The question title says it all. I’ve heard that the program is expensive, but I’m wondering whether it is beneficial (especially in terms of applications for the Ivy Leagues).
MIT Launch is a great program. It would definitely look good on your apps if you do well over there and present your experience in a great way through your essays
I disagree with @anotherdude and here’s why:
- Summer college programs, be they at MIT, Harvard or anywhere else, are expensive and Admissions Officers understand that most students cannot afford to attend them. So, taking an expensive summer course at a university shows that your family has the financial resources to provide you with those kind of opportunities, but it does not necessarily impress an Admissions office.
- Once you are admitted to a university, that school will usually NOT grant credit for summer school classes you've taken at another college during high school. For example, if you ultimately are admitted to Harvard, Harvard will not give academic credit for the courses you took at MIT, Stanford or Yale while in high school. But, Harvard WILL give academic credit for summer courses taken at Harvard while you were in high school. So, if you are thinking about going the summer college route, you should target the university you actually want to attend. In other words, MIT might look favorably upon you taking a summer course at MIT, but it won't necessarily be as impressive to HYPS. And it might also demonstrate to HYPS that you are more interested in MIT than those other colleges which also have summer college programs that are open to high school students.
- Many colleges employ faculty from other universities to teach summer school courses. For example, Harvard and MIT might employ Boston University or Boston College professors to teach some of their summer courses. If you take a summer course at MIT, make sure the professor is a tenured faculty member of MIT and not a summer adjunct.
- What is actually impressive: Taking a college level course as a high school student, acing the course, AND getting your professor to write you a letter of recommendation. But, to do that you need to select your courses wisely. You need to choose small classes (no more than 15 students) which are taught by a noted tenured professor so they can get to know you and the quality of your work. And you need to do BETTER than other undergraduates taking the class. I imagine there's only a handful of high school students who can do that.
I second with Gibby about his opinions. It is important that you also choose the program for the experience and where you can actually be involved with the classes, do excellent there. My experience alone at Harvard Summer School was excellent and I managed to receive a letter of recommendation from one of my professors.
I disagree with @Gibby to some extent. What’s important about a summer experience is how it fits in to your overall program, and what you get out of the experience and do with it. Launch is a highly competitive program, and if it fits in to your overall focus then it can be helpful. What ultimately matters is what you do with it - does it help you to start an entrepreneurial venture?
In any case, I would not do a summer program based on the expectation that it will “look good” on your application. I’d do it if it excites you, and if it fits in to the overall picture of what you want to do.
^^ I agree with @renaissancedad. You should NOT do any summer program based upon how it “will look” on your application – that’s called resume padding, and Admissions Officers can “sniff” that out pretty easily from taking a look at the rest of your EC’s and figuring out if the summer program experience “fits in” with your overall interests your’ve pursued in high school.
@gibby I agree with you in general. But MIT Launch is a selective program. Maybe not in the same tier as RSI, but it is definitely a rigorous and selective program that has faculty from MIT and Harvard Business School take part in it. I have acquaintances who have attended the program and are now doing well at a top - 10 college. Also, many attendees from the program tend to take their ventures ahead even after the program. The OP will have an exciting and intellectually fascinating (for lack of a better word) time at Launch that only a few programs can offer.
But yes, there are a lot of programs our there for which your points hold true.
@anotherdude: By the same token, Harvard Summer School is also considered a rigorous selective program where very few high school students actually get ‘A’s’ in their class. IMHO, I don’t think Stanford, Yale, Princeton or MIT is that impressed by a student getting an ‘A’ in their Harvard Summer School class, but Harvard might be.
I apologize for jumping in but would an A- be considered in the A range?
An A- is an A-, it’s not an A. But yes, it’s within the A range and is a very respectable grade for a high school student or undergraduate.
Thank you! I was kinda worried because the course that I took had intensive writing and reading and that was the first time I actually experience college writing level.
@gibby @hola1997 @anotherdude @ScienceYo It is true that summer programs aren’t that impressive for college applications; however, you guys have to consider the fact that MIT Launch is NOT a regular summer program like the ones at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. It is NOT a summer school, it’s a selective entrepreneurship program with a low acceptance rate. It may be expensive but it’s awarding and they are extremely generous with financial aid.
@DrScienceScD : True, I didn’t say it couldn’t be impressive and I know that it is a very selective program. All I am saying is that it’s a good piece to have in your overall application and as long as the MIT Launch program “fits” (keyword is fit) with what the OP is passionate about. Doing it just for the prestige is really bad in the eyes of AO since they can see it right away. As long as it is relevant, the OP does well, it’s a nice bonus
@hola1997 Oh yeah I agree. I was speaking mainly to the people here who thought it was a ‘college-prep’ program similar to the non-selective ones at Harvard, Columbia ,etc
@DrScienceScD : The only problem with the specialized program like this is that it’s not for everyone whereas in the “college-prep” or “college summer program” allows you to have many different options available should one wants to change. But then again, one should have a clear view for what one wants when joining a program.
@hola1997 Yeah that’s true, I’m going to Launch this summer
@DrScienceScD : best of luck to you! Enjoy the program! 
The program costs $6500 for 4 weeks. It may be at MIT but it really has little to do with MIT. I am not sure what learning how to be an entrepreneur has to do with college. It does not seem like to be a good use of money
What?? $6500?
I had those tutorials for FREE but then maybe MIT launch entrepreneurship class on edx is of lower quality?
@proudparent26 and @Oddenigma Few students actually pay that amount. I do not have to pay anything. Also, the students form real companies and it is a selective program. Some of the companies have won many selective competitions. It’s more so what you do there.