<p>Would taking a summer school/program at Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, etc. benefit your application? Or is it just for the experience?</p>
<p>it won't help you at all. those summer programs are money-making ventures first and foremost. they're not hard to get into, and they're not "just like going to Harvard/Stanford/Cornell." They might be fun (in a dorky way), that's all.</p>
<p>The college programs that improve chances are the ones that are free and are based on skills. Examples are RSI and TASP.</p>
<p>COSMOS and SSP are good programs too. MITES from MIT is also highly recognized.</p>
<p>SSP will not help your chances. It is a nice program, but it is based on ability to pay.</p>
<p>Generally they don't really improve chances, but they're not worthless. Depending on what you do you can A) enjoy yourself and B) do something productive. What it does do for you is that it shows that you're not idle, just don't present it as a near-hook factor.</p>
<p>Just the freee ones that are competitive to get into.</p>
<p>adding onto the OPs question and the following comments. what about the Johns Hopkins CTY programs. and wharton's LBW program?</p>
<p>Does Boy's State count?</p>
<p>From the COSMOS FAQ:
Students applying to the University of California may reference their participation in the program under "Special Program Participation" directly on the UC application. COSMOS also gives students a unique opportunity to work closely with university faculty who may be helpful with future recommendations to college.</p>
<p>What are the programs you are talking about??
Could someone please help "expand" the following abbreviated names?</p>
<p>RSI
TASP
MITES
COSMOS
LBW</p>
<p>Thanks a million.</p>
<p>How big of a deal are SSP and promys?</p>
<p>add Telluride to the list, it is free (six weeks, students only pay for travel and personal expenses) and very competitive. 950 applicants, 150 get to interview, 86 get to attend. See the Fiske College Guide,'Choosing the Right College' for the info on which programs will make them notice you.</p>
<p>What about summer music programs?</p>
<p>Will it hurt if you done nothing too productive with your summers?</p>
<p>Telluride is TASP...</p>
<p>And 9% is pretty good.</p>
<p>RSI is around 1%.</p>