As my own college-search winds down, I wanted to share one of the most important experiences outside of high school that got me to where I am today: college summer programs. I hope that sharing my own experiences with these programs will open some new doors for students in the college search. Ultimately, summer programs are an excellent opportunity for students to develop their academic resumes, prepare for the social environment of college, and get a grasp of what sort of college they might like to attend. (I apologize in advance: I'm a sucker for dreamy college view-book photos of library steps, outdoor classes et al.).
Throughout middle school, I attended two week professional conferences in business and law, which essentially proved to be little more than takes on the typical summer camp. Though these give students a decent sense of what certain career paths might offer thems, these programs are still run like summer camps, and students aren't given the academic or social freedom that will prepare them for college. For the summer after my sophomore year, I decided to look into more demanding programs by searching on the internet. Of the few programs I came across that actually offered college credit, Northwestern's College Preparation Program (CPP) program and the University of Chicago Summer Session sounded the most interesting, and I decided to apply. These schools were also close enough to home that I even considered commuting (but decided to live on campus for the full experience, more on this later). The application consisted of a short essay using the Common Application prompts and a preliminary course selection. This got me thinking about what to study, and I had a lot of difficulty making my final choices.
Though I was initially fixated on a dual-credit economics course, I realized that I could just take this course at my high school for free, and I decided to branch out to courses that would be unique opportunities, ultimately choosing "fundamentals of anthropology" and "global history: 1914-1991." This was one of the best decisions I have made, as these courses broadened my horizons dramatically from previously being set on economics and business. The following summer, I went for a very similar program: Harvard Summer School, in which I enrolled in two freshman seminars: "the Holocaust in history, literature, and film" at the divinity school, and "utopia and anti-utopia" in the English department.
Though Northwestern was a great opportunity and the courses were academically stimulating, the sheer quality of teaching between Harvard and Northwestern was leagues apart. My courses were the same size at each institution, both extremely small (ranging from 5-12), but the format of the classrooms was entirely different. Even though my anthropology class at Northwestern had only 7 students, it was still taught as a lecture by PowerPoint, and discussion was not facilitated. I realized after the program that next time, rather than focusing solely on the content of courses, I had to find courses with the the classroom format I really wanted: small, discussion-based seminars. Harvard provided just that though freshman seminars, which are designed to give incoming students experience in college level courses and are required of all Harvard College freshman. The classroom experience was second to none, with top scholars enthusiastically “re-learning” the material with the class and often taking time to meet with us outside of class.
Switching gears, I also wanted to discuss the residential and social components of the summer programs I’ve done. The courses really aren’t everything, though the programs are pitched as such. The real magic is the coupling of fantastic academic opportunities with a residential program that allows a student to relax and do that amount of work on his or her own schedule (thus my problem with commuting). At Northwestern, I found myself fairly distracted socially and didn’t quite get the same in depth experience I got at Harvard, where I was much more focused. I think this is due to Northwestern having a very active camp-like program feel, with a check-in meeting every night and an enforced curfew.
Harvard, on the other hand, offered me complete independence, which, though at first overwhelming, really pushed me to branch out socially and figure out my work/life balance (just as one does in college). Where Northwestern’s program added a certain social pressure to get out and enjoy the summer, Harvard allowed me the freedom to invest in my courses (for those of you who are curious, that’s 21 books in 7 weeks and a 23 page final research paper) while also living the social life I wanted. A weekday consisted of about 8 hours of reading (my only homework, given the nature of my courses), three hours of class, and still always some time in the afternoon to sit outside and read or meet someone for FroYo in Cambridge. At Harvard (as at Northwestern), I also participated in the summer school orchestra, which was an amazing experience in and of itself. The summer school program at Harvard also provided great outside opportunities, from weekly house cookouts, to outings all over New England, to a college fair, to dances, to our own "iron chef" competition.
What Harvard taught me (among other things):
1. What it means to really love learning
2. To find a social-academic balance that worked for me (without external pressures at work)
3. The wonders of a self-imposed (midnight) bedtime on weeknights
4. To build spontaneity into my life while maintaining long term priorities
5. The bigger the library, the better
And I’m going back for more. Why not (financial aid providing*)? I’ve decided to enroll in Yale University’s summer session to study philosophy in the courses “happiness” and “free will, good, and evil.” Living in a residential college should also give me a glimpse of what housing will be like at UChicago next fall, though I‘m admittedly most excited for the once-in-a-lifetime courses that should help me decide if I want to attend divinity school after college.
