My sophomore has 2 great options for this coming summer and can’t decide. Would love your insight!
She was (is) signed up for a meaningful, but pay-to-go, global health program - 2-weeks working beside doctors at a clinic and doing some building projects. But she recently was given the opportunity to do a 2-week internship at Johns Hopkins, mostly shadowing researchers in a particular lab. She can’t do both. One will be more fun and life changing and eye-opening. One will be likely better on her college applications (she is a great student who will be wanting to apply to very competitive schools, and is leaning towards pre-med). Any advice? She is struggling to make the decision.
The JH opp would only be available this year. The trip could happen next year, but she might be on the older side of the group.
Thanks!
You say she was “given” the opportunity at JHU, which leads me to believe this is not a competitive program that she was accepted into.
As someone who has spent many, many years in labs, I will say that shadowing a researcher sounds boring as all get-out. It will look like a resume-padder to get into college, which is exactly what it is. No more impressive than anything else.
She’s a sophomore! She should have fun and discover what she enjoys after 2 years of COVID.
Two weeks of any summer activity, if not followed up as a true interest with ongoing work, will not be impressive. So she should do what sounds like the most interesting to her, follow her passions and see where they lead.
Curious why she can’t do both if each is only a couple of weeks? Can the JHU internship be extended for more than 2 weeks?
I agree that the JHU would likely not be as interesting and neither is going to be a gigantic plus on the resume, unless the JHU opportunity could extend into actual research. I would have her go on the trip and enjoy.
I agree with this. To make a difference in admissions, the activity has to appear authentic and be part of the overall arc of the student’s progression through high school. Not a one-off.
I’ve heard that AOs tend to place less weight on pay-to-go programs, so that’s something to keep in mind.
You mentioned “global program” and “building projects”. Hopefully your D won’t write an essay about volunteering in a developing country and how it made her recognize her privilege and motivated her to pursue healthcare. It’s very cliched and over done and will cause AOs to roll their eyes.
neither will matter for her college app.
Thanks - this is helpful.
I don’t see the global health program as helping her college apps, but do see it truly broadening her view of the world. I am aware that these things seem privileged on college apps - it fulfills a global scholar requirement for school and I really think would be a great learning experience but isn’t to look better for college.
Yes, JHU could be a month, but she doesn’t want that, and it would mean being away for a large chunk of the summer which would conflict with other things going on, including SAT studying and a family trip which I’m prioritizing. She is very focused on what looks best for college (less than me), but going through it right now with another kid, I don’t want to overlook opportunities that seem unique, and JHU seems unique, kind of. And when I mention it to adults around me (parents, college counsleor) they all think we should jump at the opportunity. I do think being in a lab and seeing what that’s about (I’ve done my time there too) is worthwhile, but can always happen in college!
So now leaning towards the trip, as is my husband. But would love more opinions!
Is that why she can’t do both? Doing both would involve being away for too long?
The JHU lab seems less valuable since it is only for 2 weeks. Not sure how much she will be able to see or do in that short period. If she could do it for a month, or even 3 weeks, she might get to actually do something.
Which ever she chooses will likely be fine.
Basically they are during the same month when we also have a family trip planned before her brother goes to college, and she has a job… She could do both, but then we’d have to change our trip dates which isn’t simple, and she would only be home for a couple weeks the whole summer which doesn’t feel good for her job or SAT studying or her mental health!
Thank everyone for your advice-- going to do a pros and cons list with her!