<p>Currently I am a high school junior and I am just now looking at potential summer programs. <b>Please chance me for my top choices! If you have any other helpful information about any of these programs and/or you have attended one of them, any info would be helpful! I am really looking for a meaningful program that will be enjoyable AND help me out on college apps, not just something you can buy your way into <b></b></b></p><b><b>
<p>Bioquest Academy
JSA Summer School (Stanford)
Columbia Summer School
Duke TIP
Harvard SSP
John Hopkins CTY</p>
<p>Background info about myself: current HS junior, cumulative GPA 4.0 unweighted (took all honors courses offered sophomore year, we cant take APs as a sophomore) currently taking 4 AP courses and getting A's/ A-'s/1 B+.... volunteer at hospital, in NJHS, spanish club, and key club, previous experience in class council/ASB, VP/cofounder of the JSA chapter at my school</p>
<p>any info would be MUCH appreciated!!</p>
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<p>I’ve heard a lot of negative things about JSA Summer School- disorganized, unproductive, not rewarding, etc. Harvard SSP also doesn’t help acceptance to Harvard, or anywhere really. Though, it offers college credit which could be helpful I suppose. My friend attended Columbia Summer School last year and had a wonderful time, but like HSSP, it does not really sway college decisions. (I think).</p>
<p>You’re probably too old for normal CTY. There are other programs JHU offers through CTY, but I don’t think they have much prestige. Although… they would definitely be enjoyable. Since it’s not as intense, you get more time to focus on the more social aspect of living away from home than the actual academic part.</p>
<p>John Hopkin’s Center for talented youth program, like Dukes’s tip and the parallel Standford program have requirements such as SATs by January of 8th grade year, which would make a high school junior ineligible.</p>
<p>My SD attended two engineering CTY programs (CAA level) and loved them. I also noticed that every second person that I have ever spoken with at MIT seems to have attended. Its really geared to the super smart identitied by 6th grade. </p>
<p>As a warning to all, most accelerated summer programs have deadlines in December or January. One needs to have your research done by Thanksgiving and your applications complete over Christmas. January is too late to start for most.</p>
<p>But don’t discount scrounging up an internship or summer job in your area of interest. Colleges will respect your hands on experience, particularly in engineering.</p>
<p>Research is probably the best admissions wise, but sounds to me like the least fun. If you are looking for an excellent educational and social experience (seems like a good happy medium) I’d say CTY, then Columbia, then TIP, SSP, and lastly JSA.</p>
<p>If you’re currently a high school junior, you’re too old for TIP and CTY unless you want to do one of their less…prestigious, for lack of a better word, programs. Good luck though! I’m afraid I’m kind of in the same boat >.></p>
<p>Harvard SSP anyday. I’ve went to four CTY camps, and without a doubt, SSP. That’s actually where I am applying along with the Yale Summer Session too. JSA really isn’t that great at all. At CTY, they’re kinda thought of as tools. Haha</p>
<p>How is the admission/selectivity for SSP, JSA, Columbia and Duke TIP? I’m looking at summer programs, and these are a few on my list. Anyone who has gone in the past/gotten accepted, what is the general idea of grades to get in?</p>
<p>I have to disagree with the anti-JSA vibe here. I attended the Georgetown session last year and I loved it. They don’t accept idiots, but it is not impossible. I have a 4.0 and got in and received a scholarship.</p>
<p>You will not regret JSA and it will really have a lasting impact. I am doing it again this summer at Stanford. </p>
<p>Well for CTY programs, your test scores must be in the top 1% for your age on the SAT, ACT, or PSAT. For CAA and older CTY programs, it’s the top 2%. For CTY once you have the test scores, your in.</p>
<p>I guess it depends where you get the JSA experience from. Last summer I went to JSA Summer School at Yale and it was terrific. Many of the professors were Harvard Law graduates and we got to meet the Dean of Admissions at Yale. We also got to meet some notable political figures like Geraldine Ferraro, Brian Williams, Katie Couric, and the Executive Director of UNICEF. I recommend this program. It was rigorous (2 3hr. classes and a 2hr. debate session 6days/week) but worth it.</p>