I’ve been wondering what the merit of pre-college summer programs is in terms of college applications. I’m doing one just because I want to learn calculus and have the university experience, but I read an article on business insider (below) that said expensive programs like this may actually HURT my chances. I wasn’t even really considering how colleges would look at the program when I first applied, I figured it would just be good to pursue what I liked.
The program I’m in costs $12,100 plus expenses, but my family didn’t pay anything after a scholarship and some good opportunities, so how would this factor in my chances? Should I or should I not include it in my resume?
There is a place on the Common App to list/describe what you have done with your summers.
It’s hard for me to understand how these programs can hurt your chances (full disclosure: I did not read the article). My ds did various programs related to his interests that we paid for for four summers in a row. He was accepted to four top 20 universities (rejected at another). However, if you are concerned about appearances, I would just indicate that you attended on a scholarship.
“Pre-College program at XYZ University - Calculus. Earned _____ hours of credit. Grade: A Attended program on scholarship.”
My ds only did one that was for college credit and submitted a transcript for the two courses he took. Especially if you get college credit, I do believe it has to be listed on your college apps.
I read the article and it seems to me that their only interesting argument they offer is that taking these courses offers no imagination, which I guess makes sense, but if you are taking classes you are interested in and expanding your horizons by taking these classes then I think you are fine. The schools want to see that you are challenging yourself and that say in an interview you can talk about this experience with confidence and you can say how taking these classes helped you learn about yourself as a student and a person and how it advanced you in your studies. If you can talk about that, then it shows that you made this decision with some meaning and importance. The school doesn’t know how much you paid for the program unless they know about the program or you personally tell them. I think there are more important aspects of your application that a college would be interested in, so I wouldn’t worry too much. Hope this helped, and good luck!
MIT does a really nice job discussing the admissions realm. And they are emphatic in saying that there is not a “right” way to present oneself. As they say on their site (http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool):
“What we really want to see on your application is you being you - pursuing the things you love, growing, changing, taking risks, learning from your mistakes, all in your own distinctive way.”
If the paid-for summer programs are part of a larger narrative of you pursuing your interests and passions, I think they’re fine. If they’re a hodge podge of unrelated activities that are only there to create an impressive array of name brands, I can see how they would undermine your application.