LeadAmerica, Career Discovery - good? bad?

<p>I'm new to this forum so my questions may have been asked and answered before. Nevertheless, I'm looking for your insight. Any and all help is appreciated.</p>

<p>My junior D has been invited to participate in the LeadAmerica program this summer. What experiences have people had with this program? Good, bad, indifferent? She is considering the engineering program or the leadership program in D.C.</p>

<p>Also, she is considering a "Career Discovery" program in architecture at her "dream" school.<br>
- Are these programs useful? (And/or worth the money?)
- Do they help with admissions?<br>
- Do they provide useful material for portfolios?</p>

<p>Can you describe what the "Career Discovery" program is?</p>

<p>The Discovery programs range from 2-6 weeks and give students a chance to experience life as an architecture student. The programs include studio and classroom time, plus field trips, etc. Some are very intense I'm told, while others are just a casual overview. Some are very competitive to get in while others are first come first serve. Most major architecture schools offer some version of this pre-college program. In a few cases, I'm told they may include current college students who are considering taking a graduate professional program in architecture.</p>

<p>Sounds like a fantastic experience for a student trying to figure out what they want to do. The more exposure your student can get to an area of interest, the better.</p>