summer program at a university?does it help?

<p>think im going to take a college summer program at NYU,however,do you think it helps on my college app? (do you think it's a + if i mention that i pay the tuition partly by myself?---i have a part-time job that i saved up my money to take the program)</p>

<p>NO idea. I did ctd for three years at northwestern and I didn’t get in (REJECTED) with all As in classes I took there and a double legacy. It can’t hurt. :)</p>

<p>These don’t help at all. They’re generally run by some other organization that has an agreement with the college. Don’t waste your money.</p>

<p>^^uhhh~dont…dont…dont…dont…scarrrrre meee…summer program doesnt help AT ALL???im taking biology/chemistry…over the summer…and i think im taking biochemistry in college,at least it shows my interest?</p>

<p>yipyip0901, I’ve read that these summer programs don’t really help at all. Well, let me correct that. In the regard that you’re doing something productive and educational with your summer, it could look good on your application, or possibly be some sort of a tie-breaker. But so could a summer job, or summer school within your public school system, or a cheap, local music camp (let’s say) where you spend time improving your music education and experience.</p>

<p>But, in so far as getting any sort of leg up from the college who’s hosting the summer program goes … I’m sorry, but they don’t help. They’re a way for the college to make money, pretty much. I might be a little on the cynical side about this, but I think the colleges kind of bank on kids (and parents) THINKING that the student’s attendance will give them a leg up on future admissions, all the while recognizing that it won’t. It’s sad.</p>

<p>I’m with thisissparta514 … save your money. Do something else fun and productive with your summer. Or, just relax over the summer. The colleges are looking for the well-rounded kid who is genuinely involved in something, versus the kid who jumps through hoops so that the college will think they’re involved in something.</p>

<p>Oh, yipyip0901, I meant to mention …
It’s very nice that you saved up your own money to take the program. If you think you’ll LOVE the program, and learn a lot, and have a blast doing it, AND it’s worth the money to you, then go ahead and take it. It certainly won’t look bad on an application. Just keep in mind how much that same money will mean to you while you’re in college with high expenses.</p>

<p>But if you’re considering it because you think it will look good on college apps or that the host-college will find you to be a more attractive candidate because of it – well, then I’d just save my money and go for something else fun or educational or otherwise valuable to your growth and development – for cheaper.</p>

<p>What about summer courses? Same story?</p>

<p>^^it totally breaks my original plan…:frowning:
so,what do you guys suggest me to do over the summer ?i want to do something that looks good on college app + something that interests me…
i have passion on Music and astronomy…do you think there are some camps or programs out there ???</p>

<p>Vind2, I’m not sure what you mean by “summer courses.” If you mean at the college, the local community college, or through your public school system, then again, I would say that IF you’re interested in those and enjoy spending your time that way, and can afford the cost, then go ahead and take them. A nice side effect might be that a college might later see in you an engaged learner, or somebody with drive. OR, they may not. You take the course because you like it … not to impress anybody. If you’re just trying to look good on a college app, or to appeal to the host-college come application time – well, I don’t think it’s a wise use of your money or time.</p>

<p>I totally disagree…I am doing a summer program at an Ivy League school for government and legal studies…Although I dont think that it will help me get into that college I think colleges like that school would look very favorably on a student who is taking the initiative to STUDY over the SUMMER. Most kids would cringe at the thought of doing anything academic in the summer and by doing so I think it shows that learning means much more to you than the narrow minded requirements of high school. So will the program give you a hook in admissions for that particular school-No but will the program show that your a truly academically curious person who has passion for a field of study-Yes and that will reflect highly on you in admissions…Idt its a waste of money at all…</p>

<p>Actually, Cllgecrazy1020, I think we DO agree. That’s basically what I said. If you feel the cost is worth the money – and you have the money – and you love what you’re learning, then taking the program shows that you are academically curious.</p>

<p>My main points are: One, that you will not then be automatically more appealing to the host college. And two, that there are lots of cheaper ways to fulfill your academic curiosity.</p>

<p>yipyip0901, I was just about to post this much longer answer to your question …</p>

<p>I hope you really wanted some ideas, because this is a long post!</p>

<p>I don’t know what your music experience level is, but as long as it’s (oh, I don’t know) intermediate/average or beyond, then yes, I would certainly think there would be a music camp somewhere “close” that you could take.</p>

<p>If you have a private music teacher or a music director at school, they could give you a few leads. You could also search the web.</p>

