<p>Judging by how much it costs, the People to People program must be a very "prestigious" one...</p>
<p>mamochka: I take it that you meant that with just a tab bit of sarcasm? :)</p>
<p>Anyone else know about this program?</p>
<p>search the kid's boards....if I remember correctly, the kids who participated all spoke highly of the experience. But, it means nothing on a college app since anyone can self-apply.</p>
<p>From almost 2 years of reading here (and knowing someone who did one of their summer trips) I'll comment on People to People. It's a very legitimate organization, the kids have a blast and learn a little along the way. (Did using the word "blast" date me?) However, it's not worth much in the way of prestige or college admissions. However, if you get a part-time job to earn the money to attend because you really wanted to learn the subject matter and you could write a good essay about that, then that might help in admissions. It certainly shouldn't hurt.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you really want to go and can afford it, then go. Life shouldn't be all about how colleges will look at these things. And it's better than sitting in front of the tv or hanging out at the mall all summer. My son did one of the NYLC programs one summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. It motivated him to get involved in Model UN which was a great experience for him.</p>
<p>OK, another question. Has anyone heard of the Julian Krinsky Internship program? It's at <a href="http://www.jkcp.com/Internships/%5B/url%5D">http://www.jkcp.com/Internships/</a>. Apparently kids are put into various Mon-Fri internships in business, charities, culinary arts, law, marketing & advertising, museums & art galleries, entertainment, fashion, hospitality and hotel management, jounalism, publishing, retail & management, sports management, and veterinary medicine in the Philadelphia area. The kids get paid $175/week, and it's 3 or 6 weeks. Is the program any good?</p>
<p>Chedva, I got a brochure for that but I have no idea if it's a good program. It's apparently new this year.</p>
<p>The orint on your link was too tiny for my tired eyes. But it seemed interesting. Was it $3500 in cost, in return for a $750 stipend?</p>
<p>Yes, that's the cost for the stipend. I assume that the costs are for room & board, supervision, setting up the internship, etc. I'm not so much concerned about the cost itself; she's been to more expensive programs. I'm just wondering how legitimate it is, where the kids actually work, and what they do (if it's any more than answering phones and filing). Do they really learn things that they wouldn't learn if they just went off and tried to get a summer job?</p>
<p>Maybe you should make a phonecall, and ask these questions. It could be excellent if there was good mentoring, but if it was 'canned', and they were merely trying to fulfill what the brochure said.......</p>
<p>And also, it depends on what kind of summer job they got. Most 17-year-olds would not get to do anything important anywhere. My son spent 4 weeks making Fed-Ex packages, opening incoming mail/pkgs.,gophering. My daughter on the other hand was given a far better learning experience. And both of those opportunities were through known contacts.</p>
<p>My daughter went last summer for two weeks to the Japanese village, Mori No Ike. She had wanted to go for years but we live on the east coast and I thought it was too far. She had a wonderful time even though she spoke absolutely no Japanese. She learned an amazing amount about the culture and certainly learned quite a bit of the language. She is going back this summer for 4 weeks.
The only caution I have is that it is a bit difficult for a 'picky' eater to only eat Japanese food. But there was rice every meal and she filled up on that! And, thankfully, she had decent chop stick skills before going.
These programs fill up very early. If you don't get in this summer, keep it in mind for next year.</p>
<p>shelley, how old was your D? I looked at the site and they break them into unworkable age groups. School here starts Aug. 4 but those programs for teens last til later in August. There is one group that has no age limits mentioned and I wondered if that was for adults.</p>
<p>My d went last summer and she was between 7th and 8th grade. She did the mid June to end of June session. She actually had to miss the last few days of school here. We live in NJ and school goes till the third week or so of June. This year she is going to the 4 week high school credit program that begins the end of July. I actually wanted her to go to the earlier session but it was already booked.
I think they mix up the ages. Last summer I think the older end was13 or 14 but there were some high school kids there. She really had a terrific time.</p>
<p>As I have posted before- my oldest always did volunteer work summers and she was admitted to all colleges. She enjoyed and it was cheap!
I assumed that her sister would do similar. She is now volunteering with the same organization but recently presenters from experiment in international living programs came to her class, and she desperately wants to go on a trip next year.
It is really expensive but limited financial aid is available. I wouldn't have thought about it, without her bringing it up, but I am seriously considering it because it sounds like the kind of experience that would change her life.</p>
<p>My older daughter went to UC Davis Young Scholar's Program- about 40 students who plug into pre-existing scientific research on the campus. Most students end up working as lab slaves in projects that are on-going. I suppose it's a good introduction to science research (mainly biology, ecology, food science...it's the California ag school), and it is selective. Almost all of the participants are from California. It was my daughter's second choice after rejection from RSI, and in the end, I think she liked it better than she thought she would. Her project was independently designed (unusual for the program), and went on to win some pretty good awards for her research. My younger daughter went to the Iowa Young Writer's Workshop last year, and has applied again this year. It is also selective; they accepted less than 50% of the applicants last year. She had a great time, but wished it were longer- it's only 2 weeks. It was not very summer-camp-like; there were not tons of structured social activities. Most evenings the participants seemed to be writing or editing each other's work. Students came from all over the country.</p>
<p>I know two students who did the writing program 2 summers ago at Iowa. They both loved it and learned a lot.</p>
<p>Is the Iowa program for college students only? It was not very clear from their website.
My youngest child is a very talented writer, at age 11. Is there anywhere I can send her to further develop this skill.....she wants to.....but I would rather not start her this young.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with the Notre Dame "Global Issues" seminar?</p>
<p>chocoholic - The Iowa program is for high school students.</p>
<p>Yes, the Iowa program is for high schoolers, mostly rising juniors and seniors. When my daughter was in 6-8th grade, she attended Academic Talent Search, a program at our local state university where she studied writing (screenplay writing, humor writing, and mystery writing). I think ATS is a national program, but I'm not sure. It could also be fine to get a college student to "tutor" her- give her some instruction, some assignments, etc. If she likes writing, it'll seem like fun to her.</p>
<p>cowpernia--I asked my daughter how they handled the different ages at Concordia. She said there were three cabins for the girls, one for the little kids, one for a bit older, and one for the high school age kids. They also break into small groups according to fluency level two (or was it three?) times a day. The boys had two cabins. She had just finished freshman year of high school last year, and there were eight girls in the cabin. She had a great time and she is going back for the 4 week high school credit session this summer. We're sending her little sister for two weeks as well.</p>