<p>I was wondering if anyone knew how helpful the summer high school program at Columbia is for undergraduate admissions to Columbia College. Of course, these programs won't guarantee admission or anything (they tell you that outright) but I know that at Northwestern, the summer program is very helpful for admissions (I know someone who attended the summer program and then got a rec from a professor. She ended up getting into Northwestern later on despite that her grades/SATs were a little low). Is the Columbia summer program as helpful for admissions to Columbia College? Thanks!</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I did not attend the Columbia summer program.</p>
<p>I think one of the best things the summer programs can do for you is familiarize you with the setting and help you figure out if that’s a place you’d like to be. However, it is my jaded yet somewhat uninformed opinion that what most of those programs tell the school is a) you are decently motivated and interested in the college (good) but mostly b) you have the money and means to go. Thus, I doubt it would help you that much, unless you are in the situation that your friend at Northwestern described (getting a rec from a prof - though we had a few here who had that and didn’t get in ED). Research internships and/or jobs may look better in the long run if you’re looking for something that’ll help get you in.</p>
<p>I did take a course at Columbia one summer during high school. I doubt it would have had much impact with Columbia admissions as compared to anything else interesting or meaningful that I might have done that summer. Admission to the summer program did not seem to be highly selective. Rigor of the courses offered and talent of the student participants varied widely. Although I received a nice recommendation from my instructor, he was a lecturer at Columbia and not a full professor.</p>
<p>I took a summer course at columbia in high school and did not get into the college- they have nothing to do with each other in the sense of admissions… the whole program is just a way for them to make money… truthfully do something a lot more interesting and fun… like volunteer abroad…if thats what you like…</p>
<p>It will not help you get into the university.</p>
<p>I disagree. I went to the program, got a great rec from my professor, and added it as a third recommendation to my application. I got in. I think it shows the university you know what you’re getting yourself into, which a lot of students don’t and end up dropping out or transferring.</p>