The best database of summer programs is linked here, complete with student reviews, to help you search for the program right for you. As you will see, almost all highly selective universities (especially the Ivies) offer summer programs open to high school students. I've applied to a good number of programs, so (as always) feel free to message me with any questions!
*A note about cost: these summer programs are prohibitively expensive, just like real college, and I get that. My take on this is that, financial aid, even if just a minor discount, can make the program of a lifetime a real possibility, and it did for me. Keep in mind when you see the tuition costs that you are paying for actual credit from these institutions, and that credit may transfer to (or at least offer placement at) the college you end up attending.
Throughout middle school, I attended two week professional conferences in business and law, which essentially proved to be little more than takes on the typical summer camp. Though these give students a decent sense of what certain career paths might offer thems, these programs are still run like summer camps, and students aren't given the academic or social freedom that will prepare them for college. For the summer after my sophomore year, I decided to look into more demanding programs by searching on the internet. Of the few programs I came across that actually offered college credit, Northwestern's College Preparation Program (CPP) program and the University of Chicago Summer Session sounded the most interesting, and I decided to apply. These schools were also close enough to home that I even considered commuting (but decided to live on campus for the full experience, more on this later). The application consisted of a short essay using the Common Application prompts and a preliminary course selection. This got me thinking about what to study, and I had a lot of difficulty making my final choices.
Though I was initially fixated on a dual-credit economics course, I realized that I could just take this course at my high school for free, and I decided to branch out to courses that would be unique opportunities, ultimately choosing "fundamentals of anthropology" and "global history: 1914-1991." This was one of the best decisions I have made, as these courses broadened my horizons dramatically from previously being set on economics and business. The following summer, I went for a very similar program: Harvard Summer School, in which I enrolled in two freshman seminars: "the Holocaust in history, literature, and film" at the divinity school, and "utopia and anti-utopia" in the English department.Though Northwestern was a great opportunity and the courses were academically stimulating, the sheer quality of teaching between Harvard and Northwestern was leagues apart. My courses were the same size at each institution, both extremely small (ranging from 5-12), but the format of the classrooms was entirely different. Even though my anthropology class at Northwestern had only 7 students, it was still taught as a lecture by PowerPoint, and discussion was not facilitated. I realized after the program that next time, rather than focusing solely on the content of courses, I had to find courses with the the classroom format I really wanted: small, discussion-based seminars. Harvard provided just that though freshman seminars, which are designed to give incoming students experience in college level courses and are required of all Harvard College freshman. The classroom experience was second to none, with top scholars enthusiastically “re-learning” the material with the class and often taking time to meet with us outside of class.
Switching gears, I also wanted to discuss the residential and social components of the summer programs I’ve done. The courses really aren’t everything, though the programs are pitched as such. The real magic is the coupling of fantastic academic opportunities with a residential program that allows a student to relax and do that amount of work on his or her own schedule (thus my problem with commuting). At Northwestern, I found myself fairly distracted socially and didn’t quite get the same in depth experience I got at Harvard, where I was much more focused. I think this is due to Northwestern having a very active camp-like program feel, with a check-in meeting every night and an enforced curfew.
Harvard, on the other hand, offered me complete independence, which, though at first overwhelming, really pushed me to branch out socially and figure out my work/life balance (just as one does in college). Where Northwestern’s program added a certain social pressure to get out and enjoy the summer, Harvard allowed me the freedom to invest in my courses (for those of you who are curious, that’s 21 books in 7 weeks and a 23 page final research paper) while also living the social life I wanted. A weekday consisted of about 8 hours of reading (my only homework, given the nature of my courses), three hours of class, and still always some time in the afternoon to sit outside and read or meet someone for FroYo in Cambridge. At Harvard (as at Northwestern), I also participated in the summer school orchestra, which was an amazing experience in and of itself. The summer school program at Harvard also provided great outside opportunities, from weekly house cookouts, to outings all over New England, to a college fair, to dances, to our own "iron chef" competition.What Harvard taught me (among other things):
1. What it means to really love learning
2. To find a social-academic balance that worked for me (without external pressures at work)
3. The wonders of a self-imposed (midnight) bedtime on weeknights
4. To build spontaneity into my life while maintaining long term priorities
5. The bigger the library, the better
The best database of summer programs is linked here, complete with student reviews, to help you search for the program right for you. As you will see, almost all highly selective universities (especially the Ivies) offer summer programs open to high school students. I've applied to a good number of programs, so (as always) feel free to message me with any questions!
