<p>So I was accepted to two summer programs. One is called NSLI-Y, and I would be going on a summer study abroad program in Korea for 7 weeks. It's fully paid and everything and I would go to learn the language and culture through immersion (and courses of course). The other one is a Bioscience Summer Research Program for High School Students at the University of Utah. It admits about 20 people per year, and I would go through a 2 week intensive laboratory techniques course and then a 6 week individual research experience on campus, with a University faculty member serving as the research mentor.
My question is, which one would look better on college apps and maybe help me get into an Ivy League (though I don't know if that'll ever happen haha)? I want to do both, so I'm hoping this factor could help me decide. Please help me!</p>
<p>A few questions:</p>
<p>1) Are you Korean and have you been to Korea before?</p>
<p>2) Are you a potential bio major? Are you planning a career in this area?</p>
<p>3) Do you have to pay for the bioscience program?</p>
<p>4) Have you checked out the feedback from others who have been to these programs? Did they give you any insight into the pros and cons of the actual experiences? You can always ask for references if they are not available elsewhere.</p>
<p>1) Are you Korean and have you been to Korea before?
I am not Korean and I have not been there before.
2) Are you a potential bio major? Are you planning a career in this area?
I used to want to go into the medical field, but as I grow older, I also grow less and less sure. I have a lot of things I like and want to do (though I’m not really a genius in anything) and so it is a possibility, but there are other choices as well.
3) Do you have to pay for the bioscience program?
No, neither of the programs require payment. The bioscience is funded by the University of Utah and also provides a $500 stipend. The NSLIY one is funded by the U.S State Department (and I think provides a $250 stipend?). Overall they have to pay about $10,000 a student.
4) Have you checked out the feedback from others who have been to these programs? Did they give you any insight into the pros and cons of the actual experiences? You can always ask for references if they are not available elsewhere.
I have asked other people that have done the Bioscience program and they told me to do the Korea one (but that may just be because they have already experienced the bioscience program). I have asked a lot of other people but they never tell me a clear cut answer. So what do you think M’s Mom?</p>
<p>Rather than thinking which would look good in college, think which program excites you. Are you going to be rising junior or rising senior? If you are intending a Bio major, you should do the bio stuff. Are you ok with spending 6 weeks in a lab? The language program is hard to get in, I have heard. If you are a rising junior, I’d go with the Korean summer and you can do bio next year if you are still interested. </p>
<p>Again, without going into what would look good in college (actually both would), think what YOU want to do during summer. Does experiencing a new culture sound exciting or doing some research work in lab?</p>
<p>I’d pick the summer in Korea - it will probably be a life-changing experience for you. Doing bio research could be life-changing, but it also something that can easily be arranged in college both during the academic year and over the summer, if you are really interested. And it sounds like you aren’t sure that bio research is what you want to do anyway.</p>
<p>And I agree with fall2016parent - picking things because ‘they look good to colleges’ is a poor idea always. Admissions committees value kids who are willing to take a risk, show some initiative, demonstrate some leadership or creativity, commit to something they care about - and they don’t much care how you do it.</p>