<p>Has anyone been to or sent their kids to a UCSD Summer Program for High School Students called “Academic Connections”?</p>
<p>I would be interested in the courses you took and how you liked the program.</p>
<p>I have exactly the same question,..., any information is really appreciated.</p>
<p>Kcpdmp -
Have you decided to go or not?</p>
<p>I'm the Mom and my daughter is signed up for the residential program and taking this course "Introduction to Critical Thinking and Research through Pop Culture".
I didn't really get feedback from anyone, it just worked out for us to have her attend this program rather than another summer program.</p>
<p>Great, My D is 9th grade and we are think about the same program... critical thinking. However, have not get teacher recommand letter yet. Is it hard to get in to? Where are U. I am in S ca.</p>
<p>My daughter is in 11th. Her counselor wrote the recommendation and she was accepted, so I'm not sure if it is hard to get in or not. We live in El Cajon, so she can get a taste of dorm life before we commit to sending her away for 4 years.</p>
<p>My son attended Academic Connections three years ago and took game theory; my daughter attended last summer and took genetics. Both went the summer before their senior year. </p>
<p>In my son's case, it helped him refine his ideas of what he wanted in a college and in dorm life. He made a lot of friends and had a great time. He is now finishing his second year at Cal, but was also accepted to UCSD and several other UCs. </p>
<p>My daughter will attend UCSD in the fall as a freshman majoring in biochemistry and cell biology. She had a wonderful time last summer, liked UCSD very much and likes the community and the beach as well. She has kept in touch with her roommate since then. She and her classmates were able to learn a lot from the grad student who taught their class, and had a chance to see the research laboratories and visited one of the companies in the area whose work is in her field of interest. She was also accepted to other UCs.</p>
<p>I think it is very useful for kids to have a chance to live the life of a college student for a few weeks and to get used to doing their own laundry, keeping their own schedule, etc within the supervisory framework Academic Connections provides. I also think that demonstrating participation in a program like this is helpful on a college application. I recommend it highly.</p>
<p>My high-school freshman daughter can't wait to go to Academic Connections as well, but we will wait at least one more year before sending her as she is a young freshman. There were a few rising sophomores each year my kids attended.</p>
<p>Rosieo-</p>
<p>Thank u for the feed back. For your S and D going to the smae program, it must be pretty good. We have not turn in the application form yet... got hurry. I know is getting late. Not only from the academic, I hope my d can also learn some time management skill. However, do you think is it too young for my D to go? she is going to be 15 next month.</p>
<p>Schinagus - it depends on the maturity of your daughter. My daughter at 14.5 is too young to go, but my older daughter at the same age would probably have been OK. I should think you will need to turn in the application form soon though, some of the popular classes fill quickly.</p>
<p>My D made it... so happy. She will take the Critical thinking classes, too.Question, should we take the grade (a.b.c.d) or choose passing? What is the difference? Is the class count as high school credit?</p>
<p>My D made it, very happy. She will take the Critical thinking class. quesiton, should me choose the grade system or passing system. what is the difference? Does this class count as high school credit? Thank you.</p>
<p>I think I read that it only counts as continuing education credit and not for high school. I signed my daughter up for a grade, not just pass/fail.
They may give everybody a grade and that choice was just on the web page because you were registering with the normal UCSD extension web site.</p>
<p>Just went to the web site and here is what it says in the FAQ:</p>
<p>I get college credit for Academic Connections attendance?
Each student that completes the program will be given a Certificate of Participation and can earn six units of UCSD Extension credit. An official transcript is mailed to each student at the end of the program. Although most colleges will accept appropriate UCSD Extension credits, the decision to accept the transfer of credits rests solely with the college you attend.</p>
<p>Kcpdmp - thank you so much for the info.., since your d is going too, our d will even in the same class, maybe we can exchange the note afterword.</p>
<p>Is Academic Connection at UCSD still living up to its reputation as it was in 2006? Which is better-- COSMO (California State Summer Program for High School Students) or Academic Connection? Thank you for your response.</p>
<p>hello “shjnwc,” i am applying to cosmos and academic connections this year. people have told me that COSMOS is getting harder to get in-- perhaps it is more respected. however, if you applied to the research scholar’s program, it will definately help your college apps. if you didn’t its still okay, because it is very hard to get into. if i had a choice, i would probaby go to ucsd, because of what others were saying about how it might help with college applications. but, if your grades are decent, and your personal statement is strong, it shouldn’t matter becuase other peopel have gotten into top UC’s without summer camps.</p>
<p>my daughter got into both cosmos and academic connections. now we have to decide which one will benefit her more. i heard that cosmos gives “points” on the uc application but academic connections doesn’t. does anyone know about that???</p>
<p>Academic Connections does offer credit and COSMOS does not at this time. Both are excellent programs.</p>
<p>I attended COSMOS at UC Irvine this past summer. From what I heard, the coordinator did indeed say that you get UC “points” that will help you on the application.</p>
<p>Are there different requirements for the Scholars Program and Studies Program? One part of the website says that the Scholars Program only accepts 10th and 11th graders, but in the FAQ’s, it says that 9th-12th graders are eligible for both programs. Which requirement is correct?</p>
<p>@kangroos</p>
<p>I emailed them recently and they said only 10th and 11th graders can apply to the Scholars program.</p>