*A note about cost: these summer programs are prohibitively expensive, just like real college, and I get that. My take on this is that, financial aid, even if just a minor discount, can make the program of a lifetime a real possibility, and it did for me. Keep in mind when you see the tuition costs that you are paying for actual credit from these institutions, and that credit may transfer to (or at least offer placement at) the college you end up attending.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteNow many private companies offer semester, year, internship and summer abroad programs for your benefit. Collect the detail about those packages and get the benefit. It will give a lot of advantages to you in the future. Thanks a lot.
Study Abroad Programs
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI was just checking looking for a review on Yale's summer sessions. I am either applying to the Yale or Brown summer session for next summer and I want to know what you thought of your experience at Yale.
Thanks,
Abby
Hey Abby,
ReplyDeleteBoth Yale and Brown have excellent programs, though there are a few major differences between the two.
Yale Summer Session is a true summer term primarily for Yale students. All courses are for credit, and there are two five week semesters. Thus, a student could take four courses total over ten weeks and do a whole college semester.
Brown offers both credit and non-credit courses for high school students. If you want to take a credit course, it would be for one seven week semester, during which you would take two courses.
The real question is where you think you will get the highest value for your dollar, as these programs are very costly. Pre-college programs like those at Brown or Columbia are a great way to experiment with collegiate subjects, but aren't "the real deal," as credit courses are. I jumped straight into credit courses at Northwestern after sophomore year and felt prepared. It's a challenge you should go for.
If I could recommend one program, I would definitely go with Harvard Summer School. First, it's a full seven weeks and still cost me less than five weeks at Yale. Second, the program is large enough that the social and cultural life is very vibrant, even during the summer. The teaching will be fantastic at any of these schools, but Harvard was by far the best and most diverse "college experience" of the three I attend. I mixed with loads of international students, worked with fantastic professors, and soaked up the lively social scene. Yale was simply underwhelming by comparison and wasn't as good of a value. I can't speak for Brown, but I would imagine that its a slightly "watered down" college experience, as their summer programs are primarily for high school students.
Good luck!
Jon
Hey Jon,
DeleteI am a sophomore in high school and will be applying to the summer college program at Harvard for this summer and I was wondering if there was anything you recommend I do before or during the application process.
Hi there: It's great to be looking into a program like Harvard as a sophomore. I would just note that probably 90% of high schooler students in the summer session will be juniors at the time of applying. That's not to discourage you at all, because I got into Northwestern and Chicago's summer credit sessions as a sophomore and had a great experience at Northwestern, but I was just one of two sophomores out of 50 high school students. So this perspective informs my advice: you will have to show in your personal statement that you have the maturity and preparation of an upperclassman (and ideally that of an entering college student!). Otherwise, the issue they're probably looking for most is just love of learning. Good luck!
DeleteHi Jon!
ReplyDeleteI checked out the site if there is a review on USC's summer programs, but I couldn't find one. So, I'm just curious, do you know anything about the actual programs at USC?
Also, I found Stanford's (i like Stanford's the best)program's review and it said exactly what the web page said about the program... nothing about actual social life or the intensity of the program, so if you know anything about that, I would really appreciate a response comment.
Thanks :)
Hey, thanks for posting. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with either of those programs, but I think the lessons in the article carry over to any program. Choose the program with the courses you are most passionate about. The social atmosphere is sort of up in the air, but I would say that the summer social atmosphere does roughly correlate with the regular student experience and demographic. I can't speak for certain on the programs you're considering, but often the programs with the best names (i.e. Stanford) are also the best values. In addition to giving you a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a major university with renowned faculty, these programs are often less expensive than peer programs when adjusted for program length. Harvard is a perfect example of this. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHey.. I m in india and thinking to join the HSS this summer but am really confused that coming to U.S. for a 4 credit course with other expenses of travelling and accomidation apart from the fees.. Will it be beneficial and worth it.. Also i dnt hv so much interest in any particular course but thinking to do smthng in finance..
