I got such helpful responses to a recent post about colleges with potential for merit in the south that I thought I’d see if anyone has advice on our latest dilemma - summer plans for our rising senior D. She was a semifinalist for a competitive program and found out a couple of weeks ago that she didn’t make the program. She hadn’t wanted to think too much about back-up plans before then, so now we’re scrambling to come up with options.
One option would be to take it easy and focus on college apps, college visit trips, and sport practices. Sounds like enough work to me, but she’s the kind of kid who likes to feel like she’s using her time well and thinks that isn’t enough activity.
Second option is all of the things mentioned in option one, plus trying to get a job at a fast food place, retail, etc. Third option is the one I need advice on - a three week course at a college about 3 hours away focusing on biomedical courses. It’s not competitive and she still has time to apply. It costs, of course, but is relatively cheap - around $1500 for 3 weeks. The college hosting the course is one she’s never visited, but is somewhat familiar with and was interested in visiting this summer.
I like the idea of her being exposed to a dorm, roommate, and college courses as sort of a preview of what college might be like, but I’m not sure how valuable these type of paid programs are. I know it may depend on the program. Is it a mistake to attend one of these at any college other than a likely top choice college? Similar programs at colleges she’s more interested in are 3 to 4 times the cost. Anyone have any experience with paid summer programs like this? I guess I’m worried that colleges other than the one hosting the program might look negatively on it, but I’m not sure why I have that impression.
If she is interested in the topic (possible major, for example) and you can afford it, I’d probably have my kid take go to the class. Colleges want kids who try new things – it doesn’t have to be at a specific school. They don’t care if it wasn’t their school. One of my kids turned down summer program acceptances at colleges that later accepted her college application.
Thanks @intparent - that’s good to hear. She looked at the courses and the professors who’d be teaching them and thought they sounded really interesting.
My son was in a similar position (re: missing out on a competitive option and not having a backup) and we did a 6 week course at Cornell in Engineering/CS (his interest). I think it was a great experience for him. Of course it cost $$$ but he enjoyed it. And even though he got A+'s in the classes (with real Cornell students) he was waitlisted by Cornell. But that’s ok.
My daughter attended a non competitvr summer program in her major ( nursing) that was hands down the best thing she ever did. She had no interest in the school where it was held but it greatly assisted her in understanding the course of study she’d be undertaking and really helped with those " why nursing " essays!
Another parent chiming in to say that both our kids found the transition to college much easier after having done a “sleep-away” academic program before senior year. Figuring out balancing class, laundry, eating in the dining hall etc, all while still a high school student just made the move into the college dorm as freshman less overwhelming.
My D is at a boarding school so different perspective on learning to be independent but she worked at a grocery store and worked on college apps and a school project that cut across junior and senior year. There is nothing wrong with just working to earn some money and work on college apps.
I would even argue the skills learned by having to show up and work a shift do not come from the other great academic activities/ECs that our kids pursue.
@shoot4moon - It’s Sewanee, University of the South. A small college that you may not have heard of if you aren’t anywhere near Tennessee. Sewanee was recommended to me on my thread asking for southern schools that might give merit and then D got an email about this summer program a few days later. I’m afraid the college might be too small for my D in the end, but I think it would be a lovely place to spend a few weeks in the summer and learn about biomedical science.
I would have her work, and also prepare for the app season.
Colleges like to see you having a productive summer, and working is productive. Also it gives the kids a chance to learn about working in a work environment in a low risk way…plus they get money!
This is what I think rising senior should do (from another post)
Rising Seniors:
You are probably thinking about the College App cycle…thinking this is something you do in the fall.
But in the fall you will be taking the toughest courses of your academic career and usually having leadership activities in your ECs…if you do the steps below you will be so happy you have all the grunt work out of the way for college apps.
So this summer, do the following:
Make a list of all your ECs, when you did them, about how many hours a week, and descriptions.
You only get 10 slots for ECs on common app, so start categorizing them. Like you may want to categorize all music ECs together, or split them up somewhat.
Make sure to mention what leadership you have in those ECs, even if not a formal position…and talk about what you did as a leader.
Choose a Common App essay prompt
Write a draft of your essay this summer. Give it to your GC/English teacher to review in the fall.
If you haven’t already, choose who you want to ask to write recommendations for you. If your major is STEM, ask a Math and a science teacher.
See what your HS Guidance office wants you to do for college apps…(look on their website)…Do they want you to complete a brag sheet or something else to help the GC?
Visit some local colleges…like your State flagship, a smaller private school…see what you like and don’t like about them. Or take a trip and visit more schools.
Come up with a list of what you want in a college…major, location, urban/rural, size, etc etc
Based on that, use Naviance, Supermatch (here on CC), Fiske Guide, etc to come up with a list of colleges
Find out from your parents how much they can spend on college each year
Run the Net Price Calculator on those colleges to see if they are affordable
Try to visit some of those colleges over the summer if possible if you haven’t already
DO NOT APPLY TO A SCHOOL YOU WOULDN’T ATTEND. Also known as “Love thy Safety”. Pick your Safety first. I don’t know how many stories I read about people who didn’t get into an of their reaches and what they thought were matches and are only accepted to the safety and have a fit…find one that you like.
