<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My about to be a freshman in college son just got back from an extremely inexpensive summer enrichment program at the Univ. of South Florida in Tampa FL. and I am so impressed by how well done it was I am here posting about it so that other kids can benefit next year and the year after that. </p>
<p>Here is the deal. </p>
<p>My son is interested in majoring in either bsuiness/accounting/finance or economics or Poly Sci/International Relations or possibly architecture/who knows. </p>
<p>I stumbled across a program sponsored by the FL Institure of CPA’s. The only catch is that it’s for minorities which I suppose means non-white folks. Anyway, if you get past that hurdle it was 5 days (Sunday thru Thursday) in the USF dorms, food provided, and they had a full day or activites to expose them to the accounting profession. The topics ranged from budgets, investing, finance, banking, auditing, dinner etiquette and other related things such as a tour of two big Four Accounting offices and even included some getting ready for college type stuff from the Beta Alpha Psi students (the accounting honorary frat).</p>
<p>The seminars went from after breakfast to 9:45 p.m. at night because they were given a “team project” on day one that they had to present to a crowd on the last day. They were given time for recreation such as playing basketball or volleyball which helped them bond. </p>
<p>It was completely well organized down to the most minute detail. We had an agenda, travel plans, what to wear by day, etc. he had to dress professionally and bring his own bed sheets! </p>
<p>They even suprised them one night with a social (a dance) in the dorms so that they could prove that CPA’s aren’t boring. Okay, well the kids enjoyed it. 45 people registered and 40 showed up. It cost me $75 to register which doesn’t even pay for the food. They were not left alone at the dorm adults were there the whole time. You do not have to be from FL they had people from all over and even met them at the airport if prearranged! It combined a short summer residency with great seminar topics and now, at least for my son, suddenly majoring in accounting is a real possibility. He learned a lot and he had fun doing it and it was dirt cheap. </p>
<p>There are other, longer summer things to do but if you are looking for one that won’t break the bank and is worth a lot more than what it costs just visit the FICPA web site or PM me.</p>