<p>I've noticed that a number of Ivies and other good schools offer courses for college credit in the summer, and it's something I'd really like to do. Any recommendations on what programs should be considered more than others? Is there any correlation between the quality of the college and that of the pre-college courses?</p>
<p>I’m going to be honest here. Most colleges run summer courses as a way to make money. Some people go to these programs (I’m not saying that this necessarily applies to you) because they think it will increase their admissions chances. Maybe they’ll meet a professor who they’ll connect with, and the professor will write them a recommendation letter. Needless to say, this rarely happens, and there are plenty of threads here where people talk about how disappointed they are because they paid a ridiculous amount of money to attend a class with hundreds of other people where everyone spends their days partying. The best summer programs are those run by other organizations but take place at colleges. However, if you’re considering a summer program because you genuinely want to learn, then go for it! Just research and read up reviews on it first. As for a correlation between the college and the program quality, obviously those schools with good professors will have better classes. However, I would guess that smaller schools would have better classes than huge universities, simply because the class sizes would be smaller.</p>
<p>If you want a more genuine and rigorous experience, find out whether the courses are being taught by the school’s regular tenured or tenure-track faculty. And look at whether many of the enrolled students are college students at that school. If you’re at a school learning from instructors who have no real affiliation with that school alongside students who don’t attend that school, then you aren’t so much at that school, are you?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice! Anyone want to recommend any programs they have done?</p>