<p>I'm a sophomore and I'm looking for something to do during the summer. I'm interested in doing a summer program like TASS. Are there any other programs like TASS that may appeal to Harvard?</p>
<p>You’re going down the wrong path. The fact that you’re doing anything specifically that “is appealing to Harvard” signifies as much.</p>
<p>Read the following (your question is answered in paragraph 5)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9366944-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9366944-post1.html</a></p>
<p>But the answer is: do anything that sates your curiosity.</p>
<p>I think that Harvard and many other excellent schools would like TASS. I think that the most important thing is to do well in whatever activity you decide to do. Students get in to Harvard and not in to other top schools every year, and vice-versa of course. Ie there is a LOT of randomness, like spinning a lucky wheel. So when you apply, you have to have your heart set on a range of Schools. The broader the range, the better your chances of success. 7% of amazingly qualified people is a great figure to remember for Harvard. I believe that if Harvard rejected their top 7 percent and took their second 7 percent, the difference would be barely perceptible.</p>
<p>you definitely should enjoy what you decide to do this summer. We only get so many summers to enjoy. That includes Tass. the Harvard SSP looks like a lot of fun although the cost is high. The dorm student summer proctors were unbelievably friendly. but it is 10000 bucks US.</p>
<p>Harvard is looking for students who pursue what they love – both during the school year (after school) and during their summer break. Many students make the mistake of thinking programs such as TASS and SSP will increase their chances of acceptance. They won’t! Sign-up for a summer program because it interests you, because you are passionate about the subject matter – otherwise, it’s a waste of your time and money.</p>
<p>there is nothing wrong with asking what Harvard might like. it shows that you have direction. anything constructive and challenging will help your chance of getting in to Harvard or other top schools. Having said that, in general it will help you a very small amount in the context of your overall achievements, grades, focus, awards, ecs, etc. It would not help disproportionately. Kind of like getting 20 tickets to a lottery instead of 19. Every ticket helps but generally still good to think of Harvard as a bit of a 7% chance lottery (if you meet the general criteria for the school). Don’t be discouraged. I paraphrase AdCom of MIT - work hard, do what you enjoy, be nice to other people and you have done all that you can really do.</p>
<p>bbccpp, thanks for including the “be nice to other people.” Sometimes, that is the piece that is forgotten. Good luck, Rexa, and don’t hang all your hopes on one college. Spread them out over ten or so.</p>
<p>I made sandwiches and brewed coffee for minimum wage and got into Harvard. I also did that consistently for three years in high school. Harvard recognizes that not everyone has the means, financial or otherwise, to attend fancy summer programs.</p>
<p>^agree with above posters</p>
<p>bbccpp, the point is that, ideally, as a student one is pursuing activities and opportunities because one finds them inherently interesting, not because they are means to an end. I would argue that the “If I do X, will it make me attractive to Harvard?” mindset is what Harvard is NOT seeking. Passion for learning, out of the box thinking, love of a subject or subjects – that’s what it is all about, not “will this be on the midterm?”</p>
<p>You are on the right track with the MIT “apply sideways” post. :-)</p>
<p>bbccpp, you misunderstand. The point that everyone here makes is that you do what you love and that in itself matters much more than the college acceptance. What the adcom thinks should hardly matter- if a particular college picks you for who you are, great; if not, molding what you like for the sake of getting into that college will only make you miserable once you’re there. If you don’t enjoy the volunteering, the activities, the classes, how can you stand being a school where these are the very things that everyone else around talks about 24/7?</p>
<p>Too many of the posts on this board are so puzzling. Why do people seem to think that Harvard is some kind of happy end in itself? It may be a lottery but what did people think is the reward? The work? The classes? The giant puddles of slush that you have to hop through to get from building to building? </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I love the school very much, but sometimes I’m just genuinely curious.</p>
<p>For summer programs, there’s RSI and MITES for science/research. (but no idea if they’re “appealing to Harvard”)</p>
<p>@xrCalico23</p>
<p>That really is an excellent point that I always mean to make in a chance thread.</p>
<p>Getting into College X is just the first step. The next (many) steps are being there for four years, learning a lot, having some fun and developing as a person.</p>
<p>So for example, yes it is possible that Top College X could accept someone who has a low GPA or low SAT score or few meaningful ECs because of some hook. But what does that matter if that person is a fish out of water at that college?</p>
<p>i notice that the OP young students fairly often disappear from threads. It is ashame because there is a ton of really good advice from adults on this and other threads. I think that the information however is often being ‘framed’ for the students in an abrupt or condescending manner. Who wants to spend time on a forum if it is not enjoyable? These kids are already stressed out enough at home and at school. Not directing at anyone in particular but I think it is evident in some of the posts here.<br>
End of rant…</p>
<p>Some mathy/science-y programs:
-PROMYS (math)
-Ross (math)
-AwesomeMath (math)
-HCSSiM (math)
-WTP (engineering; for females)
-Stonybrook internship (research)
-MathCamp (math)
-RSI (research)
-SSP (astronomy)
-Clark Scholars (research)
-Garcia Scholars (research)
-SUMaC (math)
-SIMR (research)</p>
<p>etc., etc.</p>
<p>^haha nice name. As an SSP alum, I can say that it was the best experience of my life. So do consider that!!!</p>
<p>^ohthx
As a PROMYS alum, I highly recommend you consider applying to PROMYS(: Not only do you learn to see math in a whole new way, but you meet a ton of awesome people and have a great time pwning RSI at the ultimate Frisbee tournament~</p>
<p>Well, bbccpp, the point that we adults keep trying to make is that the stress and worry is counterproductive. And we keep making it because we hope that, just maybe, someone will pick up on the message. Why I would think that when my own children routinely ignore me is another question altogether.</p>
<p>But the issue is important enough to me that I will keep repeating it. Why go through life making decisions based on what one thinks some other entity – parents, colleges, potential lovers, random bystanders – will like? In the long run, that only will create misery, frustration and resentment. I think most people would be happier doing what they love and accepting themselves as they are.</p>
<p>Look, I’ve interviewed a lot of applicants. The majority of them, when I ask “Why Harvard?” say “Because it’s Harvard!” or “Because it’s the best!” The former is no reason at all, and the latter is not even necessarily true. You will not be happier, you will not suddenly become better-looking, if you attend Harvard instead of some other very-good-but-not-world-famous school. </p>
<p>You (hypothetical “you,” here) will be happiest at a school that is a good fit for you. You will be happiest spending your summers and your free time going after those things that matter to you. Do what you love, be who you are and not what you think someone else expects you to be. If the thought of math camp leaves you sleepless with excitement, go for it. If however, you really would rather be writing a play, why not do that, instead?</p>
<p>ridethewave, i agree with everything you say. I want my DS to be relaxed, happy, content first and then any degree of success he can have after that is icing on the cake. I think there is a great deal of detachment harbored by the technology age. I feel worried for some of these kids.</p>
<p>By the way I can speak from personal experience that by no means does Lehigh make one better looking either.</p>