kenf1234

If I had $7,000 to spend on 3 weeks, I'd fly to Paris, stay in a nice hotel, eat at fine restaurants, visit all the museums, etc. Actually, I'd spend a week and a half in London and a week and a half in Paris.

Damaris

Columbia's creative writing course is supposed to be good. I do not know about the others.

MidwestMom2Kids_

I agree completely!

draydray4

I actually did the program this summer too , here are some pros and cons:
Pros:
a) All the freedom you need to experience NYC, offerings all around campus to see shows, movies, concerts
b) If you are interested in applying to columbia this is a good chance to get to know the campus better
c) classes taught by professors affiliated with the college and tas that attend
d) international students
e) seminars on applying to the school and writing the college essay by columbia admissions officers
f) attempts for 'community outreach' at lunch where one can sign up for the soup kitchen/thrift shop
cons:
a) virtually everyone is accepted so you end up with a bunch of kids there for an excuse to be in the city, forced there by their parents, or looking for an easy pin on their resume
b) The excessive amount of freedom they give you doesnt build a community among members of the program. you end up making a few friends that you stick to throughout
c) despite all the money spent already, youll end up paying atleast 1000 more to pay for restaurants, shows, and outings
d) the john jay cafeteria is DISGUSTING.. which makes saving on food so much more difficult
e) some classes have too much work, some have nothing at all, some have so many students that students dont even care
f) not a challening nor stimulating environment. way lax.
g) students not enthusiastic enough about events held

end result? a good time in the city. i wouldnt say i learned too much though ( i took a marketing class) , maybe thats because i took an easier class? oh well.. im glad i did it though, before the program i wanted to apply to columbia, now ive realized i want a smaller setting and am looking at barnard.
mildly recommended
though .. i do recommend (from past expereince) the phillips exeter program
and if you are interested in travel abroad , "Paris" or "london" lol check out EIL!

lindab

Just to add something, my dd did high school pre-college summer program at NYU- Tisch on 07. SVA in 08. Both were very good and well worth the money.
We ran into a few kids in the city who were doing the Columbia program and we were appalled by how much freedom they had.

MSteve

How does this program compare to Harvard SSP?

victordes

Hi, I did the program this past summer as well and have to disagree with you. My class was not in the slightest bit easy. I also was in a class with only 16 other students so my professor knew my name and wrote me a amazing evaluation at the end of the program that was about a page long personalized to my work. I also sent this to about all of my colleges and have only been rejected from one school so far. You are correct though about that food sucking because that was deff. true I spent so much money on buying lunch and avoiding the cafeteria although after a while I just sucked it up to save money. I thought that this program was deff. a good educational experience as well as a great social experience. I did have my good amount of homework every night but I still had a chance to make great friends and explore all of NYC.

FashionCapital

^ Just curious, which class(es) did you take?

katiejk123

Did anyone ever take this class? It looks pretty interesting to me. And these huge 100+ people classes you're talking about, is that the college prep program? it seems like that would be the most popular option. and does columbia arrange for the transportation for the trips to shows and whatnot? thanks a lot!

NonSenescent

I speak for the course in Genetics and Molecular Biology when I say that I had maybe 20/30 people in my class. They split it up into 2 sessions so that the class wouldn't be too large. And the lab was taught by a few recently-graduated Columbia students, but was still instructional. The lecture part was taught by an actual Columbia professor. He was great.
I agree though that it was a lot of socializing and going out-I don't think I stayed in one night. They hold a lot of RA-sponsored activities such as white-water rafting, Rocky Horror, and many many Broadway shows. Definitely one of the most fun summers of my life.

toadstool

Any program follow this rule: you will get out of it what you put into it.

If you pay attention, do the reading, do the homework, particpate and chase down the professors you will grow and learn and have something to write about in essays on college application.

If you were dumped there by your parents, goof off and just list it on your college aps, high-end colleges will know that you are a sap from whom they can extract money.

College want to see on your applications what you did and how you grew: at a college program or painting your mom's house. They want meaningful essay that look into your soul.

Harvard1009

this program sucked so bad I did the molecular biology one.. its not only EXTREMELY boring but it also does not help you at all for college apps...The ONEEEEEE positive about this whole crap is the college fair. They throw a college fair 2 days before the program is over in which actual ivy admissions officers are available to speak to. If you ask me that was what the 3k was for because you get to personally meet them and talk to them. I talked to a harvard rep and he gave me his card and everything he was an admissions officer and he was really chill and gave me loads of advice. BUT NOTHING ELSE IS GOOD. way too much work and its REALLY REALLYYYY BORING!!! overall I DO NOT recommend this for the money that it's asking. try MITES or RSI or YALE or HARVARD ANYTHING BUT THIS. If I had to grade it I would give it a D

ExhibitA

I was hoping this program was pretty good but clearly it is not. Thanks for the warning.

sparrkmymind

I am on my last day at Columbia's program, so here is what I thought.
(I took creative writing)
I had an absolutely amazing experience. My class only had ten people, and I had 3 different sessions with 3 different teachers, who were all young and chill. Our only homework was writing the pieces that we were assigned, and in class we workshopped all of them. The teachers knew us all personally, and we had individual conferences with them every week. As far as the teaching, I respected all three of them and learned a lot. I can honestly say that my writing improved during the course of the program.
The kids in my class were all intelligent and awesome people!
I'm only speaking for the creative writing program, so all I can do is recommend the class I took.
I think the people above are either exaggerating, or their class was just really boring. If you are planning on doing the program, make sure to take a class that you know you'll enjoy!
And John Jay food is actually not gross at all.

rchhay

@MSteve: I can't say much for the Columbia program, but I have a friend who is currently at Harvard for SSP and she loves it. She's probably the smartest person at my school, and I can't think of anyone who would be valedictorian besides her, and we have a competitive school which is IB.

I don't remember what exact classes she's taking but she's definitely enjoying herself and she posted on FB that she was able to use the observatory with all of it's high-tech tools and the whatnot.