<p>My HS Junior keeps getting invited to summer programs at the Ivy schools....some as expensive as $2,300 for one week, not including airfare. Has anyone done any of these? Are they worth the money?</p>
<p>I would kill to go to one of these, but I don’t have $6,000 lying around. If I did, I would go to the Boston University summer program.</p>
<p>I don’t think they’re that worth it. It would look a lot better to colleges to get a good job or internship - and much less expensive at that!</p>
<p>I’ve known students who did this, and have seen students post about the programs. Their reviews have been good. However, if your reason in wanting to go is because you hope they’d give you a leg up into an Ivy, don’t bother. The programs basically are money making ventures for the colleges, not factors in admission.</p>
<p>I did Harvard SSP. The good things are you get to advance by taking college level classes in the summer and it really develops your study skills…</p>
<p>It is EXTREMELY expensive… I’m not really sure if it’s even worth it now that I look back. Plus for admissions is that it shows that you have initiative, but as northstarmom said, you won’t be given a leg up for admissions into a top ranked school since not everyone can afford these summer programs even if they wanted to… so it caters to a specific socioeconomic group that can afford it…</p>
<p>Good experience, time well spent, but expensive even if you live in Cambridge and commute to classes like i did 
Dorm and housing fees are $$$</p>