<p>in attending one of their summer programs does that in any way increase your chances of getting in? (cosmos)
also lets say you dont’ get elc is that bad?</p>
<p>Not getting ELC is not necessarily bad. Many great students don't get ELC because in many CA public schools more than the top 4% according to the UCs measures are worthy of admittance to even the top UCs. UCs try to look at your circumstances in a broad sense, but if you had generally good circumstances and do not have the things that make one ELC (difficult classes, good grades, etc), you will need other parts of your application to make up for it. Having ELC just guarantees you a spot at a UC, UC Merced. Having all the things that make one ELC and not being ELC is basically the same thing as being ELC, and that's what matters.</p>
<p>Summer programs generally look better than doing nothing all summer, but are they the best way to spend your time? Not necessarily. Many people get a job, volunteer, take summer classes, or do many other things. Say you take college classes at a summer program, and do well, that's good, shows academic ability and intellectual interest. That would be good. Say you just go to a camp-like summer program for the whole summer. Unless you're volunteering or gaining some experience about which you will write an essay, it probably won't help you dirrectly in the college admissions process. Does that mean it isn't worthwhile? Most certainly not.</p>
<p>I did COSMOS, I wouldn't do it for the sole reason of trying to get into a UC but if you enjoy science and/or math it's a great camp at a pretty reasonable price.</p>
<p>Acrtually the last 3 summers frosh -jr year i took the extra classes, did the volunteering etc .... I was just wondering would it look bad that the past 3 summers i've been doing all these other things and then just decide to take a summer program, which i'm not even paying for.</p>