<p>Depending on where you live, some of the programs are very expensive. Others are fairly cheap. There are programs where you can stay overnight, and others that are more like a day camp.</p>

<p>A lot of universities, both private and public, offer music camps for middle-to-high schoolers. In my state, we have band camps, voice camps, string camps, etc. offered through local universities or through private teachers.</p>

<p>Does your local school district offer interesting summer programs? Ours does. Like science and math and robotics and swimming and art, etc. They’re quite cheap.</p>

<p>Also, some kids around here attend summer school for something like $100-$200 per course so that they can take something required, but relatively basic, and then use their time during the school year to take AP-whatever, or another language, or a fun elective, that they couldn’t otherwise fit in their schedule.</p>

<p>Local science, art, or history museums may also offer summer programs.</p>

<p>Summer jobs are good too. Or volunteer work over the summer.</p>

<p>One of our state universities about 35 minutes away used to have (may still) a great astronomy summer program (run kind of like a night-camp) for high schoolers. I’m talking about something like $85 for 5 nights (one night a week) of an outdoor astronomy “class.” If you have a track record for a passion in astronomy – and then you take this summer program offered by some astronomy professor – well, that’s pretty cool. It would round out the package that is “you,” a lover of astronomy. It shows a continued passion.</p>

<p>THAT’s what the colleges care about. Kids that are genuinely interested in learning. Not kids who are genuinely interested in impressing colleges. I believe college admissions can often tell the difference.</p>

<p>The nice thing about that is … if you’re a kid with a strong passion, then you can just follow your passion and stop worrying about what colleges will think! Things will fall into place. At least that’s our philosophy around here.</p>

<p>I was more disagreeing with the previous posts claiming that the program was a complete waste of money and would not make her look anymore appealing to colleges…</p>

<p>Oh. Okie-dokie.</p>

<p>How would something like a paid internship at a university doing medicinal research look? A bit different than me paying lots of money to make my app look good.</p>

<p>Now you’re talkin’.</p>

<p>^^simplelife what state are you from?</p>

<p>Oh, shoot, yipyip9801. I really don’t want to say – because I’m pretty intent on privacy and security of identity, especially on the internet, where things said last for an eternity in cyberspace. I began to PM you, but decided I don’t even want to do that. Sorry.</p>

<p>I will say that we’re not from the northeast, where I hear of wonderful, but very expensive music camps and other summer academic opportunities.</p>

<p>Music, however, is very big in my state. Very competitive. Lots of opportunities to learn and perform. Well-organized, and well-supported, and generally well-funded. We’re lucky.</p>

<p>Is there a reason you want to know my state? Could I help you in some other way?</p>

<p>“think im going to take a college summer program at NYU,however,do you think it helps on my college app? (do you think it’s a + if i mention that i pay the tuition partly by myself?—i have a part-time job that i saved up my money to take the program)”</p>

<p>Attending such a program usually doesn’t impress colleges because usually what attendance means is that a student is fortunate enough to come from a family with enough means to pay for such a program.</p>

<p>However, your situation is different in that colleges would be impressed by the fact that you’re low income and used part of your earnings to attend that program. That demonstrates a considerable amount of motivation.</p>

<p>However, there is a good chance that if you want some academic enrichment during the summer, you can find it in some programs that are free or much lower priced than NYU’s. There probably even are some excellent free programs for low income students. </p>

<p>Also, I’m concerned that from your other posts, it seems that you are helping support yourself with your earnings. It may be more to your advantage to work full time during the summer and save your money to expand your college options. That also would impress colleges.</p>

<p>One last thing: NYU is notoriously stingy when it comes to financial aid. It may not be a school to bother to apply to because they are known for giving students as much as $15 k a year LESS than the students’ qualify for in aid.</p>

<p>i really have to disagree with a lot of people here. i attended the summer program at the University of the Arts for 2 summers during HS and then applied there my senior year. the program was run by the school and its faculty, plus students from the school helped out, so i got to ask them all kinds of questions about being there. i really got an ‘in’ with the faculty. when i walked into my audition, i felt so relaxed when i walked in and knew all of the faces in front of me. the faculty in my audition knew who i was and what i was capable of-my audition just displayed how much further i had come since the last time they saw me. i cant say for sure whether or not attending the program got me into the school (or if it had anything to do with the $10,000 they gave me) but i know i learned A LOT and made some great connections.</p>

<p>in short, IT WAS COMPLETELY WORTH IT.</p>