<p>I'm a HS freshman (I know I know I shouldn't be here!) and am looking at summer programs.
This year, I am scheduled to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in LA. But my real question is about next summer. I am thinking about applying to COSMOS and Harvard Summer School. But my parents think that research at the local CSU (it's a really good engineering school) would be stronger. I am hoping to apply to Guaranteed Admission Med programs, like HPME at Northwestern, REMS at U of Rochester, and PPSP at Casewestern. So I guess what I'm asking is which (summer school at university or CSU research) would look better on an attempt to get into one of the aforementioned programs?</p>
<p>Your parents are right.</p>
<p>A research program is significantly better.</p>
<p>Please please please PLEASE don’t do something with just the intention of using towards college applications. It really isn’t worth it in the end. Find our passion and excel on that frontier and let your application gleam with accolades from that one passion. If you really just want to pad an application, that’s your prerogative. </p>
<p>I’ll just leave you with some food for though. Do you want to be in a college because you connived and maneuvered your way in, or d you want to be in a college because you did what you loved and the college loved you for your intrinsic properties?</p>
<p>Goodluck!</p>
<p>forgive the typos I’m in a hurry.</p>
<p>I’d like some more opinions, but thanks Bubbles. I’ll take that into consideration. And Fascist, it’s not just for apps. I actually do want to attend the forum and go to harvard summer school. It’s something I actually want to do. Please don’t assume that it’s just for my application.</p>
<p>Also, it’s probably worth mentioning that I would spend my summer after junior year doing research as I’ll be staying home. So 2 years of research or 1+two months of university summer classes, earning undergrad credits?</p>
<p>FYI, Harvard summer school does not help on an application. But it’s a great way to spend a summer! (I think, I’ve never done any of those types of programs lol)</p>
<p>Alternatively, may I suggest the Summer Science Program? :)</p>
<p>Research. Shows initiative and the ability to work outside of a classroom setting.</p>