Hi,
I wanted to find out more about the quality of this program for a rising junior for summer? How selective is it? Is it worth the effort to go there for about a month. It seems to be very broad focussed. Is it better to take online computer and math classes by oneself than to go to this summer program?
Also are some programs very important for colleges? How does one explain that one self tutored vs attended a summer program?
Are there better math or computer science programs which the kid will be better off doing?
Thanks!
My S did the program last summer as a rising high school senior – he found it to be worthwhile. It was an intensive proof based program that focused on the mathematics and algorithms relating to computer science. His goal was to gain exposure to more advanced mathematics in an effort to further refine his thoughts on a college major.
The participants varied from kids like my S who are just very strong in Math to a 10 year old Math prodigy who kept pace with the professors. This boy was apparently able to assist some college aged students with the proofs. I really don’t know how competitive it is for admission – my S was late with getting his supplemental materials in so was put on a wait list initially. He did eventually get a spot but my impression is that it depends on how many students they have that particular summer. There are a few that come from Asia and I think attendance may vary from year to year.
@HarvestMoon1 What is your son’s planned major? And does he know where he will be going to college this fall? It sounds like the program is excellent. Did you have trouble finding housing for your son, or are you in the area?
@HarvestMoon1 , was it easy to find a place to stay there? It seems it is a day program but if students come from Asia , they may be able to provide foo and lodging.
@sbjorlo He is thinking computational finance which is basically financial engineering. My H did a fair amount of the same in his career and both of my children seem to be headed in the same direction – perhaps with a dual major in CS if they can manage it.
He has just narrowed his college choices and plans on attending 2 accepted student days, maybe even 3 if he can get more comfortable with the city of Pittsburgh. He didn’t take to the city when he visited last summer. Yes, my S thought PACT was one of the better summer programs he attended but he went into it with a specific purpose. Otherwise, I think you really have to love solving mathematical proofs because after morning lectures that is basically what you will be doing for the rest of the day for 4 weeks. They do put the students in clusters for the problem solving sessions, and my S felt that on a whole the participants in the program were a really interesting group.
@TiggerMom Yes it is a day program that runs from 9 until about 4:30 and they do not assist with housing for participants. However the student from Asia that my S became friendly with had a host family, so I assume that was arranged by whomever markets the program in Asia. My S stayed with family so he did not have a housing issue.
Thank you so much for the information! Very helpful.
@HarvestMoon1, could I PM you to find out how you found a host family? Churches was my first thought.
@sbjorlo We didn’t find a host family – my S stayed with family related to us.
I will be attending PACT this year and am planning on splitting the cost of an apartment nearby with another participant.