent Classes - as long as you pick good classes you should be fine here
- NYC - the amount of freedom is simply amazing, you can catch shows on Broadway or go to the Bodies Exhibit, some would say that the cultural experience alone is worth the program
- People - I met people from everywhere. There were kids from Turkey, Greece, China, etc. This helps enlighten one to the various cultures of the world.</p>
<p>If you want, you can get personal with the professors. It just takes the right initiative. If you do so, you can get personal recommendations separate from the stock ones included in the program. </p>
<p>Yes, there are people that just party the entire time while they are here. But is it any different in college? In college you will have people that party 24/7 and people that make the most out of every possible opportunity. It is up to you to decide how to live your life at Columbia.</p>
<p>Warning - Although the program is great, it is easy for people to not get out much. This is due to the fact that the program is not a camp. They do not force bonding amongst peers. It really is like a college experience. In order to make the most out of the experience, one must actively go out and seek peers, which can be problematic for more shy people.</p>
<p>Warning 2 - Do NOT be a Day Student. They get excluded from many of the dances and are not allowed in the dormitories. They also do not get to experience life as a <em>college</em> student.</p>
<p>I have met many smart people at this program. The converse of the previous statement is also true. However, the experience of fending for yourself in New York and learning how to be independent is well worth the tuition (the classes are also worth it).</p>
<p>does anyone recommend an easier class? (by easier i mean not much of a workload)</p>
<p>i want to do session II: [Junior-Senior</a> Division | School of Continuing Education](<a href=“http://ce.columbia.edu/Summer-Program-High-School-Students/Junior-Senior-Division]Junior-Senior”>http://ce.columbia.edu/Summer-Program-High-School-Students/Junior-Senior-Division)</p>
<p>Also, what is the workload like for the college preparatory option</p>