Summer Program, or Work Experience?

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I still cant decide if I should go to a Summer Program at Cornell/Exeter, or work at one of the family-owned factories for polystyrene plastics/industrial shelving units.</p>

<p>Im currently a Junior, with a tarnished grade 9 (which didn't count as high school in Alberta...will they count it in your GPA?), not bad sophomore year, and a promising Junior year (97.95% before exams, most likely LESS afterward). </p>

<p>I'm REALLY interested in Industrial Engineering, and believe that this volunteer experience will help me explore the field (of course, limited to manufacturing operations) and really understand the value of money (even though im not going to be paid! :D). I'm estimating a 9 hour work day for the entire summer (minus Fridays, recognized weekly holiday by the factory), so we are looking at 250+ Hours (too lazy to calculate right now)</p>

<p>At the same time, Cornell also offers an Introductory Program to Engineering which looks very well rounded. I was also interested in the program offered by Harvard and MIT, but the programs start before the summer break, and since the Ministry of Education doesnt allow exams to be taken earlier, I cant go</p>

<p>Seeing my current situation (as an International Student from Saudi Arabia), should I go to Cornell's Summer College, or do volunteer work at the factory?</p>

2

<p>nine hours a day for “volunteer” work? That is pretty strenuos, it seems the factory is trying to just get some free labor out of you.</p>

<p>I would go to the summer program. I did a summer program and it was an amazing experience. i learned a lot, not just about the subjects at hand but really about being independent and living on my own. You have the rest of your life to work, do the summer program.</p>