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to say whether a program like HSS is "worth it." If you love learning and are enthusiastic about the university you're going to, it will be a once in a lifetime experience, a great source of educational motivation, an awesome experience to put on your resume, and college credits that may count toward your degree. From a practical standpoint, I would say no, it's not going to save you money or be "worth" $9k. But it's about the same rate as attending a top college during the year. I have no regrets because my credits from HSS transferred to UChicago and will be used toward my degree.
ReplyDeleteHey I've just been accepted into this summer's Yale Session, and I was hoping you could let me know about your experience especially in terms of academic rigour of the programme. I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should invest 5 weeks of my summer or not, and as an IB student I have plenty to do over the summer anyway!
ReplyDeleteThe truth of these programs is that they offer little, or no, financial aid to the middle class. I know, having applied to many of them for my daughter, a merit scholar. Harvard and Stanford stand out as being particularly stingy, while Brown was the most generous. The Ivy League is finally, after public pressure, supporting the middle class in its main programs, but effectively locks out the middle class in its summer programs. What you end up with is summer school class apartheid. Really, it's a shame since so many of these schools get public funds (much of it from the middle class). It may even be illegal since these schools get so much federal money. It is certainly immoral, but these school use scholarships for poor kids to deflect from the fact that they offer little support for the middle class. I guess they need these spots for their own kids.
ReplyDeleteSo true..you sound just like me!
DeleteI am not aware of a penny of taxpayer money going to summer programs at private colleges. Stop whining. The taxpayers will not give you a Mercedes nor will they pay to send your child to summer school. Many public community colleges have $200 summer classes, so start drop cable TV and you will be able to afford it.
DeleteTori, my problem with Yale is the economic value of the program. Five weeks at Yale cost me more than eight weeks at Harvard and didn't offer much in terms of social or extra-curricular academic activities. You should know that Yale Summer Session is a rather small program compared to Harvard or Brown and is simply more limiting. That said, my classes were both very organized and really did pack a lot into the five week period. If you have other IB commitments for the summer, the program being condensed into five weeks could very well be a positive thing for you. I would say that you almost certainly won't regret any summer program unless its for financial reasons. Whatever your field of study, YSS will develop your interests and add a lot to your academic resume, though I would recommend other programs before YSS.
ReplyDeleteThe cost of Ivy League summer programs is out of reach for most families. I attended a summer program taught by Harvard faculty and I took classes at a public community college. The quality of teaching was higher at the community college.
DeleteIvy League schools hire and award tenure based on a professor's ability to bring in research dollars and publish research. A class with seven students watching a power point? That teacher would be fired at a community college.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletehi, I'm looking for summer programs for my daughter. I would like her to attend a program that's selective.....but with all the programs I've seen (Ivies and UChicago included) it seems everyone who is willing to pay the tuition is granted entry. last year she attended Duke TIP where there were specific SAT requirements for both the level of camp and each course. I'd like her to have an experience like that, but on a more rigorous level. however, I'm getting the feeling that all these 'programs' are available to anyone and everyone for the right price, which hardly makes for the type of environment I'd like for her to experience. thoughts?
ReplyDeleteWhile low selectivity is probably the case in my experience, I don't think it in any way diminishes the quality or reputation of the programs. It simply increases the risk that the high school student will be challenged and perhaps fail the classes. Since I really only recommend college level and college credit courses anyways, selectivity is irrelevant because the challenge of the courses is simply whatever you would expect from the University's undergraduate classes. If you wouldn't question the difficulty of, say, a Harvard undergraduate class, then I'm sure it will be plenty challenging for a student several years younger than the other Harvard undergraduates in the classes.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your taking the time to respond, Jon -- thank you! your answer does make good sense. for my daughter, I'm probably more interested in the environment -- and thus who her peers will be -- rather than the college credits per se. I would like her to have an enjoyable and challenging but structured summer experience spent with like-minded and similarly-aged students. in other words, I don't want simply to throw her into a college fishbowl. Duke was good for that but TIP was seemingly disassociated with the University itself. I thought it would be fun for her to go somewhere new this year and perhaps amp up the experience. but now I don't seem to be finding what I thought I was looking for.