Yes this seems like a lot of work…but imagine doing it when you have classes and ECs too!
@Emmycat My kids went to non-competitive summer programs when they were rising Sophomores and another one when they were rising Juniors to get some feedback on what types of colleges (large/small, private/public, urban/rural, etc.) they would be suited at and to give them a taste of what it would be like to go away for college. We did it for the experience rather than to help their admission chances so it didn’t matter whether the summer program was at a top choice school or not.
They really enjoyed the experience and kept in touch with some new friends. I feel the experience really helped later with their application process in terms of choosing which schools to apply to and which ones to seriously consider attending.
We also looked into the more competitive summer programs and felt that they would have been too much pressure too soon for my rising Sophomores and Juniors (but YMMV) and that they were way too expensive.
We never visited Sewanee, but researched it as a possible school for my LAC kid – the idea of spending 3 weeks on the mountain, in that gorgeous environment, sounds heavenly! Its only 3 weeks, there is plenty of time to get other things done during the summer. This is the last summer before they begin college, and the chance to take an interesting program, in a gorgeous place, would have been on my kid’s list if he hadn’t been involved in his sport that summer.
Does she do any volunteer work now? That is always a good thing to do for a variety of reasons, the least of which is something to put on the college resume.
I think doing something she is interested in is better than doing nothing, and I don’t think it has to be a more expensive program.
Two of mine did summer camp like experiences that had a service component. Not sure it really made a difference in the application process, but it was a good experience for both. My youngest managed to get a part-time job, that came from volunteering. He also played a fall sport, so had a very short summer in HS.
The value of the program would be to her learning about dorms, colleges, scheduling classes. I don’t think you can look at it as if there is any boost to college admissions. My kids went to band camp and sports camps on college campuses and it was beneficial just to see how college kids went to class, went to the dining hall, went to work. It was beneficial to meet other kids of the same academic level (or same music level, or same sports level) that they may not have had at their schools (better, not as good, brilliant).
I don’t think it is necessary if the student really needs to work or if you can’t afford it, but it can be a good experience.
What does she want to do? The class sounds like it would be a good experience IF she wants to go. I think it’s good to start practicing stepping away a little, etc… For both of you
I wouldn’t try to make things too busy. It is a bittersweet summer so don’t forget to make some memories and enjoy each other’s company before she leaves for life as an adult.
3 weeks? You can afford it? She’s interested? I’d say yes.
D found hers very useful, sure dorm life wasn’t scary to her when she went to college and that was a nice benefit, but she also took summer classes that she was really interested in that she couldn’t get in HS and they helped her hone her interests. And she did put them on her college pap, primarily because they were highly related to her major/career plans.
She also did an engineering program one summer that made it clear to her that she didn’t want to be an engineer, which it seemed like everyone was telling her she should do, as a mathy HS kid.
If you were to ask my husband, he’d tell you to make her get a crappy fast food job so that it would motivate her to work hard and graduate from college so she never has to work a job like that again!
There is definitely value to a program like you’re talking about if it’s a potential major. My D did a week of a “women in engineering” program on a college campus after her freshman year and went from “I want to be an engineer” to “This is absolutely, positively not what I want to do with my life.”
That said, if there are any questions about finances in college, a summer job could potentially tip the scales as the student could earn $2000-$3000 (on top of what you’d be saving by not doing the program.)
It seems like there might be more options for the summe (than academics or fast food)r, including some kind of service experience (volunteering, interning). She could also work p/t, waitress, that kind of thing, if you are in an area where jobs are available. She can look on craigslist for work or volunteering, contact a hospital, a kids’ program, and the local cultural council. She could also create her own day camp for kids if she is into that kind of thing.
Every family is different but we certainly did not focus on college applications during the summer. I think that kind of focus really amps up the stress. Honestly, I would rather they do them on Christmas vacation (if RD) than during the summer. Applications don’t need to be that big of a deal, but what you do in the summer can be. So I think she should find something useful and interesting to do that she likes. If it isn’t paid, she can do p/t work too.
I think summer academics can burn some kids out: they need a break. But others love it. Your daughter is the best guide. If the only reason or doing it is for college admissions, I would be wary.
Thanks all! I am definitely taking the warnings to let her enjoy the summer to heart and will let her make the decision. @SuburbMom - Ha! That’s exactly what my husband said too. I really appreciate all of the advice.
Sewanee was recommended to me on my thread asking for southern schools that might give merit and then D got an email about this summer program a few days later. I’m afraid the college might be too small for my D in the end, but I think it would be a lovely place to spend a few weeks in the summer and learn about biomedical science.
