<p>Hey i’m a junior right now and I’m thinking of applying to these summer programs:</p>
<li>TASP (got an invitation via mail)</li>
<li>City of Hope Research program (10 week, $4000 stipend)</li>
<li>YSP program at UC Davis</li>
<li>The Ross Program (my math teacher graduated from Ohio State)</li>
<li>YESS</li>
<li>Summer employment at JPL (I live 10 minutes away from JPL)</li>
</ol>
<p>I know TASP and YESS are prestigious but how about others? Have you done any of these aforementioned programs? Feedback appreciated thanks</p>
<p>All summer programs, even ones run by the very university you intend to apply to, are regarded as EC's and nothing more. They are not a hook to get in. Judge accordingly.</p>
<p>Georgetown openly states that its own summer programs are just a chance for kids to see the school and experience living in dorms but is NOT considered in the admissions process.</p>
<p>^that is just not true at all. TASP can indeed be a hook in that people have extremely unique experiences, can tie it into an essay, and has a 9% admissions rate making it about equally competitive with Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. Though I recognize all the programs you listed, I'm only really familiar with a few and I know that TASP, research, and YESS can be great hooks where you can learn some really interesting things.</p>
<p>
[quote]
which is more competitive MITES or SSP?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
SSP I'd say
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'd disagree. The cost of SSP is $3,750 unless you qualify for need based FA (2/3 of the participants pay full fare), while MITES completely scholarship based.</p>
<p>Disregard post #2 entirely. Ross is very different from TASP, but both are very good. Would you rather spend the summer debating issues or learning number theory inductively?</p>
<p>I wouldn't look at cost to judge how competitive a program is. I would look at what it teaches, how it accomplishes this, and what the program's goals are. It is important to note that SSP is funded entirely by its alumni, and that it budgets about $6800 per student. Off the bat, they pay half for everybody. I heard FA is rather generous. </p>
<p>Though they are both science programs, SSP and MITES are quite different in their program objectives. MITES targets minorities and is entirely scholarship based for a reason. Both aim to provide an intellectually stimulating challenge for students. While SSP focuses on a collaborative research project, MITES uses a variety of enrichment courses. I believe both are equally competitive, and certainly great programs for those interested in science. </p>
<p>Though test scores are certainly not a good way to judge competitiveness, we can still look at them as one factor. According to the MITES site, the 2008 median SAT math score was 665 and the critical reading was 600. From the program directors, I learned SSP's median math score for 2008 was about 760 and its critical reading 720. Then again, MITES receives many more applications per year. </p>
<p>@squelchy451 I don't think a summer program has to be relevant to your intended study. Though, you should do a program that focuses on something that genuinely interests you. If you're looking for prestige and competitiveness, than you are already looking at summer programs in the wrong way.</p>
<p>1.TASP (got an invitation via mail)
2.The Ross Program (my math teacher graduated from Ohio State)
2.YESS
4.City of Hope Research program (10 week, $4000 stipend)
4.YSP program at UC Davis
4.Summer employment at JPL (I live 10 minutes away from JPL)</p>
<p>
[quote]
1.TASP (got an invitation via mail)
2.The Ross Program (my math teacher graduated from Ohio State)
[/quote]
Based on my experience and talking to others, I'd cap both at equal prestige - one's humanities and one's math anyways, so it's difficult to quantify.</p>
<p>Agreed with the rest of databox's response.</p>