<p>I am interested in attending a top tier college, and as a current high school junior, I am curious which programs will be the most beneficial in the admissions process. I am mainly looking at summer programs, but if any programs during the school year are also helpful, please let me know.</p>
<p>The two I am currently looking at are the Bank of America Student Leaders Program and Northwestern's Summer College program where I could earn college credit. Is there a way I can do both of those?</p>
<p>How do those two programs compare with other programs and each other? What other programs are good to look into?</p>
<p>You should pick the one that is of most interest to YOU. There is no way to second guess the colleges on what they think will be “most beneficial” as far as summer programs and admissions. </p>
<p>One would think that if you earn college credit that would be better, but that is hard to say…and if it’s a program you are ONLY attending to pad your admissions resume, don’t do it.</p>
<p>I kind of see where the OP is coming from. I am applying to 3 summer programs, including 2 paid internship programs. I really dont care which one I go to myself, I wouldnt be applying to them to begin with if I didnt think they would be rewarding and awesome. So at that point it DOES become an issue of “which would colleges prefer”</p>
<p>@thumper1-I agree that it shouldn’t be about college admissions, but it’s not like I hate one program and like the other. Both sounds great, and I was just curious if one was a better choice. But I do completely understand where you are coming from.</p>
<p>@bzva74- agreed! which paid internships are you applying to?</p>
<p>Bank of America Student Leaders and where I live there is a local program that matches kids with hospitals, law offices, business consultants, school systems, etc
It’s a paid internship for any field.
BoA pays a bit better, but it’s more selective.</p>
<p>As a general rule, the only programs that will impress adcoms are free or nearly free. TASP, RSI, Governor’s Schools (only offered in some states), or a mission trip/study abroad that you raised money for yourself. </p>
<p>Many programs sound prestigious but are really pay-to-play; if you can write the check, you’re accepted. This is not to downgrade the value of these programs–certainly, many people go to places like Harvard SSP or Columbia Summer Programs and enjoy their time. But those programs are unlikely to impress adcoms. If you don’t have the money and/or your only motivation is getting into college, don’t go. </p>
<p>(There are some exceptions to this “only free programs are prestigious rule.” For music, Interlochen and Tanglewood, while expensive, are well-respected programs with competitive admissions. For writing, UVa, Kenyon, Sewanee, and Iowa cost money but are known to be excellent programs. I’m sure there are others as well.)</p>
<p>@glassesarechic- I’ve heard a lot about TASP, can you explain a little about it? And is it that great of a program? Also, how do you know which states have governors schools?</p>
<p>@glassesarechic- haha except I did that, but there’s only so much you can get from google. I mean of course the official website will say it is good, but I was wondering if you had first hand experience, knew about acceptanc into the program, or how it helps in admissions?</p>
<p>Search for it on CC forums.
It’s great. But only do it if you are ready to write 6 essays for a program which you only have a 5% chance of making it into.</p>
<p>Agree with thumper (post #2): do something you’re really interested in. It doesn’t need to be an expensive college summer program. An interesting summer job (if you can find one), an intensive summer experience in a favorite EC, or throwing yourself into a community service project will be just as significant to college adcoms as spending thousands of dollars to study on a college campus. Not that there’s anything wrong with studying on a college campus, if there’s something you really want to study and you can afford it. But you shouldn’t do any of things on the theory that it will impress college adcoms, because it won’t. They want to see that you’re a real person with real interests and “passions,” not just a manufactured resume; and the way you show that is by making a serious investment of time and effort in the things you’re really interested in. </p>
<p>Some HS students (and their parents) make the mistake of thinking that attending a summer program at a prestigious college will somehow boost their credentials at college admissions time. It probably won’t. Most of these programs are not selective; anyone can buy their way in. These programs benefit the colleges that sponsor them in several ways: they bring in a little extra summer revenue, they create teaching opportunities for their graduate students (notice that in many such programs, most of the courses are taught by grad students, not faculty, though some may also operate as a summer income supplement for participating faculty), and they promote the sponsoring college among HS students. Attending such a program doesn’t say anything about your academic qualifications. It shows adcoms you have money; but they have other ways of knowing that. It MAY underscore your interest in a particular area of study, if you go for something you’re genuinely interested in and you also demonstrate that interest in other ways. But there are other, equally effective, and less expensive ways to accomplish that.</p>
<p>Don’t be concerned with prestige! If you’re the type of kid who’s got great grades and is applying to Ivies, Bank of America versus NW won’t make one iota of difference. What’s really important is what YOU learn from it. I attended a six week pharmacy research program this past summer, which is by no means prestigious. But that’s not the point: I got several things out of it: A nice savings, hands on experience in the lab, an academic perspective on the pharm industry, and (very important) amazing essay material for my apps. Just based on what I researched, and learned there, I was able to write my entire common app, and I spent a good 20 minutes talking about it during my alum interview. So really, just pick the one you will enjoy the most, and make sure you get what you apply for!</p>
<p>Apply widely and wait to see what you get into. The admit rate for programs like BofA and TASP is lower than for just about any college. Think outside the box! Call organizations that sound interesting and ask if they offer (unpaid) summer internships. Have your parents ask their friends. Ask your teachers. </p>
<p>My high school senior daughter did an Earthwatch Student fellowship last summer (application deadline was late October, otherwise I’d recommend it) and then rustled herself up a great internship with a local public policy organization. The programs look great on her resume, but what was more important in terms of college applications was that they gave her something unique and meaty to write about in her essays.</p>
<p>I feel some days as if I just wander around the CC boards agreeing with thumper, but I would urge you not to focus too much on finding the key that will unlock the ivy-covered door. </p>
<p>When I was an interviewer for my Ivy college, I hated the impression I often got that applicants had spent high school doing nothing but staging themselves for college. I still have in my filing cabinet a copy of the write up that concluded, “I came away from this interview feeling I’d seen so much packaging that I never got to meet the real [name of unsuccessful applicant redacted].”</p>
<p>Here are a couple of examples of what my DS has done the past few summers and it has cost almost NOTHING. The idea that you need to somehow "package’ yourself would totally turn him off. He just does what he loves and is passionate about. He has worked as a volunteer lifeguard for 2 summers, has worked as a staff member for the National Boy Scout JAmboree, he has worked on trails while backpacking over 200 miles, and this summer he will be backpacking and kayaking through the Canadian Wilderness and is applying to work for the SCA… a very selective and FREE program in Conservation that puts you all over the back country of the US. He also plans on hiking the John Muir trail. He has also gotten his Rescue Scuba cert and Wilderness First Responder. </p>
<p>I think this is what Thumper and Sikorsky are referring to. Just do what you love and you will shine!!</p>