Role of summer programs in college admission

Applying to College
1

I have recently been accepted to conduct independent CS research under the guidance of a professor at a reputable university in New York and have also been selected to be an intern for a research team within a large tech company (both full time). I know that both of these experiences will be very fulfilling to me, personally, and will allow me to develop intellectually.

In the context of college admissions, would one be seen as better than the other (for example, independent research could lead to a research paper/poster + participation in Intel/Siemens, whereas the other probably would not)? Would a recommendation letter from one of the two sources be valued higher than the other? Thanks for the help!

2

I assume you are talking about one or the other? I have to say, the one the “could lead” to something doesn’t sound quite as strong to me as the solid tech company. But it’s not like the first choice is bad either, especially if it is a reputable university. I think these are two fairly equal choices and you should do the one that interests you most.

3

I agree, do whichever you prefer. They are both excellent choices.