How Important are Summer Programs in College Admissions?

<p>Hi, I'm a senior at college and I feel like I have to chime in here.</p>

<p>The best summer programs are the ones that allow you to explore and develop your interests, as someone said much earlier in this thread. In the summer preceding my junior year of high school, I participated in a research program, for high schoolers, at a local university. As part of that program, I continued on with that research throughout the following two school years. After applying to schools, I received very nice financial aid packages and research scholarships at top schools like UPenn and Northwestern, which I'm nearly sure was due to the work I did. I ended up settling at Cornell and I'm going to be at Columbia next year starting at a PhD program. I know a lot of that information is superfluous but I think it's a good example of what a good summer program SHOULD do. It should help you explore your interests. I happened to find mine with the help of that program.</p>

<p>That isn't to say that summer programs are necessary for admissions into top schools. Two friends of mine from high school worked at Wendy's and Burger King over a couple summers. One is finishing up his undergrad at Stanford and the other is finishing up at Princeton, set for grad school at Berkeley. As for me, the summers before and after that research program were spent at my cousin's basically lounging around. I would say that was just as important to me as that summer program I was in. Intense summer programs aren't absolutely necessary.</p>

<p>I know a lot of parents want to send their kids to Harvard Summer School and other similar summer camps. Admissions wise, the only purpose is to show schools that they are capable of handling a college course. If a kid is already taking 4 APs a year, then colleges already know they can handle intense workloads. If your son or or daughter really wants to take college courses, then local universities and community colleges offer cheaper classes.</p>

<p>What if my school only has 6 AP classes( French, Spanish, Cal, US, Sta,and English)?
I have to go to somewhere like Harvard SSP to show them I am capable to handle a heavy course load.</p>

<p>If your school has only 6 AP classes, you don't have to go to SSP to show you can handle a heavy course load. You just need to take advantage of what's offered at your school, and create any other learning opportunities that you can even if it's a self-administered course of reading great books on your own.</p>

<p>You don't have to spend big bucks and take a course like SSP to show that you're interested in learning and are capable of doing so at a high level.</p>

<p>The CTY programs are very good, if expensive. My three older kids did them during late-middle school. My daughter, a freshman at Yale, encouraged me to put our son in this year (after 9th grade and, yes, he wants to). Her point was an interesting one -- she says that a number of the kids she is now going to school with did CTY and that doing it in high school allows you to meet kids whom you will still remember when you get to college and don't know anyone. It was a nice point of connection to find out that there was an experience that she had shared with other students. I think the community college option is also excellent -- my son is at a year-round high school and took a college class while off-track this winter -- I think he gained a lot. It was a course in music appreciation that satisfied his UC requirement for a fine art and where he actually gained an appreciation for music. He had to go to concerts, write papers and, in addition, he had to navigate the small college campus. He had to stand in line at the administration office, take care of paperwork and figure out the system -- all of which are useful life skills for down the road. His high school does not offer a comparable course and it was very enriching for him and cost nothing. That will probably "look better" on his application than CTY but CTY will stimulate him in other ways and be good for him socially as well as intellectually. He will do that for three weeks and then finish up the volunteer hours he is doing at a local hospital (he's in a medical magnet program) and then, get his drivers education out of the way. That seems like a full enough summer.</p>

<p>I want to travel around instead spend 8 weeks at Harvard next summer.
If I chose to have a fun and happy summer vacation with my friends and relatives, is that seems like I am really lazy?
Academic growth is nothing compares to personal growth. I want to back to China, and travel alone to Tibet, where is the heaven in a real world.</p>

<p>Fallinwater, I'm not on any Adcom, but if you shared in one of your essays about your travel experience and how it affects your outlook on life, college and your future, I would be very excited about for college application! Your travel plans sound much more exciting than sitting in any college classroom during the summer. Go for it, but the key is to share your travel experience through your essays and any interviews you have.</p>

<p>Fallinwater,
What adcoms look for is students who do something productive during the summer, and preferably learn something from the experience -- whether that something is about themselves, their career, academics or life in general.</p>

<p>The adcoms at top colleges don't care whether the productive activity is work, a summer program, thoughtful travel or a self-directed learning project. They just aren't interested in admitting students whose summer was spent only playing video games and watching TV.</p>

