Junior Statesman Summer Program

In case you’re unfamiliar with this program, it is a program that offers month long stays at some of the top universities in the nation, Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, Princeton and Northwestern. The programs they offer mostly deal with politics and law.

I was wondering how good this will look on a college app? I’m wondering if it’ll be worth the money and effort.

<p>JSA is amazing. You won't regret it. Up to this point, going there has been the best experience of my life. I went to Stanford, and I still talk to some of the friends I made there (and this was back in summer '03). In fact, one of the friends I made there got into Princeton '08, and helped me make the decision to apply to Princeton ED this year. I got in, and I couldn't be happier. I don't know if I would've even applied had I not had her advice.</p>

<p>As far as how good it'll look, take into consideration the fact that some colleges (especially the top schools) are looking at what you do with your summer. I devoted a large part of my what-I-did-the-last-couple-of-summers essay to JSA, and along with everything else you're doing, I think it could really help you out.</p>

<p>So yeah, even though JSA was $3,000+ bucks, it was an amazing experience (especially at Stanford! the weather during the summer is gorgeous). Hopefully in the summer of '06, I'll be able to get a position as an RA at one of the summer schools. It's a great experience that you shouldn't pass up, in my opinion.</p>

<p>Well, my options are either applying for this or going to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for summer classes. If I go with the former option only one month of my summer will be devoted to class, whereas the 2nd option I will take two classes at 5 weeks each for the entire summer. I'm just doing a cost-benefit analysis because classes at the Uni will be free for me, but if going to JSA is a better experience i'll do that.</p>