JSA Summer Program 2010, reviews/responses

<p>Hey guys, I applied to (and 'surprisingly') got accepted into it. As far as I've heard, it's not that prestigious, or hard to get into. I'm in the Princeton one, as Freshman are 'discouraged' from the better Georgetown.
But any reviews for it? I've heard people have had AWESOME experiences there, met lots of great people, etc. But I mean, is it really good for anything? Not just college, but that's a big part of it. How's the food, freedom, dorms, speakers, proffessors, etc.? </p>

<p>Let's make this the JSA Forum for 2010.</p>

<p>Bump…</p>

<p>Com’n, no one’s headed to/had headed off to JSA camps?
I’m kinda anxious guys1</p>

<p>I did it at Princeton and Stanford when I was in high school. Best thing I ever did, it was fantastic. It was hard (though it is a bit easier now) but it was so worth it. The fact you’re doing something academic with your summer is impressive to colleges (since you’re doing actually work). The food at Princeton wasn’t that great, you get a decent amount of freedom to explore the town. For speaker’s day the people they get are top notch. I heard Brian Williams when I was at Princeton. There are trips into New York City. The professors are wonderful, really helpful and they really care about you. They’ll write college recommendation letters for you too. But I’m telling you right now, it’s not going to be camp, it’ll be less intense than in my day, but you’ll be working hard, the professors expect a lot from their students, and the expectations for Congressional Workshop are high too. But I think you’d have a great time</p>

<p>Yeah it’s what I’ve been hearing a lot. People who haven’t gone have been really disgusted about their higher acceptance rates and lack of purpose, but those who’ve gone say that it’s nearly changed their lives. </p>

<p>Really? I’m hoping they have some variety… I’m a vegetarian (due to religious beliefs). Hopefully they have some non-salad food there to feed this beast.</p>

<p>So I’m guessing it’s not like Brown SSP with the loads of freedom and the ability to cut classes and go hang around/outside the Princeton campus heh? </p>

<p>Anyone else out there? Barely even 50 views on this thing…</p>

<p>This forum is a bit dead since everyone I think has pretty much chosen where they’d like to go this summer, etc.</p>

<p>I live in the heart of Princeton (5 or 6 min bike ride to the campus) and I can assure you the campus is beautiful, as is the town. It’s very suburban. I haven’t explored inside many of the campus buildings, though, but I’ve obviously been around the campus dozens of times. The town is cool, too. Be sure to check out the Hoagie Haven sandwich shop, it is a local legend, and there is some other awesome places in town, too. </p>

<p>Anyway, I’m going to the Georgetown JSA this summer as a junior. I wasn’t really sure what program (other than JSA) to apply for because nothing else worked well for my schedule - I am busy late July. I would have gone to the Princeton campus for an easy commute, but I wanted to get away from home for a couple weeks and I love Washington so it’s all good. Lets hope we enjoy the program. I personally have never been involved with JSA whatsoever, and the people I’ve contacted on Facebook so far have been very involved…so hopefully I’m not a loner or something, lol.</p>

<p>Have fun @ the Princeton program, I think you’ll enjoy it here, maybe I’ll see you guys walking around, haha.</p>

<p>Yeah Georgetown sounded like the only campus that really was a little selective in its applicants. I’ve heard Princeton’s like Hogwarts or something, like it’s a huge castle like setting and stuff. Are stuff like the dorms and bathrooms up to date? Or is it gonna be like the bathrooms they depict in Hogwarts =(</p>

<p>But I myself live a good 40 min. away in Northern New Jersey from the Prince. So my parents convinced me to go there instead of Stanford (they’re mathematicians: JSA Tuition + Spending Money + Airline Tickets > JSA Tuition + Less Spending Money).</p>

<p>From what I understand the dorms are mostly old, but don’t take my word. At Gerogetown we’re staying in a brand new dorm, so I’d assume that at Princeton JSA has you staying in a newer/more comfortable building, too. Hogwarts-ish…kind of, I guess.</p>

<p>I don’t care if I’m sleeping next to a medieval brick wall for that matter, as long as the bathrooms (really the toilets, I can bathe in a river if I wanted/had to) are good, that’s all I want to know. Though I’d suspect they use that ivy tuition for something… -.-</p>

<p>But since you get to talk to Georgetown adcoms and stuff, I really wanted to go to Georgetown. It’s more realistic for me in terms of admission. Princeton’s quite far off from what I can reach.</p>

<p>Same. I def wanted to check out Georgetown. I didn’t know we talk to the adcom! Sweeet!</p>

<p>I’m guessing no one on all of CC is going to JSA, or atleast heard of it or something?
Pretty dieing thread we have here -.-</p>

<p>By the way, are there quads and stuff for the JSA Princeton crew? Or is it like the classic ‘couples’ class with the dorm shared bathrooms, lounge, etc.?</p>

<p>Though I’m kinda upset that they don’t have Princeton faculty/professors teaching. I was really looking forward to learning from an ivy league professor rather than… someone else.</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

<p>Guessing nothing on JSA</p>

<p>Are you paying or did you get a scholarship/financial aid?</p>

<p>Paying. Unfortunately (well, no, not really at all) my parents have been pretty unaffected by the recession so I probably wouldn’t have qualified for anything and it wouldn’t have been right neway.</p>

<p>What income group usually get the financial aid? like below 75K?</p>

<p>I would think… It’s need and merit based though. So a kid from a 50k household that has like a 3.9 GPA and stuff may better qualify then a kid from a 35k under household that bombs school.</p>

<p>Most financial aid they give is like a 100 dollar discount</p>

<p>@HONORLIONS:
Actually, they don’t really care about the income. It’s just a small factor. They don’t award scholarships only based on financial need and academic merit; they award them based on leadership skills, year-long affiliation with JSA, and motivation to attend as well. Don’t just give up. Write to them about yourself, and who knows? You might get a decent amount of money from JSA. Also, what you said about the 100 dollar discount is not true. Most scholarships that are given out are between $150 to $1000.</p>

<p>I was accepted to the Princeton APUSH program however it was after I filled out forms and paid for the Duke TIP Astronomy program so it was a bit disappointing that I would not be able to do it since they are around the same time.</p>

<p>I doubt that. Frankly, if your parents are making 300k+, you shouldn’t qualify better than some kid whose parents work 24/7 pulling in 40k but still dumber.</p>

<p>The program dates I think vary per campus and session. Perhaps you can play around and get to somehwere where it fits.</p>

<p>I went to the Princeton Symposium last year (now known as Princetitute I believe). The campus is nice, kinda Hogwartesque. My main complaint was that we were put in the oldest, crappiest dorms there, but thats mainly for the Sympo kids. I think the Summer School kids will be put in better dorms. I would highly recommend both of these programs. Neither are selective at all and I doubt that they’d make your college app stand out but the experience is truly amazing. I made some really good friends there and had a great time overall.</p>

<p>Right now I’m planning on going to the Georgetown summer school but my parents are completely against it so I may or may not end up going.</p>

<p>Yeah everyone’s been saying about how it’s a blast. I still think it’s pretty good summer program, even for college apps. Esp. since I wanna start a JSA/MUN chapter in my school</p>