Summer school and college admissions

Applying to College
1

<p>Summer school...what is its effect on college admissions? This is urgent because summer school enrollment forms are due in a week!</p>

<p>Basically I have a dilemma this summer.</p>

<p>PROS of going to summer school
- I was hoping colleges would look favorably upon it; I was thinking it would prove to admissions counselors that my academic pursuits go beyond the normal school year.
- I could say that I took "this many" courses over my high school career.
- The course I'm taking is at a community college, so I guess it would show colleges that I'm ready to handle the college workload/work style?</p>

<p>CONS of going to summer school
- I have a lot going on this summer. Leadership conferences, summer debate & speaking camps, community service, prepping for fall sports, driver's ed, personal businesses I'm running... and I think summer school would really conflict with that.
- I WANT TO RELAX. People tell me I shouldn't burn out. Next year (junior year) I have all AP's and Honors courses...and I kind of want that break...But if summer school would really help me I'm willing to make that smart sacrifice that will benefit me long-term.</p>

<p>How much of an effect will enrolling in summer school have when application time comes around? Some of the schools I'm looking at are Berkeley, Stanford, and Cornell (because these schools have good programs fit for my major and I like the environments at these). Did you guys take summer school and how it did it affect your admissions?</p>

2

<p>I doubt that enrolling in summer school will give you much of an edge. Even here in competive CC land, I don't read about many kids taking summer school classes. Schools want to see that you have done something over the summer that is meaningful to you and that you haven't spend your entire summer in front of the TV. It looks like you have a pretty full plate already. I wouldn't worry about taking classes unless it is something you really want to do.</p>

3

<p>any tom, dick and harry could get into the summer school, so it's not gonna give you much of an edge. do whatever it is you want to do and make it an enriching summer, it's gonna be worth much more than a summer school attendance. all your activities make you an extremely attractive candidate for any of the schools you mentioned, and they should want you regardless.</p>