<p>I currently attend a high school in the state of Georgia. I was granted admission to the University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Program. They have been extremely generous and have awarded me a $5,264 scholarship based on need and merit. The cost of the program varies depending on the desired amount of classes. About $9,800 for one college credit and a non-credit course, and around $11,600 for two college classes. I am refugee from Colombia and my parents do not make enough money to finance the program. My godmother in Colombia volunteered to send me $2,000. Does anyone have an idea on how i can make up for the deficit for either option?</p>
<p>By the way, the money is due June 1st.</p>
<p>Is all of the $ due by June 1st ? I would suggest looking for a part time job.</p>
<p>Is this something that you need to do before you start college in the fall, or is it something you are doing during your summer vacation before going back to high school in the fall?</p>
<p>If it is just a summer vacation activity, then don’t go. You can’t afford it. The money that you would spend on it can be put to better use when you go to college for real. Look around where you live. Chances are that you can take summer classes at your local community college, or even at a local college or university for a lot less money. Or you can get a summer job so you can save money for college, or find a summer internship where you will learn about a career field that interests you.</p>
<p>Here is another recent thread on this topic: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1138530-7-000-too-much.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1138530-7-000-too-much.html</a></p>
<p>This kind of summer program is usually a money-maker for the college or university that offers it, and it won’t improve your chance of admission to that college or university. It really, truly is not worth your time or money when you have lots of other affordable options. For what U Penn would charge you after the scholarship, you could almost certainly pay for an entire year (30 credits) at your local community college. Think of it that way.</p>
<p>Yes. Well for one college class I would need about two more grand. I already have a part-time job. At this program I will be taking classes with undergraduate students. I am thinking about emailing local businesses to see if they could allocate funds for “educational sponsorship”.</p>
<p>Are you saying that UPenn won’t let you enroll in the fall unless you take this summer class?</p>
<p>You need to call UPenn and ask for another alternative based on finances.</p>
<p>No I am currently a junior in high school. This was just a summer program i applied to. They gave me a substantial award that makes my attendance more feasible. I basically want to take this opportunity to take ivy-league level classes as a high school student. I already accepted their scholarship, but it is not binding. I always call and tell them that i will no longer be able to attend.</p>
<p>[Pre-College</a> Program | Penn Summer](<a href=“http://www.sas.upenn.edu/summer/programs/highschool/precollege]Pre-College”>http://www.sas.upenn.edu/summer/programs/highschool/precollege)</p>
<p>Happymom is right - this is a moneymaker for Penn. It’s not a requirement for attendance at Penn and I’m assuming the OP is currently a junior in HS. </p>
<p>Why on earth would anyone pay ~$10,000 for one college class? That would buy you a whole semester in a lot of colleges.</p>
<p>Precollege programs are optional…and are usually money makers for the colleges. Most do not have any influence on future admissions to colleges. I hate to say it…but this seems like a LOT of money for you to come up with for an optional and expensive program. Is there a REALLY good reason why you MUST attend this? If not, you might consider where that money from your family could be spent…perhaps on your college choice in the future.</p>
<p>This is the second post in a couple of days from students who can’t afford a pre college program. This is the missing link to the situation of not being able to afford sleep away college. These programs are sleep away summer camps You no more have the right to these programs than that to attend expensive summer rec camps.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago when DS was in a free and competitive Saturday science program at Columbia University he got invited to an informational session for their summer program. We went to the session, and I was appalled at the price – IIRC it was about $6K tuition plus around $3-4K room and board.
The people pitching the session really tried to imply, without actually saying it, that the programs would give students an edge in admissions. I thought that was really unethical.</p>
<p>EDIT: The Saturday program and the summer program are not run by the same folks. The Saturday program has been around for a long time and is run by a professor in the physics department and is a great program.</p>
<p>No I am currently a junior in high school. This was just a summer program i applied to.</p>
<p>There is NO reason to go to this.</p>
<p>They are wonderful summer camps for high schoolers, but are just that. It is rare that a “for profit” camp of this sort will give you any edge in admissions to a selective college even to the school that is sponsoring it. I know numerous friends upset when their kids who have excelled and attended such programs did not get into the associated colleges when they were definitely material for the college and did well in the camps to boot. If you can afford them, it’s one thing but if your family is going to find it tough to foot the college bill, you are much better off working and paying your parents room and board that they can stash as their fund for college.</p>
<p>As I small business owner, I wouldn’t consider for a minute an “educational sponsorship” to send a kid to a completely unnecessary and overpriced summer program. You should be too embarrassed to ask.</p>
<p>@mommaj
I do not feel embarrassed. Maybe that is the reason i posted this thread. I am no longer considering attending the program if it makes you feel better. Thank you!</p>
<p>I can’t understand why the OP got so mad after receiving such helpful advices. And yes OP, of course we feel better (for you) that you are no longer considering this money-burner summer camp. I don’t think spending big bucks on this summer camp will bring you anywhere closer to the Ivy league.</p>