DeleteMore structured programs are also good options for those younger than juniors in high school. Enrichment programs like Brown's non-credit classes or CTY at Johns Hopkins might provide closer to what you're looking for. There's also Northwestern CTD if you're looking for very structured high school/AP credit courses over the summer. Best of luck! Jon
ReplyDeleteHey Jon, first I just wanted to say thank you so much for writing about your experiences at summer college programs, your experience is helping me so much!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that you decided to branch out and take unique courses; if I wanted to major in business would you suggest I take a business course or other courses to widen my perspective?
Also, I'm a sophomore, when I'm applying for colleges, do you think attending a summer program is a plus?
Another thing is, what does the acceptance rate for summer programs at Ivies look like?
Eunice, I wouldn't necessarily discourage you from taking business courses, but I really do think the summer is a chance to branch out from what you would otherwise take. While I had friends at these programs taking things like Econ or Psych 101, I don't know what help these programs did in really exciting them about college. They simply seemed like AP classes that they could have well taken at their high schools. So if business is something you won't get a chance to take in high school, I think it would be worth your time and money to try it out at a summer program. The first summer of classes that I tried out were in fields that I'm no longer majoring in and helped me (by process of elimination) focus in on what I did want to study much earlier in college than most other students. As for the acceptance rates, I would guess that they are something like 30-50%—not too competitive but just enough to make sure that everyone there really is capable of doing college level work. I didn't meet anyone at my programs who was unprepared but it's not like the standards are extremely high either. They're mostly looking for solid grades in honors classes, I'd say. Best of luck and kudos to you for starting early!
ReplyDeleteHi Jon!
ReplyDeleteI was actually debating over going to Brown or Harvard this summer. I'm having a really hard time on this as I have no previous experiences with summer programs such as these. And with my teacher urging me to go to Brown (as he says it's the most respectable summer program out there (is that true?)) and my parents going for Harvard, I really am stuck. They both cost just about the same, so I'm not too big on that. So can you give me some insight on the pros and cons of these 2 programs? I really am stuck, and it would really be awesome if you could give me some pointers here.
Wow, two great options! I visited Brown during the summer I was at Harvard but never took a course there, so I can't speak for that program completely. Still, my advice would be to go to Harvard, for several reasons. First, the classes I took there were phenomenal and the program is spread out over 8 weeks, which really lets the courses go more in-depth than any other summer program.
ReplyDeleteJust as important as the academics though is the independent, college-adult atmosphere Harvard instills. You live in a dorm with other high schoolers and have an RA and plenty of arranged social activities, but you are ultimately on your own, and that is a rare and valuable experience to have before you go to and decide on a college. My worry about Brown is that (from my impression) it has a majority of high school-only non-credit programs there over the summer, so the majority of students you'll be interacting with are other high schoolers in a "campy" setting in which you go to class and spend your time with a set group of people and don't have independent time to explore and make your own decisions and friends. This "campy" experience is what Northwestern was like for me even though it was only college credit courses, so I can only imagine that Brown would be worse in this respect.
I only noticed all of this in retrospect—after seeing how much I grew at Harvard. In fact, Harvard is what led me to Chicago, the college I fell in love with, because it made me realize that I wanted an independent experience at a university, not a liberal arts college or a more social/sports-centric university. If you want to make the most of your time and money, I think you need to go with Harvard. To this day, it was the best summer of my life.
Thanks so much Jon! That really helped in my decision of where to go this summer! :)
DeleteJon,
ReplyDeletePlease help me out. I'm a sophomore in High School and I'm looking for a summer college program to attend. The ones that caught my eye were the ones at Georgetown, NYU, BU, and Harvard. Can you tell me which are the most academically impressive? I think all of them would be challenging, but I also want the best social experience possible. Which ones for example let you go off campus just with your friends without a planned activity, and give you the freetime to do so? BU seemed the most fun. Harvard seemed academically impressive but not fun at all. Georgetown appeared a mix. And NYU just didnt have enough information on their website. Please let me know what you think. I am interested in Business so any courses involving econ, finance, marketing, management, and so on. Overall, what I want to get out of the program is a booster on my college app, a great and fun experience, and I want to see if I really want to go into business by using this as a test run.
Thanks so much!
