<p>CTY won’t help you for college because it’s a generic program that doesn’t show any real achievement because all you do is pay for it (and pass some minimal prerequisites). If you have 3,000+ dollars to spend, and some extra time, sure. Go ahead and do it. </p>
<p>There are a lot more impressive things you could be doing during the summer. The classes are pretty good, but CTY more a social summer camp than anything else (and from what I understand, colleges view it only as such unless you’re taking courses for actual credit). </p>
<p>Honestly, if you’re a high school student, I would take classes at the local community college because they are waaaay cheaper, or research other more competitive programs/things to do that match your hook/interests. CTY is something more that I’d recommend for a rich middle school student who wants to be social with other smart kids rather than a high school student focusing on building a resume for university.</p>