<p>Hey guys! I am thinking about applying for a Summer Program for high schoolers at Georgetown this summer. Has anyone done any of these programs? If so, will you please let me know about, and how you liked it. Also, were you allowed to leave campus at all during your stay unsupervised? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes, I did one of the summer programs between my junior and senior years of high school, and I’m a student at Georgetown now. During that week, I essentially decided that I wanted to attend Georgetown- it was that good! For the most part, the supervision wasn’t oppressive, and we were free to come and go mostly at will. Anyway, I’d be happy to answer your questions.</p>
<p>I did summer discovery 2 years ago.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! Pswib- were most of the participants entering 12th grade, or were there 10 and 11th graders as well? Also, did anyone really come from a ways away? Like maybe they had to fly to get there?</p>
<p>I think that the people were mostly entering 12th grade, but there was certainly a strong minority of younger students (my roommate was entering 11th grade). There were lots of people from flying distance (myself included). There were students from all across the U.S., and there were also students from England, Mexico, and Italy, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Okay, cool. Also, how much time did classes take up each day, and was there a lot of work involved? And were there many required out-of-class activities?</p>
<p>Classes were usually two or three per day, about 1.5 hours each. However, the day was fully booked with activities (in my program, we did a simulated presidential campaign) from usually 8 AM to 11 PM. Technically, nothing was “required,” but they usually did take role. However, I think that both the time commitments and the policies would vary from program to program.</p>
<p>Did you do the American Politics and Public Affairs program?</p>
<p>Yes, I did, and I highly recommend it. I’m also trying to convince my younger brother (who is a junior now) to do that very program this coming summer too.</p>
<p>Cool. That’s the one that I am interested in. It sounds like a lot of fun. If you don’t mind, could you explain some of the activities you all did, and what did you do outside of class? Where there off-campus activities?</p>
<p>Yeah, sure. Most days had two or three lectures (calling them classes would be a stretch, given that no one took notes or anything), all of which ran about 1.5 hours. There was an information session with the admissions office one day too. The late afternoons and nights, however, were the most interesting. We did a grand-scale campaign simulation. The students broke up into groups- Democrats, Republicans, CNN, Fox News, and the Washington Post. The campaigns had presidential and vice presidential “candidates”, communications managers, policy teams, etc. The media had the typical features: editors, writers, etc. The candidates (the four of them) all gave speeches, and the last day was a debate for the candidates. There were taped video interviews, the campaigns made commercials (and attack ads), and there was much more. Obviously, that was the highlight. However, we did make a trip to the Hill one day to hear a Congressman too. Otherwise, everything was mostly Georgetown-centric. For the most part, that stuff took up all of our time. Let me know if you want to know anything else.</p>
<p>That all sounds like so much fun! Since you’ve basically covered most of the actual program, here are some general quesions about life at the program: when classes are over, what do students do with what (limited) free time they may have? How is the food? Does everyone interact very well and how are the instructors? Thanks!</p>
<p>There’s not much free time, so everyone mostly stayed around the dorms, etc. No one, to my knowledge, did anything remarkably exciting. The furthest away that I went (outside of the program) was Chipotle on M St., to be perfectly honest. </p>
<p>The food is Leo’s, our dining hall. From what I remember, it was decent, but, because it was the summer, options were much more limited than they are during the regular school year. </p>
<p>Socially, there is a unique aspect to this program. Because of the mock campaign, everyone is artificially partitioned into groups on the first night. After that, everyone stays fairly contained within their groups (Dems, Republicans, etc.), and there was actually some animosity across the various groups. However, no one was particularly unfriendly.</p>
<p>The instructors are, for the most part, all professors in the Government department here, so they’re obviously fantastic. One professor came from GW and the professor running the campaign came from GMU, but they were great too. They give presentations that are tailored for high school students too: you won’t be in over your head but you won’t be bored either.</p>
<p>Cool. After talking to you, it has really made me want to look further into the program. Thanks for all your help! If I need anything else, I’ll be sure to ask you!</p>
<p>last summer i did the georgetown College Prep Program. it was three weeks, and it was amaaaazing. I met so many interesting people, and it’s been five months and I have plans to see my friends who live in florida and peurto rico this winter. not to mention i BBM my two friends in Dubai and Abu Dhabi all the time. it was a great experience.</p>
<p>Neat. Did you earn college credit? How did the program work?</p>
<p>I just got accepted to the American Politics and Public Affairs program and this was so helpful. Thanks!
This may seem petty, but I have no idea what clothes I should wear. Is it business dress? Nice casual? What kind of things did people wear?</p>
<p>Nobody did summer IR? Did it this past summer, one of the better summer programs with the better people (profs, TA’s, and students) than most. Definitely worth the time and money. D3!</p>
<p>For the American Politics Program, dress is normal college dress (quite casual) almost all of the time, but you’ll go to the Capitol probably and will want nice, business-like clothes for that. In addition, most people dressed nicely for the last day event.</p>
<p>I’m considering applying for a TA position at that program, so I might see you there!</p>
<p>so usually i just read college confidential and never have actually made an account, but i made one just now when i saw this about IR and D3!! the one-week programs are really expensive but they bring in quality people to talk, although a couple were really boring and i feel asleep</p>