Rising junior looking to plan her summer.

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>I just realized that deadlines to apply to most places are quickly nearing. I basically need advice choosing a summer program. I'm currently a sophomore at a boarding high school. </p>

<p>I went to CTY 2 years ago, and might want to do that. (For those that don't know, CTY is basically the same as Explo/SIG/Duke TIP: pick a class you're interested, pretty laid back, easy to get into.) But since I'm a junior next year, I think I'd want something more intensive. Plus it's hella expensive and probably not worth it, although I did enjoy my year there.</p>

<p>I would never be able to get into RSI, TASP, or whatever. Are there any programs along those lines that aren't so majorly selective?</p>

<p>I was thinking about something college-affiliated like Summer@Brown, NYU Precollege, or Oxbridge. But I'm interested in something rigorous, something harder to get into that won't just look like "application fluff." Because I know that Summer@Brown and Oxbridge ain't cheap, either. </p>

<p>Should I maybe get a job instead? Some people say that would help me gain valuable experiences and life skills. Even if it was at a fast food restaurant or something. </p>

<p>Another option: Music/art camp, like Interlochen or Luzerne. Although this wouldn't really help me on my application, would it? Because I'm not really interested in art school, or an art-centered career........ I do consider myself good at art and music though.</p>

<p>I was also considering applying for a LIT position for an overnight summer camp. (LIT=leader in training: sorta like a junior counselor)</p>

<p>Thanks guys. If anyone has suggestions for summer programs, or experience with the aforementioned ones, comment.</p>

2

<p>Does your state have a Governor School or privately sponsored programs? The best summer programs are competitive/free programs. They are more prestigious because you have to compete to get in. </p>

<p>My older daughter went to our state’s Governor School for dance. She was one of 12 students out of the whole state who were selected. Her intended major(s) were math and econ. Even though the dance program didn’t have much to do with her academic interest, it was her major EC in for 8+ years. It validated her EC.</p>

<p>Our younger daughter got into a private program to study about human rights. She is a philosophy/government major in college, so it tied in nicely into her academic interest. The program was also free and only 30+ kids were selected for the program. If she didn’t get into this program, she was going to consider a summer program at Yale or Brown. According to her counselor, doing a summer program at a college would let the adcom know that she was familiar with their college. It would be even more helpful if she had done well at their college level courses.</p>

<p>Your junior summer (before senior year) activity will be important for college application if you are shooting for top tier schools. There is nothing wrong with getting a job if that’s what you need to do.</p>

3

<p>Hi, thanks for the suggestions.</p>

<p>I don’t really need a job at all. My parents aren’t really…struggling… to make a living. I just don’t want to feel like an entitled yuppie, and think that the experience would be really good. </p>

<p>I don’t know about governor’s schools but I will check. Only problem is, I live in China for the summers and breaks, and only live in the US at this boarding school during the school year. Will that affect my eligibility?</p>

4

<p>You need to be a resident of that state to be eligible for any state sponsored program. If your home is China then you probably are not a resident of any state.</p>

5

<p>Well. I’m a US citizen by birth, and hold a US passport. As of this year, my family lives in China. I “live” at boarding school.</p>

6

<p>You need to be a tax paying state resident to participate in a state sponsored program. We lived overseas for 2 years while our kid was in high school, but we were paying NJ taxes, so she was eligible to participate in their program.</p>

7

<p>Oldfort, what program did your younger daughter attend? It sounds pretty cool.</p>