<p>It's very expensive... but is it worth it? Anyone been? Any thoughts? How would this compare to a regular summer program? Thanks!</p>
<p>My child did HSSC at Stanford, this past summer. My kid had a great time, socially, had one very good class with a few grad students teaching (one of whom was memorable and dynamic) and took another class, with a professor from elsewhere<–the professor was accessible enough but had a sort of idiosyncratic teaching style, which left a few kids confused. Both classes were rigorous classes with the regular curriculum compressed into the shorter summer session length. My kid did very well in both classes, but some kids did not–they were unused to managing their own time and/or overindulged on their social life. My kid was disciplined enough to head to the library when there was too many newfound friends gathering on her bed or in her room.</p>
<p>The demographics of the kids in the program were largely white, and, mostly, national, with some international students. My kid, a kid from a very liberal enclave, said she encountered a fair number of Conservative kids from Texas, an anomaly for her considering that we hail from one of the most liberal cities in the country. The food was mediocre, but she had a constant stash from Whole Foods.</p>
<p>My kid also had taken classes at UC Berkeley, during the academic year, and said that her particular Stanford classes did not compare with the Berkeley classes in terms of quality of professor and diversity of student, but, again, summer sessions, anywhere, often have visiting faculty.</p>
<p>Finally, my child has made some lasting friends (10, 11 kids) from the program, who have either already visited her/us or whom she has visited. The program made her very excited about college, although, ironically, not excited to attend Stanford, per se. She is from the Bay area and was/is eager to explore an unfamiliar geography. As well, she found that a lot of the HSSC participants very focused on grades more than learning or exchange of ideas–academic not intellectual.</p>
<p>But, she had a great time and balanced her very active social life with the demands of two of the more rigorous class offerings. She did offer that some of the activities that were provided were sophomoric while others (the San Francisco scavenger fun were “hecka fun”). Finally, she found Palo Alto, quickly boring (it is), and couldn’t imagine 4 years there. As it is, she has spent 16 years being dragged to Stanford football games by her alumnus father.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. (as an aside, I went to Cornell for the equivalent program, in the early 80s, which I throughly enjoyed, even though I knew, going in, that I didn’t want to go to Cornell).</p>
<p>Thank you! I’m applying for some other summer programs as well, but I will definitely apply and see what happens!</p>
<p>You’ve probably already applied and been accepted, but my experience at HSSC was fantastic. It really made me want to apply to Stanford. </p>
<p>Overall, I also found, as SWHarborfan said, lasting friends in a core group of the 300+ people in the program. I’ve visited them in their respective colleges (i went before my junior year, instead of before my senior year) and they’ve come to ski with me. </p>
<p>I thought the academics were incredible and an eye-opening experience for me to see how college works. </p>
<p>If you have any specific questions, let me kno!</p>
<p>hey, </p>
<p>Are there evening activities organized ?
Are there a lot of academic activities such as lectures, workshops on college application, etc. ?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>