<p>In one of my scholarship applications online, there is a page devoted entirely to these "Educational Programs" in which I'm supposed to have participated.</p>
<p>"List below any special educational programs or activities in which you have participated. Examples include: Governor's School (list major), summer enrichment programs, academic internships, study abroad programs, etc."</p>
<p>Uhhhm. I have [unfortunately, I suppose] never participated in any of these "special educational programs," or at least if I have, I don't identify the activity with being an educational program, and therefore, I can't think of it to type in the blank.</p>
<p>Would it be oh-so-terrible if I leave this whole thing blank? If terrible, at least it would be honest. I really have nothing to put on this page, as far as I can tell anyway.</p>
<p>Haha, I’m leaving it blank on the apps that include it, but (and this is even worse) my awards section is also always severely lacking. I don’t think it matters much though if you leave it blank, never heard of “educational programs” being mentioned very often as “things colleges look out for.”</p>
<p>Oh, lol, my awards/recognition or whatever section is always fine, but yeah.. educational programs? Who does those? Bah. Yeah, I’ll prolly leave it blank [and I say that as if I have a choice? Lol, because there is literally NOTHING to put in that section]. BUT isn’t this bad though, because it’s for a scholarship, not just for admission? Urgh.</p>
<p>Most of these programs are available if you have the money. That being said, if you truly enjoyed a summer program (doesn’t have to be RSI) but questioned the educational value of it, put it down. How could it hurt you? At the very least, it’ll show your interest in a few areas and prove that not everything you do has to be college app fodder.</p>
<p>Mmm. The most frustrating thing is when I tell my friends / people on here that I’m listing two summer college programs on my CommonApp as ECs because I really enjoyed them. Everyone’s reaction is, “Well, that doesn’t say anything about you but that you can afford them.”</p>
<p>YEAH I KNOW. Also maybe the fact that I LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME OVER THE SUMMER LEARNING IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT?! And that I grew as a person by experiencing, for the first time, living alone and managing a college workload?! FINE I WON’T MENTION THAT IF IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A SPOILED SUBURBAN BRAT. :(</p>
<p>Everyone’s reaction is, “Well, that doesn’t say anything about you but that you can afford them.”</p>
<p>It says that you actually like learning and stuff if you do one that is academic and challenging. Some summer programs are mainly for socialization lol.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think of summers as non-learning time, because I have too much stuff to do during the school year and kind of want summers to be lazy, hazy, crazy, etc</p>