<p>I got into a summer program which is about 6 weeks long at an Ivy league school. The program is academically focused, so you do like intense learning during those 6 weeks...sort of like a mini-Ivy league experience. The problem is the fact that it is 6 weeks long and takes up most of my summer vacation. I already got in, but i don't know if its a good idea to give up my summer just to go to a program that is basically an extension of school. I wanted to volunteer, get a job, hang out, work out, do other stuff i like to do non-academic related. But the good part is that this program is 100% free and the people in this program guide you through the college admission process and take u to schools and help u with the SAT and stuff like that. they also help financially if needed.</p>
<p>I dont know what I should do. one part of me wants to and the other doesnt. Its supposed to be a really presitgious program, but thats not really motivating me to go. I dont want my summer to be just like another 3 months of school.</p>
<p>For you, based on what you wrote...You shouldn't go. But if after deciding not to go, you can't stop thinking about it, then reconsider. </p>
<p>I like doing the chart with pros and cons of each choice because by the end, you'll decide... half the time because the wrong choice won and only the do you realize what the right choice was. So you could do that, and tally up points for each choice.</p>
<p>Six weeks is an extremely long time, and according to what you wrote, your time would be better spent doing other things. I'd follow Keshira's advice.</p>
<p>i have the same dilemma-
i would stay at home- the program will not give you that much help in the college admissions process and although it may be knowledgeable and interesting i dont think its worth missing most of summer</p>
<p>None of the summer programs at Ivies are actually prestigious, although people often think they are because they are associated with the Ivy name...</p>
<p>Why did you apply to go to this summer program?</p>
<p>You might want to talk to students who have attended this particular summer program in the past to see how they liked it and what they got out of it. You might be surprised how much they liked it and how they felt about it after the fact, even though it was six weeks of their summer.</p>
<p>you really sound like you don't want to go. A lot of a summer experience is based on YOUR attitude and how much you're willing to put into it.</p>
<p>The summer after 9th, I really didn't want to go to a program because of all the things you mentioned...and felt 100000x better when I decided I didn't want to go.</p>
<p>Then, the summer after 10th, I was really excited to go to 3 week program (intensive program-5 college credits in like 20 days at a top 20 school), and made 5 really great friends that I'm still talking to online and on the phone. There were people who were forced to go to the program that just stayed in their room and hated every second.</p>
<p>If it's like Harvard SSP or something, it's not that prestigious...they kinda just make you think it is. However, if u want to go to have fun and learn, then by all means go. You dont sound like you think another 6 weeks of school is fun, tho, and that's basically what precollege programs are--another month and a half of school. So don't go, and spend your time doing volunteering and stuff...that's probably better for you and, if you're thinking about college, for ur resume</p>
<p>I personally wouldn't. It's probably not going to be fun, and summer break is meant to be a BREAK. You want to come back to school ready to learn and like excited to be there.</p>
<p>should you decide not to go. It would be a good gesture to advise the summer program, so they can extend the offer to others who may have been waitlisted and are eager to go.</p>
<p>to be fair, ivy programs like the harvard SSP and columbia's high school summer program are actually pretty fun. the people basically allow you to just go to the city for hours at a time (columbia especially has a lax policy: your classes end typically at around 3-4:30 and you basically have until 12 to do whatever you want in the city. on weekends, it's 1 AM. added bonus: you can stay in the lounge room and relax with the people on your floor for however long you want [this is how I beat Gears of War in 2 days].)</p>
<p>the people tend to be pretty cool and from lots of different places (i now hate the people of turkey, but that's another story) and the classes tend to be pretty mentally invigorating. it means nothing on a resume, but it IS worthwhile to go, in my opinion.</p>