<p>Just today I got rejected from every single summer program I applied to and am feeling like absolute crap. I would really like some advice on what I should do this summer to demonstrate that I really do care about getting into these top tier colleges. I completely have the drive and capacity to achieve my goals I just don't know the means of getting there. Should I look for internships? Find a professor to work with? Take college level courses? And if so, how should I go about doing those things? I know it is a little late to try and get into these things which is unnerving but I just don't know what to do and need a little guidance. I am completely and utterly at a loss and feel kind of inadequate right now even though I know that I am very capable of achieving great things. I'm set out on becoming an engineer and would absolutely love to attend a school like MIT, CalTech, or especially Stanford, but the competition is just so intense and I need to find a way to set myself apart from the other applicants. How did those of you who have been accepted to top tier universities spend your junior year summer? I'd really appreciate any feedback whatsoever.</p>
<p>Absolutely do not feel inadequate. A summer program isn’t the only way to demonstrate interest in a school or vocation. I myself turned down two different summer programs at Stanford (too expensive) and instead spent the summer taking classes as well as just pursuing things I enjoy. As you can see, things didn’t work out too badly for me. </p>
<p>I recommend you take classes, scout out jobs and internships, and work on writing some amazing essays. Don’t worry–you’ll end up just fine :)</p>
<p>I got into Penn’s M&T program and I didn’t do anything academic over the summer. I went to France for a month and stayed with a host family and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had an amazing time and I learned more than I ever would have learned at a summer program. It was also about half the price of a summer program.</p>
<p>I applied for the MITES summer program and the UPenn M&TSI program and got rejected from both. I have not become desperate until now and want to know what I can possibly do for this summer. Internships are a possibility. What kind of direction should I go in in pursuing these internships and how do I go about achieving them? And I certainly do not leave any trace of desperation in my applications, I put down exactly what I am and what I want. I didn’t sugarcoat anything.</p>
<p>In any event, here are some more of my personal details:
I want to study engineering, I know that much. I have always been a huge fan of math and the sciences and I want to apply them in such a way that is useful to society as a whole. With regard to my academia, I am a very good student, straight A’s and I have great relationships with my teachers. I am a very sociable guy and I really enjoy running, bowling, and listening and playing music (piano and guitar).</p>
<p>But none of that matters really because everyone has these traits. Simply having good grades, good recs, and good extra-curriculars isn’t enough anymore. And the thing with me is, I started caring about this whole process a bit too late. I never realized the magnitude of this process and immediately regretted that. I want to prove to these colleges (and myself, for that matter) that I have realized how important becoming the best person I can is but I just need to know how to demonstrate that realization. I really am willing to do anything to achieve my goals because I know for a fact that I am completely capable.</p>
<p>The MITES program is very selective. I’ve heard people from that program was also rejected from MIT. The MT&SI is very expensive $6000 for 3 weeks. But from what I’ve read, last year, some students were accepted and didn’t go but were still accepted ED to Penn, and some people were rejected to the summer program but eventually were accepted to ED to Penn. You migth want to do something else in the summer to help make your application stands out.</p>