<p>to do a summer program or do extra curricular or whatever.. He has gotten so many offers for these math or science camps or precollege programs since he was in 7th grade and did the Duke Tip. He has absolutely no interest in going.. He has also narrowed down his school choices to 2 and doesn't really want to look at any more. These are ones he can get into easily, I think. He doesn't want Ivies AT ALL. He just wants to go to college and get a degree and go work. I guess that is ok. I just see everyone on this board with SO many activities for their kids and fabulous summer programs.. Were your kids just naturally interested in these?? I think they look like so much fun, but he could care less..</p>
<p>Does your S have future plans that he is very interested in? I had a friend in HS who didn’t do any sort of ECs and only applied to one college, which he ultimately came to regret-- he’d only gone that route because he lacked direction and didn’t really know what he wanted to do, and could have benefited from some external motivation-- most HS kids don’t REALLY know what they want to do, but at least they might have some aspirations they’re interested in or a particular area of interest they can identify. I have other friends that went the minimalist route when it came to college admissions, but they did so because they knew what they wanted and they were ready-- big difference. If it’s the latter I wouldn’t necessarily worry.</p>
<p>He wants to major in computer science.</p>
<p>what does he do during the summer, and what grade is he in now?</p>
<p>I think (seriously) that YOU should consider doing a summer program.</p>
<p>If he wants to major in computer science, it would be nice if he liked math, and chose schools with decent computer science degree programs. Note that if he is shooting high, the Ivy League schools are not necessarily the best for that major.</p>
<p>He is in 11th grade. He has youth camp for a week in July and a family vacation for 2 weeks in August. His dual credit community college classes are starting the 3rd week of August. I plan to have him doing yard work for widows/elderly families and or working in the homeless shelter or food pantry for several hours each day that he is home. He will be working on college applications and essays for a couple of hours every day as well. He is looking at Baylor and TCU and got a 34 on his ACT. He adores math. It is his favorite subject and he will easily spend hours on it. He is finishing up Precalc early next week.</p>
<p>He sounds fine to me. You really can’t make them over. Some people have more push than others, but most of end up with fairly similar lives. Those are respectable schools and a wonderful score. I would only be worried if he wasn’t gaga over being on the computer because his peers in that major certainly will be.</p>
<p>Leave him alone. I had a Duke TIP Son who just went to summer camp (canoes, fun stuff) each year, tutored during the year and did not attempt to “build” a resume. </p>
<p>He had a 35 ACT. He has graduated college (with honors in his academic major and cum laude) and is doing fine.</p>
<p>My S is going into comp sci, but he didn’t have many ec’s either. He did go to week long summer camps for computers and loved them. They weren’t very intense, but he was able to learn a little game design and programming. Other than that, he really hasn’t done any math or science camps or programs. </p>
<p>What schools is he looking at? Make sure he checks to see that they have the kind of comp sci he’s looking for. Some are more engineering based, which my S is not looking for.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t push him if he really doesn’t want to go, but you might see if he wants to try one just for a week.</p>
<p>Mine was a Duke TIP kid…no interest… never did any summer academic extracurriculars … worked year 'round (almost full time in the summers) from soph. year onward…had no interest in academic camps. … did church mission trips and a family week at the beach. There was a LOT of football practices /work-outs in the summers that were not optional.</p>
<p>what else does he do during the summer? </p>
<p>FWIW- I do think that kids that have paying jobs, where they have a schedule, a boss (that is not mom or dad), and accountability is a good thing. </p>
<p>We did not give our son a choice, in reality. He was not allowed to sit around all summer. Some if it, yes, he deserved a break. But hold up in his room 24 hours a day on computer or playing video games? No way. He did a number of summer camps from 6-11th, and they were wonderful. Mostly because they shoed his that there was a big world out there, and living on a college campus was cool. </p>
<p>He started a job last year, but also took community college classes. That was nice, because it gave him a taste of what he would have the upcoming year. And a nice academic stepping stone to university next year. And with all of his credits transferring to the university, it is making a huge difference in what he can do under his 4 year scholarship. </p>
<p>You may want to have him look at this program specifically for this summer (looks like ap is still open, but not 100% sure). It would give him exposure to Baylor, the CS school, and contacts at the school for the application process. Those things are really beneficial! </p>
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<p>As far as ivey’s- my son was not that interested either. His dream school was CMU, but was not possible for us financially. But he is thrilled with his selection.</p>
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<p>Ok…youth camp - 1 week
vacation - 2 weeks
community college - starts in August
Yard work/vounteering - several hours/day</p>
<p>Seriously ?? What more do you want?? And if he is taking AP classes senior year, he will have AP summer homework. I really think …let it go, else he will revolt and do nothing…and get demotivated or something.</p>
<p>Honestly, until I came here, I had never heard of all these summer programs. I don’t know of any kid around here that has done them. Many of these kids are at Ivy or similar schools now. Our kids have no interest in any of them and honestly, I see them and fundraisers for the various schools more than an educational opportunity for the kids–not that they don’t learn things and have a good time for them. </p>
<p>Now, one school our S is considering has a 4 day program they invited him to attend. If he attends and goes to that school, he gets a $13,000 scholarship. That to me is worth the $300 to attend.</p>
<p>As for EC’s, you can’t make your kids join things. Our kids are in one thing each season at school along with one church thing. They simply don’t have time for any more if they want to get home work done and do silly things like sleep.</p>
<p>He should have no trouble getting into Baylor or TCU with that ACT, so in that sense I wouldn’t worry. While both my kids did summer programs in middle/HS and loved them, and I think they were valuable in many ways, as long as he’s spending his summer doing something constructive, I wouldn’t sweat it.</p>
<p>I agree with others - your S is doing fine as far as summer activities. Plus, he has an interest he wants to pursue in college. He has a good ACT, his grades presumably are good too. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea how much more ‘together’ he is than the vast majority of 17 year olds???</p>
<p>I am really serious about the OP taking a summer program. Seeing adults learn may be the absolute best thing she can do for her son’s education.</p>
<p>Grin…well I sort of do. I go to the Fine Arts Summer Academy by the Annie Moses Band in Nashville with my daughter. Plus, I’ve homeschooled them all the way through. They have seen me learn all sorts of subjects right along with them!!!</p>
<p>I will say that he hasn’t done the volunteering before. That is MY requirement this summer. He will not sit around but will do something productive. He will be gone too much to get a job. We’re going to Honduras at the end of May.</p>
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