<p>Hey, so I am currently a Junior in high school. However I live in Las Vegas, Nevada.</p>
<p>I applied to both Cosmos and the Stanford 2012 High School Summer College Program.</p>
<p>I got accepted into both, and I was wondering which one should I go to?
Which one is better? Both for prestige and fun?</p>
<p>I am aiming to be a Chemical Engineer and I really want to go to UC Berkeley / other high engineering colleges</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>cosmos imo</p>
<p>OK guys I really need help.</p>
<p>Now my dad is saying stuff like “COSMOS is just an advertisement, I read that they just get a bunch of kids and advertise other universities to them, and it’s just for money. Plus, it’s stupid because you get no college credit and you just have fun fun fun. I want you to go learn. Stanford summer program you get college credit, why would I pay for COSMOS when you get NOTHING. it’s like throwing money into the air”</p>
<p>Is this true? Please I really want to know which is better.
I want to go to UC Berkeley and major in Chem E once again</p>
<p>It’s not worth it to attend a program just because of a college credit. The college credit might not even count if you go to any colleges besides the one the program is located in.</p>
<p>Just choose whichever program you think you will gain the most experience from (and by experience, I don’t mean by the measure of fun you will have but by how much you think you will take from the program, because at either of those programs I’m sure you’ll have fun 
)</p>
<p>I can’t help much with an opinion about the programs themselves, since I haven’t attended either one of them, but good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Pick whichever one will be more fun. </p>
<p>COSMOS is a bit more prestigious, but not astronomically so. </p>
<p>You wanna go to UCB? Can you afford 55k/year? There’s no financial aid for OOS.</p>
<p>Yes my parents say they will do what they can and work to pay for my college. We are leaning to Stanford atm… I’m a bit worried since you say it’s less prestigious. Any other opinions?</p>
<p>How does either program fit into your interests? Does either of the programs support the rest of your resume (volunteering, clubs, electives, GPA, class rank, standardized tests, work, etc…)? You are putting together a “body of work” that should be focused and aligned (as much as possible) so that colleges know what you want in life after HS or they help explain what you are all about. Your body of work explains you on paper.</p>
<p>Summer programs that you pay for should do several things for you (not all inclusive list):</p>
<ul>
<li>give you greater insight into a career option and/or major</li>
<li>build confidence and independence by being away from home</li>
<li>provide more intense learning in a subject(s) that interest you</li>
<li>help you explore interests and have some fun</li>
<li>help you grow as a person</li>
<li>opportunity to spend 2-3 weeks on a college campus that is of potential interest</li>
</ul>
<p>Because these are programs you pay for, notice I don’t mention a single word about prestige. Pay programs should do other things for you and prestige is not one of them. The more selective a program is the more prestige you can claim. I’m a fan of pay programs for many different reasons and both my daughters have attended them (this upcoming summer too). If a college rep asked you “Why did you choose XYZ summer program?” I would hope that pretige wouldn’t be part of your answer. </p>
<p>Good luck and have a great summer.</p>
<p>I hope it’s not too late, but I’d pick COSMOS! They’re prestigious and Stanford High School Summer College is not at all, plus its really expensive. I had a friend who went to it and no one who attended it actually got into stanford.</p>
<p>If I were you I would pick COSMOS for the following reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I attended a COSMOS open house in Feb.and they said that students who attend COSMOS get “bonus” points on their UC admissions applications. Since you indicated that CAL is your dream school then these bonus points would be extremely helpful in your attempt to gain admissions. This year was one of the toughest years for UC admissions and I think these bonus points should help. UC Admissions reps will come talk to the COSMOS students during session to advise them. </p></li>
<li><p>COSMOS students also have other opportunities such as the Nobel Dinner and Presentation of Research. Many COSMOS alumni get hired to work in the program during summers. Research projects have also been turned into science fair competition projects.</p></li>
<li><p>Your father is wrong in his assessment of the program. COSMOS is highly selective. The California legislature underwrites much of the cost of the program (at a higher rate for in-state students than out of state students-sorry) so it is not a “they just advertise to make money program.” When our state budget was better the cost of COSMOS was covered to a greater degree but still the state picks up much of the true costs. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I speak with authority on this subject because I do private college counseling to students and I also have my own high school and college children. I had about 7 students apply this year and only 1 got accepted (my own daughter got denied). All of these students have wonderful grades; EC’s and interests. I spoke at a science conference this year and I had lunch with a local COSMOS rep. She said they had the most applications ever and that the quality of the students made the selection process extremely difficult. </p>
<ol>
<li> As others have advised you; you really need to look at the offerings to see which truly interests you the most. If both schools are tied in that regard then opt for COSMOS.</li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck and congratulations.</p>
<p>OK thanks for the help guys. I really wanted to go to COSMOS but now my parents simply won’t let me. After all they’re paying.</p>
<p>They keep saying that COSMOS is stupid and a waste of money, because it’s just research for “fun”. They also KEEP SAYING that "YOU GET NOTHING FROM COSMOS, IN STANFORD YOU GET COLLEGE CREDIT. THIS IS HOW YOU ADVANCE IN LIFE SON, WITH STANFORD YOU WILL BE SO FAR AHEAD. I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU WILL PASS UP A CHANCE TO BE AT ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS STANFORD. "</p>
<p>Basically they’re saying that COSMOS is worthless.</p>
<p>I tried to tell them that the college credit was worthless and COSMOS is better and then they laugh, saying “what kind of a college will not accept college credit from STANFORD”. Then they go on about their friend’s son who supposedly went to a program in chicago or something for college credit and then they took his credit somewhere else. </p>
<p>What’s the deal?</p>
<p>Well, find some positives about the Stanford program and how that program will benefit you. If your parents are paying and not giving you much say then just go with the flow … it’s really not worth fighting it. Pick your battles and be happy you are getting a chance to go somewhere. </p>
<p>Good luck and try to have some enjoyable experiences at Stanford.</p>
<p>Look up the policies at the schools you are interested in. Many schools don’t take credit from summer programs. </p>
<p>Show them the positives to cosmos written here. Cosmos will give you extra points on your Cal app. That’s a big deal. </p>
<p>But they’re paying, so in the end just make the most of where you go.</p>
<p>Try to get your high school counselor involved. Make a list of why you want COSMOS and then a list of the Stanford positives. Go to your high school counselor and explain why you want COSMOS. Ask for help from you counselor with your parents and see if they will make a call to your parents. See if this helps. </p>
<p>Did you tell your parents that you want to go to CAL and that COSMOS will help with admissions?</p>
<p>As others have said EGY Stanford offers credit so that parents will be willing to pay the high costs associated with it. (it is a good program to in my opinion but is not quiet as selective as COSMOS). Look to see if other schools will take the Stanford credit. If you can show your parents some schools that you are interested in that do not take the credit then that may persuade them to let you do COSMOS.</p>
<p>Also and I know this is difficult but try to be mature in talking to your parents about it. Can you talk to them individually in a calm matter? Call the COSMOS school where you got accepted and get some data from them to support your argument. Tell them you got accepted and really want to go but your parents want some more info. Ask for how many applied and how many got accepted. Find out how many students from COSMO go on to attend a UC. If one my children came to me with such data it would go a long way to convincing me to let them do COSMOS.</p>
<p>And as others have said; going to Stanford for the summer is not that bad. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>