Summer Courses 101 for internationals

<p>Hey, I'm going to Andover this fall as a sophomore and I was thinking of taking a summer course as soon as possible but I have no idea how prestigious or how good or what summer courses to take. Basically my interests are:</p>

<p>Politics - Huge political junkie
Economics - Same as above
Math - Not an interest but its my strongest subject and I'm doing AP Calc this year
Science - Not an interest and not as strong but my number 1 reach is MIT/Caltech/Stanford
History - Same as Economics/Politics</p>

<p>I wouldn't mind doing a course in any of them so I was thinking what would be some prestigious courses for schools (only thought of reaches) like:</p>

<p>Chicago
MIT
Stanford
Caltech
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Columbia
Dartmouth
Wharton Business</p>

<p>I haven't researched/checked out any so I'm sure I'll trim about 5 from the list and add some safeties and matches once I see my stats etc at Andover.
I can pay for the courses as well, just in case that changes anything...</p>

<p>I don't understand something: since you're not interested in neither math nor science, why do you want to go to MIT/Caltech? It doesn't make sense...</p>

<p>P.S: as far as I know, MIT and Caltech do not offer "prestigious" courses. only highly selective summer programs :)
P.P.S: Most of the deadlines for summer opportunities have passed a looooong time ago
P.P.P.S: have you tried finding some research/ internship opportunities?
P.P.P.P.S: a program at a specific university doesn't garantee you entrance, since you usually have to pay for it and everybode gets in.</p>

<p>you are looking to take a summer course this summer -- or next? you say you want to take one "as soon as possible" and then you say you want to "see my stats etc at Andover". That doesn't make sense.</p>

<p>It is important to understand that summer courses taken at various colleges don't impress admission's officers -- most kids with a B average and a halfway decent teacher rec get into most of these programs (including Harvard, Brown, etc). As long as your parents have the cash to pay for them, you are pretty sure of going. </p>

<p>If you are talking about next summer (summer '09) I would suggest you wait until you are at Andover -- they should have numerous summer programs that you would enjoy and would fit your interests well.</p>

<p>If you are talking about this summer -- there are few programs with spots still open. You might check out the Andover summer program and see if you could attend and get a jump on a few classes.</p>

<p>Yes, okay, thanks. As for the lack of interest in Math/Science that was misleading on my behalf. I am interested in Math and Physics in particular and I would enjoy it. I should have said not AS MUCH of an interest as history/economics. By the quote 'see my stats etc at Andover' that was merely to find what would be matches and safeties for me in terms of college, not summer programs. </p>

<p>And the summer programs I'm looking for would be selective programs that actually impress adcoms. </p>

<p>And summer '09 is probably what I have to settle for as I never bothered checking out possibilites for summer '08.</p>