We found this on Internet. My son applied and got in – we are from Seattle and he’ll go ALONE. He’ll attend Columbia + Wall Street sessions.
Is it a GOOD program?
Worth the $4400?
Pros n Cons?
I don’t think any 1 or 2 week program is worth that amount of money
Most summer programs cost more. This is in NYC and the stay at Columbia first week and in hotel 2nd week.Meals are covered too. I just wish I could find someone who had gone through it to know if we should do it.
I suspect that as with many “leadership” programs, anyone willing to complete an application and pay the freight can “get in”, so don’t let flattery influence your decision.And I do hope you realize that these sorts of programs mean next to nothing on college applications, so if padding the resume is a motivation, it’s a poor one. As for whether it’s “worth” the cost, that determination is so tied up with how much disposable income you have, that it’s impossible for anyone here to answer. If $4400 means little to you, a two week jaunt to NYC will be a fun experience for your kid and
superior content may not be terribly important. If you have to scrimp and sacrifice to afford the program, it darn well better be the two weeks of a lifetime.
Why do you think this program is a good choice for your teen? Has he shown a deep and abiding interest in the business world, specifically mergers and acquisitions (the program’s specialty), as demonstrated by doing a lot of reading/study on the subject? If not, why choose this summer experience? Personally, I think exposing a high school student to M&A lectures and exercises is silly, but YMMV.
I’d at least contact the program and ask for the names of some prior participants in your area who would be willing to discuss their experience.
This material about the program’s founder/director is worth a look:
http://www.unitymissionary.org/anniv_spkrs/samkirk.htm
At least it is a non profit, many of these leadership deals are not. I like to look into them a bit when posts like these pop up. Are you having to pay full price? The website says that only about 10 pct pay full price, that there are corporate sponsorships for most. I think this is targeted to disadvantaged youth to expose them to ideas and an experience that they otherwise may not come across. It is a bit lacking in info from web searches.
But now I do find one legit article on a corporate sponsor and mentor, in the Wall Street Journal, from a few years ago.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703977004575393381910970548
It is interesting that the article mentions mentoring and connections. I wonder if that will be as good an opportunity for someone who may not be underprivileged or underrepresented minority, because the sponsors may be looking to mentor an underprivileged student. Assuming you are in an income bracket that can afford to send the kid off for that much. Or if he speaks Spanish, Mandarin, or Hindi that is an advantage.
In any case, I can’t speak personally about it. I’d look at it like a seminar combined with a bit of vacation. Worth it is relative. It is probably mostly fun and exciting activity for someone who has funds for it or is eligible for sponsorship. If you made a connection that led to an internship that would be valuable. But you can’t go in having expectations of that.
D1 took a summer course from her college, which is offered to other students if not enough students signed up at her school. The course offered 3 weeks of classroom lectures and 3 weeks of non-paid internship. The course was taught by an alum who was working at GS. I think the course was 5-7k for 3 weeks. Students got internships at many well known banks and research firms, and many lead to junior summer internship. D1 didn’t really learn that much, but it did look good on her resume. She got multiple offers junior year (not at the firm she interned at).
I think 2 weeks is rather short. Not sure how much he could get out of it.