<p>Hey guys,
Recently a lot of my peers have been/will attend(ing) summer programs hosted by colleges. I have noticed that they are very costly, but the courses count as college credit. I have also heard that the colleges will accept anyone who can pay the fees, so it is not as selective as it seems. Is that true? I am particularly interested in applying to UCLA's Nanoscience Lab and University of Chicago's Summer Sessions (either Research in the Biological Sciences or Undergraduate Course Offerings) for next year, but I am not sure if they are worth the money.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
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<p>I assume they’re a little selective, but definitely not as much as free programs tend to be. Probably because there are fewer applicants because most people can’t pay the fees. But it obviously varies depending on the program. </p>
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<p>I would say they’re not. When you get into college, you’ll be able to do this kind of thing all the time for free or with a stipend. If you’re just concerned with college admissions, they’re probably not going to be very impressed with these programs because they mostly just show that you’re rich. (Of course, if you’re applying to a college that isn’t need-blind, being rich could help you.) There are plenty of free or low-cost programs out there, and there are other local things you can do during the summer like getting a job.</p>