<p>I've been getting mail from colleges urging me to join their summer programs. I really want to go to either the Harvard summer program or the University of Pennsylvania's summer program. The problem is, I don't know if I should apply to U Penn now before it's too late to enroll, or after I hear from Harvard. Could anyone tell me which is the better program to go to? It would be even better if anyone has gone to either one.</p>
<p>I've never seen a comparison of programs. My expectation is that the program is as good as the classes you choose to take. So, if it were me, I would go to the one that has the courses you would be most interested in.</p>
<p>Sometimes courses have student reviews on colleges' web sites. If you are looking at credit courses offered to undergrads as well, you may get insight there. You can also try to find student assessments of the particular professors. I know there is an internet site for that, but I can't recall the name.</p>
<p>Sorry I can't tell you about these specific programs. My kids went to the programs at Carnegie Mellon and Brown.</p>
<p>I attended the University of Chicago's summer program, where I took an undergraduate course, which was intense yet extremely gratifying. Though I do not know what you are planning, through my knowledge of the U. of C.'s summer program, I suggest that you not take a course specifically for high school students. At the U. of C., at least, they are more work and play than a full-time commitment. I enjoyed the intensity of the college course and the company of the (mainly) college and grad students with whom I was studying. </p>
<p>Of course, if both Harvard and Penn offer equal programs in your interest, I would go with prestige: that certain school in Cambridge. But you can also and look into other college summer programs.</p>
<p>Gx - more people will see this and you are more likely to get useful info if you post to "high school life". If you have a question that is not specific to homeschooling, keep in mind that the homeschooling forum here is pretty low volume compared to the regular forums.</p>