Glenn
Hi Glenn. I can only talk from my own experience, but Harvard was a great social experience for me—the best of any of my programs. It was very independent, had no evening curfew for those in most dorms, and all the social activities were optional. Northwestern was more into planned activities, had a very strictly enforced curfew and off-campus policy, and was thus limiting in these respects. Unfortunately I don't know much about the other programs in this respect, but the key words to look for on the websites woud be "curfew" and "nightly meetings" which are what make programs like Northwestern and Brown (pre-college) and Columbia (pre-college) more limiting. You might also want to check out UPenn, UChicago, and Cornell if you're looking for academic rigor. Honestly, general ranking/reputation is probably a good way to gauge the quality of these programs. I don't think a program like BU would be as great of a value as some more competitive schools like Harvard or Georgetown.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I hope to apply next weekend. Thanks for clearing me of misconceptions about the Harvard program. Their website at least made it seem the least fun, but I'll take your word for it.
DeleteHi Jon!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about taking a summer college program at Brown or Harvard this summer. But i was wondering about the acceptance rates and the grades you have to have to get in there1 Do they look at your grades, or do you just have to pay to get in?
Thank you so much!
Estelle
Estelle, yes they certainly do have admissions standards, though they are not nearly as high as getting into those universities for college. It's more of a competence level that everyone must meet, but there's no cap on the number of students so its not "competitive" the way normal admissions is. What this means is that you probably need to have: mostly As and Bs in mostly honors or AP classes, which require more independence and indicate college preparedness. If you aren't in any honors classes or don't have grades above a 3.7 unweighted, I don't think the programs will see that level of preparedness.
ReplyDeleteHey! I applied for the Northwestern program and my GPA is about a 3.78 cumulative unweighted. My freshman year isn't so good, but all my sophomore and junior year (so far) are straight A's. No honors classes, except English. I wrote a pretty great essay. Do you know anything about the acceptance rates for the Northwestern CPP?
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteJust want to say thanks for all the time you've put into this website. It is fantastic; and has been immensely helpful to us. You are obviously a talented writer. My only complaint, and not valid, is that your insights are so useful that I'm at a loss when we are investigating a college that was NOT on your list! (I'm a parent of an 11th & 12th grader. )Thanks again for investing so much time into it!
Courtney, thanks for your interest. Your stats look pretty good and I think you're in a good position for getting into the program. I think Northwestern CPP is probably less selective than the other programs but still has real thresholds as far as academic standards go. I think you probably meet that standard and have a good shot. Best of luck,
ReplyDeleteJon
I just got accepted into the NYU precollege program. Does anyone know or heard about this program in the past? My brother keeps telling me that I'm going to be stuck with a bunch of rich snobby kids but whatever. How is the social life at the NYU precollege program? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for NYU specifically, but honestly these types of programs do tend to draw those kinds of "snobby" kids. Many, especially international students, come from wealthy families and thus want to live expensive social lives while they're in the program. In general the social life at pre-college programs is not like college at all (no real parties to speak of, most have prohibitions on drugs and alcohol) but can offer you a lot in terms of learning a social/academic balance necessary for college. NYC would also be an amazing place to spend the summer and explore with the people you meet.
ReplyDeleteHi! :):)
ReplyDeleteFirst i would like to say thank you for sharing information about your experiences at different summer schools.
I am an international student and i am applying for a university prep course at yale. Do you know if there are any other schools which would be better for a university prep course? :) Are there many things to do in New haven? and do you know if there are many activities during the weekends or do most people go to New york and Boston from Yale?
Thanks:):)
New Haven is not as traditionally full of things to do but has a good number of restaurants and shops worth exploring. For Yale Summer Session, the program organizes trips to NYC, usually for a Broadway show, though many students also went on their own for the weekend. You'll have a lot of schoolwork so for better or worse it's hard to squeeze in time for really appreciating the city.
ReplyDeleteHi Jon,
ReplyDeleteExcellent site: very incisive and substantive commentary. I join all the others who have thanked you for taking the time to keep advising the anxious passersby.
My daughter has decided to attend a 3-week class at the uchicago summer program for high school students and she has been accepted. As previously noted by you and others, the level of selectivity of this program might be questioned so there is no easy way of telling what kind of a peer group she will be surrounded by. Still, I hope the level at which the class will be carried out will be at par with and representative of real undergraduate rigor of this institution. Consequently I would also like to have some confidence that the qualitative grade she will obtain at the end will be a reliable gauge of her accomplishments in terms of uchicago standards. Would you have any specific feedback on these aspects?
