Hello, guys!
I am an incoming junior and I have few very smart senior friends who are/have been to amazing summer camps like research program, Girls Who Code, Cornell summer camp and other prestigious summer camp. I also have a friend who went to HOBY conference and is going to Karlie Kloss coding camp. For me, I am not doing much, I am studying for SAT and doing some volunteering works at a science museum, a church and a senior center (teaching computer). And, looking at my friends’ amazing summer, I kinda regret not applying to those summer camps. But, honestly, they are soooo expensive!!!
And, my parents told me that they can support me to go to summer camp next yr summer. But, I am thinking about asking teachers for any computer-related internship opportunity, rather than spending so much money on summer camps and computer boot camps and stuff. I know that some really prestigious summer camps are free of charge like Karlie Kloss one, but I really want to get a real-life experience and I don’t have a good perception on these summer camps (it seems like they are just trying to make money out of highschool students who want to go to good college).
My question is should I do internship or apply to summer camps? I really want to go to carnegie mellon for CS and I need a strong and stellar college app. Which one would help me with achieving that? Please, help me! I am so concerned about this!!!
It’s okay if you don’t do summer camps: schools know when you’re using daddy’s money to pay a name-brand school a few thousand to go there for a few weeks, vs. actually doing an exciting internship or research program to discover something you may enjoy.
Now, summer camps can be good at times, but many are just asking for money. It doesn’t help a college app as much as you’d think (Unless it’s like MIT Launch or Wharton LBW - something with a super-low acceptance rate). I’d say give your application a specific theme(s) (Mine is music and financial literacy) and revolve your activities around that theme to show how well-spiked you are. An internship is great, as well as those organizations you mentioned. Definitely research the curriculum for summer camps. Some can be intensive and honorable experiences in research and academia, but many just go in a surface level on the subject with very basic, easygoing lectures and research - it’s more of a “feel good” gesture for high schoolers. Most of the kids at those camps don’t even get into that same college - the acceptance rates are pretty similar (unless its a highly prestigious program).
So to be honest, do something that’ll enhance your IT/CS/Coding skills and spark your interest for that field to make you do greater things in the future - not for the name brand or prestige or college apps. The environment in which that happens is totally up to you. Best of luck!
@aneeshs17 thank you so much for your advice! I felt really bad about myself that I didn’t apply to fancy summer camps:) Your advice means a lot to me! thanks again!!!
I agree with the other posts. I was fortunate enough to do a research program that was payed for by the state. I would definitely recommend trying to find opportunities like that.
@carachel2 Yes, I do love teaching at senior center! I am planning to do that all through out my high school year. But, that’s only one day or maybe two days thing. So, I would really like to have some other thing to do!
@cooperismydog Hello! I am also really interested in research opportunities! But, my main focus is computer science and coding. And, most of the research camp/opportunities are pure science. If there’s a research opportunity that is not pure science (chem, bio, or physics), I would love to look it up!
@kjake2000 Yes… That sounds super hard for me. I already am in charge of few clubs and I honestly have no good business ideas! Maybe I am overthinking it? I don’t know:)
when I said by yourself, I meant you do not need to go to a summer camp or anything to do it. It was just an example of something you can do without a camp or internship. Im sure there are people you can talk to that can help so you are not really ‘by yourself’
As others have said you don’t need to go to fancy summer camps to do well. My S impressed people by working at a sleep away summer camp as a counselor teaching the area of his major. Also his volunteer work brought a lot of attention. This summer he interned in his field and it was wonderful! Good luck! Just plan early.
@kjake2000 Oh! I am sorry for misunderstanding u. I don’t have that many people that I can ask for internship and I am thinking if there’s like a website that I can go to find high school internship
Most people recommend internships – actual work experience over summer camps. One certainly sounds better on paper. Also schools recognize that not everyone can afford those summer camps, and it is not the summer camps themselves that help people get into college. Summer camps have the benefit of being organized and generally a fun way to learn things/meet other people, but internships will be more valuable in the long run, even aside from college admissions
You’re really talking about one summer. Just look at all your options and prioritize the best use of your time:
Using summer to concentrate on having the best essays (and supplementals) as possible. Especially if you plan on applying to CMU early.
Continue/increase your volunteer work with seniors. Since you may not be able to continue this work once you go off to college, you should consider making a plan so that the work will somehow continue. Essay potential??
Consider coding camps, but they are not a must-have
Maybe take a college class in programming or math. UC Berkeley offers online summer session classes where you will receive a letter grade and a UC Berkeley transcript.
