Local summer art program v MIT comp sci program?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>I'm currently a junior and want to apply to Dartmouth and other Ivies next fall. Dartmouth is my top choice.</p>

<p>I'm top ten, president of amnesty, taking a bunch of APs, blah blah blah...just like lots of other 2017'ers. Thing is, I'm riding on art. I draw very well, and plan on submitting an art supplement come next fall. </p>

<p>Right now I'm trying to decide on what to do summer of '12. (This summer I did a research program. Experience wasn't stellar, no awards or anything.)</p>

<p>My top two choices:
a) Local art program, pays you to go five hours a day doing art...and related artsy stuff. :) Aimed at inner city kids (to keep people out of streets) but also includes a good portion of suburban kids like me. Extends to a fall apprenticeship if you are good. </p>

<p>Pros: free + stipend, goes along with "passion" for art
Cons: a hour of commute time every day</p>

<p>b) Minority CS program at MIT, also free, no pay...you learn how to program and work on CS projects. (I'm Asian and female. Minority, heh?)</p>

<p>Pros: PRESTIGE...(I know, I know, horrible reason, but it is good for Ivy apps/scholarships); free
Cons: super selective</p>

<p>I'm taking AP comp sci next year, so the MIT thing would help. I'm also trying to learn programming languages right now...JAVA, Objective C, etc. But the art program seems more fun, and plus it's a source of income. I'm interested in computer science, but already have art established as a skill set. </p>

<p>The most I'll do with art is probably a minor though, while CS is more practical and...helps society more, I guess. (Gah, dilemma.)</p>

<p>Opinions? Advice? Dartmouth acceptees' commentary appreciated!</p>

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<p>This is kind of interesting. I had (and still have!) interests very similar to yours. I did MATLAB in high school and pursued an interest in stop-motion animation. Sort of a technical-artsy combination, too, no?</p>

<p>With regard to your predicament, it would be really hard for me to choose, as well! But, personally, my interest in art outweighs my interest in computer science, so I would choose the art program. For me, working with a programming language is something best done in small increments (i.e. over a period of time); otherwise, I get frustrated when the program doesn’t execute and there’s some error in line 97 or something. For that reason, a computer science excursion doesn’t have that much appeal to me. To much focus on a programming language would drive me crazy, I think. </p>

<p>Art, by contrast, I think is much more fun and less emotionally taxing. Certainly, it is less practical than computer science, but if I were an admissions officer, I think I would find a truly outstanding piece of artwork more impressive than an MIT computer science program. Indeed, I might go as far as to say that it is better to create than to participate; but if you can do both that’s even better!</p>

<p>Of course, either option is really fantastic. Good luck with your application to Dartmouth!</p>

<p>And if you want to get a head-start with computer science at Dartmouth, you should learn some Python. It’s a quite common programming language here.</p>

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<p>I don’t know if you’ve already decided yet, but i thought i’d share my advice since my 2 major interests are also science and art! :smiley: im also going to a MIT summer program (RSI) and thinking about applying to summer art programs also haha. Coincidence much? </p>

<p>Is the MIT program MITES or WTP? those are both REALLY good programs and i’ve heard lots of good stuff about them. if you’re interested in the sciences, especially as a career, I’m sure you’ll enjoy both those programs! </p>

<p>the art program sounds great also though. perhaps you could apply for some different art programs that don’t conflict with the dates of the MIT program? For example, there’s marie walsh sharpe, for which there’s 3 different sessions. you can probably request the session that you’re able to go to. it’s also free! :smiley: but not paid like the local program you’re thinking of.</p>

<p>actually do you know already know that you’re accepted into the MIT program? I’d think that they wouldn’t have decisions by December, when you posted…</p>