<p>How hard is it to get into the columbia sumer programs? I will have like a 3.8-3.9 average by the time I apply, maybe higher, so I was wondering could I get in? Or could I get into the Harvard SSP programs? I am in 10th grade right now.</p>
<p>yeah im a sophmore too and i was wondering the same thing...is it really hard to get into these programs? how do they look on college apps?</p>
<p>no, not at all. almost everyone i no who applied got accepted</p>
<p>It depends on which class you are looking to take. Some classes have 40+ people, whereas others (like the Master Class in Poetry, which I was in) have less than ten. In the smaller areas, people do get rejected. But it's a great time, you should definitely try!</p>
<p>It depends on the program. Some programs(such as Cornell's summer program) are not that hard to get into, but are judged on the grades you get in your classes. Thus, if you earn an A+ in the classes you took in a summer program similar to Cornell's, then yes, that will look good to Columbia.</p>
<p>Then, on the other hand, you have programs like RSI(at MIT) which are extremely competitive to get into(moreso than undergrad at MIT, which is pretty fierce competition as it is), and look very nice to have on your resume.</p>
<p>As for Columbia's summer programs, I'm not too familiar with them, but to my understanding, you take undergraduate classes during the summer semester, which I would put on par with Cornell's program. Not hard to get in, not very impressive(relatively speaking, compared to RSI) unless you do amazingly well and get great recommendations.</p>
<p>Harvard SSP is easy to get into</p>
<p>As far as how the programs reflect on your application, I spoke to a senior admissions officer about them and she stressed that you do what you WANT to be doing during the summer, not what you think Columbia wants you to be doing.</p>
<p>Obviously, if you're choosing to take college courses and live on a university campus during your free time, that can weigh positively on your app
But also, if you choose to work at an inner-city homeless shelter in your town, that can weigh positively on your app as well</p>
<p>Basically, do what you want to spend your time doing and enjoy it, rather than preoccupy yourself with the image that your choices will make (advice from both myself and the Columbia adcom)</p>