How are summer programs viewed by colleges?

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
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<p>I'm considered doing Northwestern's Gifted and Talented Program this summer for something engineering-related. It costs about $3k for 3 weeks, and you're given two terms of credit for a course and receive a grade at the end. I'll be a senior next year. How are these viewed? Are they the equivalent of some sort of engineering research/internship, or more like a prestige educational summer camp for rich people? I want to go to NU for engineering too, so will going increase my chance of admission? Thanks!</p>

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<p>Please don’t duplicate threads–you posted essentially the same thing [url=&lt;a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1124888-nu-gifted-talented-summer-program-ctd.html]here[/url”&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1124888-nu-gifted-talented-summer-program-ctd.html]here[/url</a>]. To prevent the conversation from being split, I suggest all replies go to the above link.</p>

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<p>I don’t think it has a significant effect. It just shows that you didn’t spend your whole summer sitting around.</p>

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<p>Does it have significance in applying to NU?</p>

5

<p>Very little, if any.</p>

<p>Oh, look–conversation forked. 9_9</p>

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<p>I don’t think so. Only uber-competitive programs have a real effect(and those are generally free). Of course, this is just my own speculation.</p>

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<p>“Conversation forked”? “9_9”? What?</p>

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<p>Obviously, the original topic is now being discussed in two different threads, which makes it harder for people looking for the same answers to find them.</p>

<p>Also, Whateverhappens is partially right. By name, most programs don’t mean much; however, it’s not how “prestigious” a program is, but what you get out of it. If you go to a small, obscure program that is not like RSI or anything, but you become motivated/inspired/educated/etc., and then develop something out of that experience, then that’s what adcoms look for.</p>