<p>I didn't really know where else to put this thread. I'm trying to improve my ECs and my summers are always really busy/fully. I did CivicWeek: Washington, D.C. at Northwestern spring break 2009 and it was AMAZING, but I want to give somebody else a chance to do what I did. Also, my spring break is during the D.C. one again.</p>
<p>I love the idea of an alternative spring break, but it's tough to find it for high schoolers. Help?</p>
<p>I’m interested in journalism, if it helps?</p>
<p>firesoul: Rustic Pathways runs a New Orleans service project…by the way, how hard is it to be accepted to the Civicweek programs?</p>
<p>That looks amazing, thank you! </p>
<p>I have no idea about acceptance rates. I went my freshman year, when I had more than one C. However, my essay was very good and I got a 24 on the ACT in 8th grade and a 27 as a freshman. I also did CTD at Northwestern for many, many years.</p>
<p>-rebumps-</p>
<p>Can you give more info on the civicweek program?</p>
<p>I want this thread to remain popular. I’m interested in it too!</p>
<p>Sure, no problem!</p>
<p>The CivicWeek program is modeled after those alternative spring break programs that are popular with college students but so hard to find for high school (the type of which I am currently looking for!). There are several dates- I think five total -of one-week programs. All of the dates are in the spring so you can pick the program for whenever your spring break is.</p>
<p>The application is a little on the hefty side if you haven’t done things with Northwestern before- you need teacher recs, writing an essay, the whole shabang.</p>
<p>Anyways, back to the program itself. So each of the weeks are in different urban cities across the country- San Francisco, New York, D.C., and two in Chicago. This is either because of the proximity to Northwestern or the amount of issues we have, take your pick. =P Each week has its own theme based on the issues facing that city (the Chicago weeks have different issues). D.C.'s was Politics and Poverty, with a focus on homeless people.</p>
<p>Accommodations were simple but comfortable- we stayed in the basement of a church that doubled as a soup kitchen, sleeping on what could be called air mattresses and our own sleeping bags. The neighborhood was on the sketchy side but none of us ran into any sort of trouble whatsoever. We cooked all of our own lunches and dinners, while cereal and stuff was available for breakfast. Because of the programs they ran during the day, it wasn’t possible to go back any time we wanted. But there was a piano in the area where we stayed. 11:00 PM talent show the night before we left? You betcha…</p>
<p>What separates this from different service programs is that education is every bit as important as service. It counts as a total of 40 hours, I believe. We worked in many food banks, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. We walked and took the subway everywhere, and we were encouraged to talk to people at shelters/kitchens/etc. We did workshops and helped organizations such as ACORN, SOME, CCNV, sold Street Sense, and many, many others. We definitely packed it in! Often we would talk to the people who helped run the organization first, maybe watch a promotional video about what they did, and then would do the service there.</p>
<p>ACORN reminded me- out of a group of 17 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors (seniors had all been accepted to colleges), we had not one conservative! About half of our group was from the Chicagoland area. We also had two twins, and two best friends. Make of that what you will in terms of dynamics?</p>
<p>I can’t laud the program enough. It was truly a life-altering experience. I became more open to talking to people, and my whole perception of homeless people was completely turned upside-down. My group was the best high schoolers you can imagine. Months later we are all still in touch. At the end of the program, one of our three groups leaders cried (we were all in tears on the last day)! Please ask questions- I’m subscribed to this thread so they will definitely be answered.</p>
<p>Does the program cost anything? Also, when will the applications come out?</p>
<p>This isn’t “prestigious,” in the same sense as TASP/RSI, is it? I don’t think I’d mind, since it’s a great way to spend one week out of my 2.5 week spring break! And personal experiences can be just as important on a college app as having something “prestigious.”</p>
<p>As prestigious as TASP/RSI? What service project <em>is</em>? In any case, I think anything Northwestern offers would look good on an application. And 40 hours in a week also isn’t bad. I really want to stress how important good writing skills are to getting in- it definitely is not all about the transcript.</p>
<p>2.5 week spring break? Jealousy… =P</p>
<p>Yeah. Private school is amazing. Do you have a link for this? I’ll probably apply. There’s nothing to do over spring break, and this seems like a good experience. Wait, does it cost money?</p>
<p>This is their website for CivicWeek: [Civic</a> Education Project :: CivicWeek](<a href=“http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep/programs/cw/]Civic”>CTD Events | Northwestern Center for Talent Development)</p>
<p>Yes, it does cost money; however, it’s all-inclusive (your meals, your subway passes, etc.). The $50 application is sent with a $100 deposit. However, you can apply for financial aid: [Civic</a> Education Project :: Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep/programs/cw/aid/]Civic”>http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep/programs/cw/aid/)</p>
<p>oof. the only program that fits in my spring break, 6th - 21st, is the san fran one. the plane ticket would be somewhat costly.</p>
<p>Southwest airlines? =P And the site says some schools will let you miss a week because it’s such an educational experience…it’s the catching up that would be a problem.</p>
<p>haha yeah.</p>
<p>my all honors/ap schedule kind of limits me from missing out.</p>