How should I spend this upcoming summer? (Junior)

Pre-College Topics Summer Programs
1

<p>I’ve done some research on possible summer programs and picked two possible choices.</p>

<li>I can spend the summer at UC San Diego and take a 3-week course in robotics (which is my passion, my ECs are revolved around robotics/computers/technology and my essay will also be about it). UC San Diego is also my top choice school so I’m very interested in this option.</li>
</ol>

<p>The only problem is that this program isn’t very selective at all (would it hold any weight on an application?), and costs 3,000$. </p>

<li>I can attend summer school in Hawaii and take Trig/Chem, earn some volunteer hours, and possibly take an SAT prep class.</li>
</ol>

<p>The cost is not a problem for me except, would the UC admissions officers interpret this as an interest in attending their school (as well as a demonstrated interest in 1 area), would it even matter to them? Either way I am greatly interested in taking that summer program, but this would help me decide.</p>

2

<p>clearly the program you want to attend is the one at UC San Diego – so that would be the best choice. When you select things to impress others rather than what you want to do it will hurt in the end. Since robotics is your passion, it makes sense to do a robotics program.</p>

<p>I would like to make a suggestion, though – summer is far more than 3 weeks long, so you have time to do more that just that 3 week program. Have you considered holding a mini-robotics camp for elementary or middle school kids? Doing some type of research regarding robotics? making a website to get younger kids interested in robotics? </p>

<p>What I am trying to get at is you have time to not only do that 3 week program, but do something else with your passion regarding robotics – that is what is going to impress someone. You have a sincere passion, you pursue it, you share it with others and you think outside the box as far as pursuing that passion.</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

3

<p>What type of course is this? I doubt you learn very much of robotics, only perhaps the general ideas about them.</p>

<p>The engineering work that goes into them are just insane. It’s not hands on stuff is it?</p>

4

<p>Its a course that uses the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit(which I own and toy around with), it sounds childish but you can actually do a lot of cool things with it.</p>

<p>Anyway I really want to do it but my mom doesn’t want to shell out the cash unless it’ll help me get into college, thanks though I will probably decide to attend this, I really want to experience what its like at UCSD!</p>

5

<p>Hi, I don’t think it’s worth because I’m an engineering student (electrical, to be exact) and through our campus society/club/organization/whatever you want to call it, we have two Lego Mindstorm competitions throughout the year. You don’t learn that much about robotics, rather just how to program them in the Lego programming language. Building them is mainly programming the board - which doesn’t take into account all of the actual engineering/science that goes into building a new one. They give you premade sensors and other stuff, as you already know, and you just put them somewhere on your invention… not much of real engineering, if that’s what you’re looking for.</p>

<p>If you really want to learn about robotics (the REAL ones you see on TV, movies, etc.), you’ll need to take advanced courses in electrical/computer engineering and possibly courses in computer science (if you want to focus on those types of thins), or go to the mechanical side (which is very important as well). With the Lego Mindstorm, you don’t really learn the ins-and-outs of real robots, so I think it would be a waste of $3,000. </p>

<p>I think putting that your resume or application will help you little to none. I highly doubt undergrad admission counselors will really know what Lego Mindstorms are. If you really want to impress them, participate in Intel’s Engineering and Science fair - they’ll be able to reconize that. It is great that you’re learning and want to expand in this field, but simply Lego Mindstorms isn’t too advance. If you can toy around with it already, you can’t do very much at this camp, unless compete in an organized/formal competition.</p>

<p>Sadly, I hate to say this - I think that place is trying to rip off students. It’s not worth $3,000 to me at all. I hate to sound negative in this whole post, but I think the price tag is what is making me bitter. I’m only providing you with my opinion and what I think of the general scope of the program. Unless you can give me more details or a link to the website detailing what you’ll learn, etc, then I’ll reconsider.</p>

6

<p>there are other programs that go more in-depth as far as robotics/electronics. I agree with previous posters – mindstorms, while a great product, are too simplistic for your age and grade level.</p>

<p>here is a video course done by NASA using the vex system – my younger son took this class two years ago. Vex is definitely a step up from mindstorms (he had done mindstorms the previous two years) and one step down from building it from scratch. <a href=“http://robotics.nasa.gov/courses/summer05/[/url]”>http://robotics.nasa.gov/courses/summer05/&lt;/a&gt; the cost for video course is nothing – but you have to purchase the vex kit.</p>

<p>here is a listing of robotics camps – look for something more advanced and that is geared for older kids. <a href=“http://85.255.117.37/ind.htm?src=349&surl=www.botmag.com&sport=80&suri=%2Farticles%2F04-26-07_summer_camps.shtml[/url]”>http://85.255.117.37/ind.htm?src=349&surl=www.botmag.com&sport=80&suri=%2Farticles%2F04-26-07_summer_camps.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>considering searching the internet for engineering summer programs – many of those have a robotics component. </p>