Also, while my daughter will be taking a humanities class on collegiate writing, do you think she might have opportunities to have any meaningful interaction with students or faculty who are attending different summer tracks. (E.g. she was especially interested in the RIBS program which she couldn't join for the full length due a conflict)
Thanks
What an exciting class! The collegiate writing course has a great reputation and I have many friends who absolutely loved it, to the point that many ended up coming here for college. The class is definitely aimed at a high school level (there is really no comparable writing seminar class offered for credit at U of C) but very much in the Chicago great books the rigorous level of argument expected in undergraduate work. I would bet that the grades will be pretty close to the difficulty and standards as traditional courses. I'll also add that the program instructor might be a great recommender for college apps.
ReplyDeleteThe summer housing your daughter stays in will also house students in all sorts of programs—between visiting college students to high school students in other uchicago classes to U of C students rooming for the summer. It definitely is an integrated campus and I don't think your daughter will get the "camp" feeling I complain about in the article above. That said, interaction with U of C students or faculty outside of class will be what she makes it and probably won't be very much. I would look out for summer events to meet people other than those in her program, but campus in general is much quieter in the summer so much of the high school students' time goes into organized group outings to see what they can of Chicago within those three short weeks. Best of luck!
Just a quick follow-up Jon: My daughter is back from the CW program. She had a very exciting and fulfilling experience. Definitely (continuously and dangerously) dreaming dreams of Chicago.. now more than ever :-)
DeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't have a question... but I still want to thank you for all the time and effort you have put into writing all of this. Although I actually got to this article a little too late (just got my acceptance to yale summer term YAY SO EXCITED) it has made me even more enthusiastic about this summer.
I went to Summer@Brown last year, for anyone who's interested and it was so much fun... I didn't get a lot of work done in one of my classes (silly ambitious me signed up for two pretty homework heavy classes - History of American Film and Essay) the other was truly what i am passionate for and has brought me a lot of knowledge about american lit (which, as an international, i pretty much knew nothing -or very little- about.
Do consider S@B because it is not only academically challenging but also and over all culturally engaging (some of my best friends from last summer are turkish, french (like me lol), moroccan, spanish, chinese, italian etc etc)... and all the memories are the best memories. Oh college life, I can't wait to live you for four years !
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteI attended Harvard Extension in Spring 2011. I'm planning to go to the Summer School this year but am also interested in UChicago's Summer Session. How would you compare the two with regards to overall experience, environment and schedule? Was it hectic or more relaxed like Harvard? Thanks,
Jay
I would say Chicago and Harvard summer sessions offer a similar experience generally. However, Chicago's programs are anywhere from 3-9 weeks and the intensity of the programs is thus probably increased due to the condensed schedule. What I really loved most about Harvard was the length of the program, which made it possible for me to really immerse myself in the classes I took and spend an entire week working on my final papers. Such a leisurely schedule would not be afforded at Chicago, or at programs like Yale, which I thought suffered compared to Harvard due to its 5 week schedule, as opposed to 7-8 weeks at Harvard. As far as cost though, you would certainly save at Chicago by being able to take more classes (granted, only a quarter worth of credit as opposed to a semester at Harvard) in a shorter period of time (thus reducing housing expenses). Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Jon,
ReplyDeleteI was on College Confidential and I've gotten mixed reviews for Harvard's SSP. Some people said it was definitely worth it, others said that it doesn't do much to help with college admissions, and some even said that it was not selective enough, with lots of so-so students getting in and "ruining the fun." I don't know who is right and which are reliable. Someone else told me that it would paint me as affluent in the eyes of colleges, which is a bad thing because they want lower class kids. Is it worth the $11,000?
Thanks!
Hautbois
I know it's been a long time since you posted this but I just read your post and wanted to ask for advice. I'm thinking about a pre-college summer program in New York and I've heard many different opinions about the ones in NYU and Columbia. Columbia is an Ivy and all and it really seems fun from their website and the courses look very interesting, plus it says they give you a written evaluation after completing. But then NYU (even though there's not much info on their website) gives college credits for completing and so it seems more academically demanding. I just heard that the Columbia one is really chill, students don't do homework and sleep in classes and even though I also want to have a fun summer in NYC, what I kind of want the most out of this program is to put it in my college application and I'm just not sure which one would be a better shot concerning that. I know you don't know much about those two, but do you think it's better to go for a college credit offering one or an ivy league college one? And I also wanted to ask, are these college credits appreciated later when I apply to college?
