<p>I was just wondering how helpful is joining summer programs (between junior and senior year)? Will it significantly help your college application? I haven't joined any summer programs (except for this writing camp our school offers)....will that hurt my application?</p>
<p>Well, it’s useful to show that you’re doing more than just lazing around during the summer. Colleges would like to see that you’re doing something with your time. Plus summer programs might actually teach you something…though then again, maybe not. It would help your application, especially if it was something prestigious.</p>
<p>You can always use that time to take classes at a CC, I suppose.</p>
<p>These programs tell a college more about you - for example ,my D worked 7 weeks on an organic farm in Sweden as a volunteer ,to learn about sustainable agriculture . I’m sure the colleges who she received acceptances from found this interesting . It showed maturity ,and passion for the world at large .</p>
<p>faux, did it help your D get into her top schools?</p>
<p>I’d say so . She just finished first year at Harvard . They paid for a return trip to Sweden this summer .</p>
<p>The key word here is doing something useful. If you get a job at Dairy Queen, it’s fine as well. Summer programs can be enriching but not attainable by every family. Colleges know this and won’t hold it against you.</p>
<p>My HS girlfriend came from a very wealthy family. Her parents persuaded her work to a summer at McDonalds – character building. It did and also didn’t hurt her applications – accepted most everywhere, matriculating at Stanford. Now a physician.</p>