<p>Summer programs are typically $2,000 and up and last a week. There is no way they can deny or accept students to a college based on whether they've done one of these or not. Yes, going to the Brown summer program and then applying will show interest. But it's not going to be your golden ticket in or your magic bullet to the Ivy Leagues. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER. Do things you enjoy, work at least part-time to make some money, volunteer, see movies, go to parties. Colleges don't have a moratorium on amusement. After this, guys, it's four years of intense schooling and then work. Be a kid, not a robot! I'm all for self-improvement. But does anyone think a week in New Zealand "studying culture and international relations" gives you "leadership skills" and "global perspective?"</p>
<p>I can't speak for everyone, but I didn't go to my summer program, which just happened to be academic, for colleges. I went there because they offer classes that my school didn't and the teachers and kids were very bright. After my first year there I started going back because I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I had a lot of friends there. Camp was the most enoyable part of my summer. As much of a shocker as it might be, some kids enjoy learning and have other motives to go to summer programs than just colleges.</p>
<p>sugerkim, what camp did you attend?</p>
<p>Also, a lot of them are F-R-E-E. Which is great.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, yougotjohn, and i agree that people should do things they genuinely enjoy instead of trying to impress colleges. but i think a lot of people (myself included) are interested in summer programs for the same reason as sugerkim... it can be a lot of fun to try out something new and learn something that you couldn't learn otherwise. (and it's even more fun when it's free. :))</p>
<p>yes, the people who do summer programs because they think that it will get them into harvard are misguided at best. that is completely missing the point. everyone ive met at summer programs were doing it for reasons like sugerkim's or because they just generally loved learning or wanted the chance to experience life away from home, or any reason besides the improving college chances reason.</p>
<p>there are some wonderful summer programs out there that offer a much more stimulating intellectual experience than most high schools. If you want time to "relax and be a kid", keep summer programs and skip school.</p>
<p>The free ones usually seem to be more prestigious,which makes sense, b/c they need a reason to pay you to go. But I totally disagree that summer programs can't help you. Counterexamples: RSI, MO(S)P, etc.</p>
<p>Jonathan I went to the Rocky Mountain Talent Search at the University of Denver</p>
<p>
[quote]
I totally disagree that summer programs can't help you. Counterexamples: RSI, MO(S)P, etc.
[/quote]
cause and effect are unclear, since programs like that are so difficult to qualify for. Do people who attend those programs get accepted to great colleges because of the programs, or are they accepted to both the programs and to great colleges because they are so well qualified?</p>
<p>some of them are actually fun though...its just like a camp</p>
<p>My daughter went to CTY and loved it. In fact she begged to go back this year because it was so much fun. It's only three weeks out of a nine week summer break. She'll also spend time with her family, hang out with her friends, go to the beach, and travel. Hardly a robot.</p>
<p>Counterarguement: The people who would only take a summer course for how it looks on their college apps are already robots who have no sense of perspective and reality anyway. </p>
<p>I am taking a program at Columbia, and took one last year, because I love Biology, I love New York, and figured I'd meet people with similar interests. I was right - and had one of the best summers of my life, made amazing friends that I still keep in touch with, learned way more than I did in the Bio class offered at my school, and had a ridiculous amount of fun outside of class, roaming the city - much more fun than I would have had at home, sleeping until 12, then loafing in my pajamas and watching reruns of The Golden Girls until hunger drives me outdoors. </p>
<p>The program I'm going to lasts 4 weeks - and I only have class 4 days a week. Plenty of time for a life. And the time spent in class is because I want to be there, because it's something I have interest in. I think summer programs can be a great supplement to learning during the year for those who like to learn, and can also be a lot of fun - if taken for the right reasons.</p>
<p>I really like beckeee's point - "The people who would only take a summer course for how it looks on their college apps are already robots who have no sense of perspective and reality anyway."</p>
<p>I went to an arts summer program (four weeks), and it changed my entire perspective on life. It was the most valuable experience I've had so far. I studied my art from 8:30 AM - 5 PM, and most nights we had informances, performances, or master classes, usually about an hour. If you had a free night, you were probably developing your art skills by yourself, colloborating with other artists, or simply getting to know the artists around you. I could care less about what colleges think of this program, because in the end, I'm the one who benefited the most anyways.</p>
<p>You guys are definitely not being idealistic at all. Not even a little....</p>
<p>summer programs are so much fun! you wouldn't do them if you didn't like what you were learning. it's not like regular school. you choose topics you like. I'm going to Columbia this summer and I'm taking advanced creative writing. I love writing.</p>
<p>if you enjoy what you do, you'll never have to work a day in your life. ;)</p>
<p>I did summer programs in high school and I wound up at a great school.</p>
<p>You know-- there might be more rewarding ways to spend a summer, but I will tell you that four years removed from some of these programs, and I'm still close with my best friends. At least for me, these programs only took 3-5 weeks out of my summer, which still allowed me plenty of time to vacation with my family, to hang out at home with my friends, etc. But these programs were never back breaking labor (even summer courses at Yale) and at these programs I could still see movies, explore a new area, party with new friends, etc. etc. etc. </p>
<p>I don't regret spending money for these programs. I was able to meet wonderful people and experience life on my own-- perhaps the best preparation to life in a dorm.</p>
<p>[to: yougotjohn]
I'm not sure what summer programs you're referring to that costs $2000 for a single week. But most of the better known programs will be anywhere from 3 weeks (MOSP) to 6 weeks (YSP). In addition, as theRGS pointed out, these kind of programs are free (MOSP, YSP, RSI, etc.) except for the plane ticket there, which is irrelevant in exchange for everything you will learn and all the new friends you will make.</p>
<p>[to: Texas137]
You make a very good point. I would think that there is definitely a correlation between prestigious summer programs and college acceptance, but correlation does not necessarily imply causation. The fact is, if you are able to qualify for programs like RSI, MOSP, and TASP, then you are already talented enough to be accepted into a top-notch university. However, the reverse may be true as well: being accepted can imply that you are talented and qualified for a top-notch university. Look at the statistics, very few people who qualified for those three camps didn't get into a top 20 university (mostly top 10). I'm sure many of you can recite incidences of contradiction, "Oh I've heard so-and-so made RSI but was rejected from MIT." Nevertheless these stories are still rare and they're so well-known because it's such a shock that they didn't make it.</p>
<p>[to: yougotjohn and beckee]
It's unfair to assume that people attend summer camps merely because they want it on their application. I doubt very many people would attend a program they absolutely hated just because it would "look good". Those who have invested so much time to qualify them for RSI, MOSP, or TASP must really enjoy what they do and typically you are only able to qualify for RSI or MOSP if you have devoted most of your life to the sciences or olympiad mathematics, respectively. I'll quote someone from another thread when I say that people want to go to these "prestigious" camps because they offer the greatest opportunities for them to do research, attend classes, and generally experiencing life at a summer program first-hand while also gaining some college credits/hooks along the way, and it will not necessarily mean they are soul-less "robots" who only care about going to college.</p>
<p>[to: MomOFour]
You're absolutely right. Just because the program is academically focused doesn't mean that it's soul-less. CTY is one example of a great program where a student is able to have fun and still get some college recognition.</p>
<p>Did you read what I wrote? 0_o I attended summer programs. I am all for summer programs. I was simply rebuking the idea that those who go to summer programs do it because they think it is what colleges want. </p>
<p>Try rereading what I said.</p>
<p>Summer programs are just fun... for the most part they won't help you to get into college, but they don't hurt either. I went to a program on forensic science and it was just a ton of fun. I learned a lot about forensics and I would go again in a heart beat, but I doubt it helped to get into college</p>