ReplyDeleteNYU and Columbia both seem like good programs to me, and are ones I considered myself. I have a friend who did a non-credit Columbia after Freshman year of high school for creative writing and it changed his life. In terms of the cache these programs will have on college applications, I would say they're roughly equal, because as you say the Columbia name may be more prestigious, but the NYU program is for college credit, which is a big difference. Given that they are roughly equal as far as your resume goes, I would probably choose based on which classes seem most interesting to you. The most valuable part of the experience will be whether or not you love your classes, so look for something that you could really see yourself getting fully immersed in and excited about. With regards to the college credit option: college credit is more valuable long-term, but that's not to say wherever you end up for college will accept it as anything more than an elective (though this is better than nothing). That's what happened in my case at Chicago. Best!
ReplyDeleteHi Jon, I am planning to apply Harvard Summer School this summer. However, the 4-credit program along with the boarding (dorm) fee sum up to $10k which is quite high for me. I am also an international student so Harvard won't provide any aid for me. So, I am thinking about doing their commuter program so that I can still take the 4-credit program but without staying in its dorm. What do you think? Is living in dorm worth the extra $5000? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJason
Hi Jason, commuting could definitely be a good way to lower the cost. I don't think there's anything special about the residential environment besides proximity to campus and convenience. You'll surely still meet people in your classes and be able to take advantage of what the campus has to offer. I would suspect that a large amount of the boarding fee is the dining hall package, which was pretty impressive as I remember it, but more than most people need.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reply. I would like to ask "Did you have the opportunities to talk to professors to discuss about the topic or ask questions outside of classrooms such as in Dining Halls?" How was the food at Harvard? I heard their Food Hall is very impressive.
DeleteJason
Usually professors simply meet you in their offices outside of class hours, which thankfully can happen often in the summer because class sizes are normally quite small. For that reason living on campus doesn't have any academic consequence; it should only affect your social experience, which for me at least was very important, but which you could surely also have off campus in a slightly different setting, as long as you reach out to other people in the program. The dining hall at Harvard is VERY impressive building for sure (just google Harvard's Annenberg Hall), and has plenty of options, but you may find that it's not necessarily worth the cost. There are plenty of other food options in Cambridge, though on the whole the area is rather pricey (and touristy).
ReplyDeleteHi Jon..My son just got accepted to the Columbia Summer program and will be taking Molecular Biology non college credit. As he was doing more research on the program, he came across negative and positive experiences that somewhat turned him off such as people partying, not being as serious. With the hefty tag, what he wants out of this is a serious environment where he will learn. He does not mind the social aspect and wants have some fun but not the total college party atmosphere as of yet. He is a sophomore. Your thoughts or any advice on this program? Thank you
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insightful article! Can you give me your opinion on Harvard's shorter 2-week non-credit program? I was accepted to boh its 7-week summer school and the 2-week program (not for credit). Unfortunately, due to time restraints i would only be able to attend the short program. Do you think it's worth the $6k my parents will have to shell out? I will be surveying film and creative writing courses as this is an area in which I'm most interested in majoring. Thanks!
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteIm currently a high school sophomore, and was just accepted into the Northwestern college credit program where I will be taking three credit courses over the summer. How was your experience at Northwestern outside of your courses and schoolwork? Im very academically focused, but at home I have a vibrant social life and I enjoy hanging out and partying with my friends. Your experience at Northwestern (with the strict curfew, planned activities) has me a bit worried, as I am not really looking for a summer camp experience. Are there many opportunities to hang out or go to parties outside of planned activities?
Thank you!
Hi Ty, I also did the program as a sophomore and was one of the youngest students for that reason. For me it was still valuable socially and you will meet many great friends, but you just won't be afforded the same freedoms I had the next summer at Harvard Summer School or Yale (which I think only accept high school juniors and above). It's also possible that the program has changed since I was there, so you could check in with them about these issues. Academically, my time was rewarding and helped me figure out what I wanted to major in; but honestly it wasn't stellar academically compared to the level of student engagement in classes at Chicago, Yale, or Harvard. You definitely have independent time most of the day going to classes, exploring Evanston, using the beach and gym on campus, etc. The curfews does put a hamper on having the experience of actual social life in college, however. Best of luck!
Delete