<p>here is another link to check out – see what options they have
<a href=“http://tbp.mit.edu/highschool/[/url]”>http://tbp.mit.edu/highschool/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.engineeringedu.com/summercamps.html[/url]”>http://www.engineeringedu.com/summercamps.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>also, CTD offers an online class in robotics – pretty basic, but you could get credit for it on your transcript and take it this year: Robotic Explorations Honors
Did you ever want to build a better robot? In this hands-on, self-paced course, stu<em>dents learn engineering, building, and pro</em>gramming using the VEX Robotics Design System. Participants create their own remote control and autonomous robots as they apply what they learn about project planning, systems design, engineering, electronics, and programming in Easy C. Intrigued by engineering? Dream of work*ing for NASA? The world is yours when you are adept at using this technology.
Notes: </p>

<p>Windows 2000 Pentium 4 personal computer or newer model is required.
Students must have a starter kit, power pack and programming kit that can be ordered from <a href=“http://www.vexlabs.com/[/url]”>http://www.vexlabs.com/&lt;/a&gt; vex-robotics-standard-parts.shtml
Common household tools plus a solder<em>ing iron are required.
Students must have access to a Web cam and/or digital camera to facilitate com</em>munication with instructors.
High school credit: 2 semesters</p>

7

<p>Heres the site’s description of the course: <a href=“http://www.academicconnections.ucsd.edu/program/courses/robotics.cfm[/url]”>http://www.academicconnections.ucsd.edu/program/courses/robotics.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It looks like it’s a little bit more advanced than mindstorms “In this class, we will be using the latest continuum of robotics sets, programming software, sensors, and curriculum developed by the collaboration between LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Education, National Instruments, Tufts University Center for Engineering Education Outreach, Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy and Vernier Software & Technology.”</p>

<p>I’ll check the other sites out, but part of the reason why I want to attend thus program is because not only do they provide SAT prep courses in the evening, they give a chance to meet with UCSD admissions officers. I also want to experience what San Diego is like, because it seems like a beautiful city.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I think academically taking summer school will benefit me more. Unfortunately after a roadblock in middle school i’m 1 year behind in math and still taking alg 2 in my junior year =( If I take precalc during the summer (from one of the top private schools in Hawaii) and chemistry I’ll be able to get some APs under my belt senior year, since I haven’t taken regular chem yet. What do you guys think?</p>

8

<p>Hi, I’m assuming you want to major in engineering of some sort.</p>

<p>Taking precalc will only help you with the first 2 chapters of Calculus I (at the college level). I would jump right to AP Calc if you can, since you can take the test and jump straight into Calculus II in college.</p>

<p>As far as the program, I do have some doubts. While I find the idea of the program to be great, I think the time period is what is going to limit you and your learning.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<p>“Week 2: Advanced programming”</p>

<p>What is advanced? What if someone in your position DID NOT have any programming experience, with C or C++ for example? You cannot learn programming language constructs in a week, then expect to program something ‘advanced’. This is the first thing that jumped out to me.</p>

<p>“Field trips, engineering lab tours and faculty presentation may be included.”</p>

<p>If you wait until college, you can get this ALL FOR FREE through the student engineering organizations (ASME, IEEE, SWE, EWB, ACM, etc - google these acronyms for the full names). Let me repeat, this will be available to you as a freshman at ANY school for free. You might even get a free dinner out of it (pizza + soda is customary in college club meetings). I don’t think this is worth your money, unless you have money to throw away.</p>

<p>“Students will explore a dynamic range of engineering skills, including:”</p>

<p>The skills listed after this sentence cannot be learned in three weeks. You’re better off going to a library, preferably a college one, and picking up a book on whatever topic of robotics you’re interested in. It will go far more in dept and will cover a lot more. Most likely, in this course, they will go over what a specific component DOES, not how to engineer it, what modifications you need to make to have it do ___, etc.</p>

<p>Again, I hope you don’t find me stopping you from your passions. I’m simply looking at this from an overall view, as an engineering student. Think of me as you in a few years. Is it worth the $3,000? No, and I’m sure others would agree as well.</p>

<p>The only benefit I see from doing this is that you get to build something quick and have it do what you want (within limits). It seems as if you’ve already played with these toys on your own, so why pay $3000 to do it at UCSD?</p>

<p>And as far as networking with admissions goes, it might help, but really… what it will come down to is your SAT, HS grades, leadership/club involvement. In a sense, after reconsidering, I guess I could see where this might give you a SLIGHT edge over other engineering applicants, but your core credentials is what is going to matter.</p>