<p>My son did the summer pgm at Brown last summer and loved everything about it. He was 15 at the time (between 9th and 10th grade) so he was a bit younger than everyone - that didn't seem to be a problem once he made some friends. I considered it a success in that he got to be on his own, making decisions about being responsible while still having fun. He has some serious medical issues and this was his first time away from home. It was scary for us (but I had to keep reminding myself that Providence has something like 7 hospitals). He on the other hand has smelled independence so now finds high school life (and living at home) a bit frustrating.</p>

<p>Originally he was interested in the forensics pgm. When we visited Brown over spring break, he had a chance to meet some of the profs and tour the lab. He decided to switch to Biotechnology with the teacher he met in April. He really enjoyed the class, spending 9-4 everday in class/lab and I think he is now heading in this direction for college. Of course his focus may change again. I think this is the time to explore and see what interests him. The more exposure, the more choices he has. In any case, it prepared him well for APBio this year where once again he is the youngest in the class, but probably one of the most interested students. Unlike some of his classmates, he's not taking it to "look good on his application" but because it interests him.</p>

<p>Providence is a great location because kids can walk to lots of places so their down time isn't all about drinking. There are restaurants, movies, the mall. He took his first cab (a bunch of kids went to a fancy restaurant). Kids at this program have tons of freedom, though, so make sure your kid can handle it. It truly is like college. Despite what they say, no one is checking up to make sure you're in your room or even at the college. My son went to Cape Cod two different weekends and no one questioned his absense. One time we picked him up at 3am or so while traveling through Rhode Island and lots of kids were outside the dorms playing frisbee and hanging out. Looked like a lot of fun. He also went on a Brown sponsored trip to Boston. This isn't run like a camp.</p>

<p>This coming summer will be the third year that my son has worked at day camps. He is now only 15, so the past 2 summers he was a CIT. This summer he graduates to Junior Counselor.</p>

<p>Both last summer and this summer, he was hand picked by the Head Counserlor (the grownup in charge of running the camp) to be his assitant.</p>

<p>My son likes working at summer camp, because it is local (he likes being home) and because he makes more money each summer. This summer we plan to give him swimming lessons so that he can become a certified life guard, so that he can make even more money.</p>

<p>I am very proud of my son's work ethic and responsibilty. I'm also proud that I consistenly hear from everyone that has anything to do with him what a fine boy he is. Moreover, finances are a concern for our family, and the extra money definitely helps. </p>

<p>He wants to go to Stanford. Is working in a summer camp going to be held against him? I see that most of the kids that get into Stanford are really special, really passionate. Is it enough to be passionate about helping your family and making money and helping to ease the financial burden of your family?</p>

<p>I want to add that in his summer camp, special children are integrated into the groups. So in addition to learning responsibility, he has learned compassion. Doesn't that mean anything to highly selective schools?</p>

<p>As I said, Loosecannon, "The adcoms at top colleges don't care whether the productive activity is WORK, a summer program, thoughtful travel or a self-directed learning project..."</p>

<p>What matters is that your son does something productive, learns something about himself, the world, a career, etc. from the experience and, of course, includes the info on his application in a way that colleges can understand what the experience was and how the applicant benefited by it. For instance, it could be a wonderful essay topic.</p>

<p>LooseCannon,
I'm sure your son is growing from his camp experience. My son is doing something similar. He has been volunteering at our Y for kids with special needs. They have a swim program and a sports program for kids with physical limitations. My son was a participant in this program when he was 5-8? or so. He's the only volunteer that had also been part of the program. I feel he learns a lot from this group and can give back, due to his own experiences. He can relate to these kids in a way that others can't. For instance, he has more scars than I can count (has had 18 surgeries). These kids see that it's not a big deal to him. I don't care if this experience helps him get into a college or not. I'm proud of him for wanting to do this. </p>

<p>BTW, when I was talking about Brown and said it's not run like a camp, I meant there was little supervision. My daughter was a summer camp counselor. She discovered she doesn't have enough patience for working with little kids on a regular basis. I consider that a valuable lesson, even though it wasn't a positive one.</p>