If we are talking about RSI or Canada/USA Mathcamp (or a few others), realistically only a fraction of 1% of kids has the potential to succeed there anyway. We are talking kids further out on the curve than 2 standard deviations.
The real issue is whether we are looking for those kids in the lower SES groups, or are we content to just leave it up to chance (yes, poor kids do become interested all on their own and pursue these opportunities, but not many). And the identification process has to start young, because talent becomes evident and identifiable very early on. In mathematics, for instance, certainly by age 6 or 7 at the latest.
The only answer I see is widespread ability testing early. I would think this would benefit low SES students in the long run. Sure, not many of them have the potential to be at RSI 10 years later. But certainly a few do, with the right guidance - more than chance their way in today. Let’s find them.
@mom2boys1999 Last year my D was applying to summer programs and what we found out is that there are several research programs that are not well advertised or known and that they are free or cost very little. So she applied to some of them and also to the competitive programs. We bypassed programs like the Tufts one simply because it is expensive and I do not believe increases chances although I don’t doubt it would be a great experience. Some of the other programs we found by googling, others through the school’s guidance and other by chance. For example Tufts also offers a summer research program which is called Tubers but for some reason you have to email to get info and apply.
I see SSRP at UF on your list. If you are a Florida resident, did you look at the Young Scholars Program at FSU? It is only open to Florida residents but is an excellent, and free, 6 week program. You may have missed the deadline now.
Also, I see MITES. To have a realistic shot at MITES you really need to be an underrepresented minority. (We are URM and are very familiar with all these programs.) If your child is URM, then you should also look at the ESP program at University of Wisconsin. It is also an excellent, and free, 6-week program, heavily targeted towards URM but technically open to all. Plenty of time to apply there, and it is much less competitive than MITES.
Similar, if you are URM, take a look at the SAMS program at Carnegie Mellon, in some ways similar to MITES but with significantly easier admissions odds. Admissions are rolling, so apply ASAP. It is a premier program, excellent and very prestigious. And free too.
@Singswimsew… I would put that into almost a different category… Lol… They are evaluating your kid as much as you are evaluating them at the Rose Hulman camp. Many, many kids that do that camp find acceptances. You also have to have the goods to get in. Congrats on your child.
Some of these things do help especially at smaller schools and Lacs. Some of these are like a sales program to show you something about the schools also. My daughter did the Emerson College 5 week theater design program. Don’t you think after 5 weeks working with staff they are going to see if your kid has what it takes. My daughter was accepted in the fall. She did this program as a high school junior. Too bad the merit wasn’t enough. It’s a top program in the country for this field and we know her connections to staff helped. Already mentioned the Rose Hulman camp.
My son did Milwaukee School of engineerings excellent, I mean excellent, engineering 7 days summer program. It is a small school. You work directly with staff that might teach you in the fall. Don’t you think your being evaluated to some point… Yes you are. He never applied to the school but they sure came after him after doing this program. They ask for grades etc etc. Same with Michigan State Robotics summer program… Which he did apply to and got great merit. They basically told him and the students in various forms after doing the program if you got these stats… Your in… And many will get merit… They came through… Head of engineering used to be the head of these programs.
Then there’s other programs that you should do just for enjoyment and maybe they look good on the application. Summer chess camps since he was on a varsity competitive top ranked team.
Did a 3 week high school AP stats class at Northwestern University . The whole year in 3 weeks and loved it with 20 kids from around the world.
He flew by himself to Berkeley summer 10th grade to do another engineering camp part of a known program that had great programs at leading universities… On Berkeley campus but not sponsored by them. This one was pricey but all of these programs had financial aid and other things to reduce the costs. We didn’t qualify.
He really liked the program since they were teamed up with 10 kids and had competitions of what group could build “X” the fastest and then it had to to actually work and go the furthest etc. All with absolutely no instructions and some programming was involved. Talk about team work!!!
Then my favorite just to show how much this all means. My son applied to University of Michigan’s summer engineering programs… Don’t remember maybe it was mites or similar and was rejected 3 years in a row. Guess where he is at for engineering… Lol… ?.
So of course do things that are interesting, educational and FUN!! Just don’t expect a huge boost for admissions. They are not stupid either. Not every kid can afford these programs. But it never hurts to show that your not sitting watching TV or on your computer all summer long.
Agree w @Knowsstuff. Some summer programs absolutely can help w admissions to that particular college. These programs let the students evaluate whether that institution might be for them and vice versa. At a minimum, they can be a positive, productive (and fun) few weeks.
If a student may be interested in an SLAC like Davidson, applying to and attending their July Experience will give attendees a boost when later applying to Davidson especially Early Decision. Classes are taught by Davidson professors and are small w 20 or fewer in each class so the profs do get to know the students. During the week the admissions office also runs helpful college application workshops for the attendees. At the end of the program, the profs write evaluations for each student and those recommendation letters can be included in that student’s application package if he/she chooses to include them. At least in my D’s year, the majority of attendees who later applied ended up at Davidson.
My son hated FSU when we visited so he didn’t apply. He is also in a weird spot for his math as he is a solely DE kid and is taking Trig, won’t have PreCal until fall and they required it for FSU’s. I emailed them about the math and they responded with “won’t know unless you apply.” Umm thanks but that’s a lot of work for a shrug and cute remark. (Grrrr).
He is URM- my husband is enrolled NA and my son will be when he turns 18. Sadly Natives are still HUGELY underrepresented on college campuses
He applied for SAMS as well. In total he applied to:
MITES
Rise
SAMS
UF SSTP
SSP
Boston’s Immersion (already accepted)
Tufts Research (accepted)
If he doesn’t get in to the more competitive ones, he will probably just do the Immersion as he would be able to go on his tribe’s canoe journey this year and travel to Canada, which is also pretty freakin cool and he would love it.
It is too late now unfortunately for your son to apply, but for other Native American parents and kids out there who are interested in biology, the Vanderbilt Aspirnaut internship is another impressive program that actually pays a stipend. It is mostly for rural students, but have also favored NA in the past.
One of my kids did a free, month-long residential summer program in my state (similar to the Governor’s School programs that many states have). My kid told me that when the program came up during an interview with an admissions officer from a top LAC (from another part of the country), the admission rep initially showed little interest – until she learned that it was a free program. Then she was impressed. My interpretation was that the AO didn’t care much about “checkbook” programs, but gave free, highly competitive summer programs a lot more weight.
