<p>^^Agree. Let me elaborate a little bit more about the summer enrichment programs…most, if not all, top schools including Harvard view “participation” in these programs with minimal to no benefit applying to the “home” institution…</p>
<p>…there has been an “explosion” of very expensive summer high school programs/classes being offered throughout the country (they are BIG money makers for the schools)…and so many of the well-to-do students seem to be participating in “these” programs…going from Harvard one summer…to Yale another summer…and Stanford another summer…all to PAD their application…</p>
<p>…to most skeptical admissions officers…they view these programs as nothing more than glorified extended “vacations” and nothing more…similar to students traveling abroad to some exotic country to “perform” their community service…when they could have easily done the “same” thing close to home near the tough parts of Boston, housing projects in Chicago, under-served areas of Oakland, or South Central LA…</p>
<p>…when, in reality, these students could have taken some real advanced/college level courses close to home at their local community colleges/state school for a fraction of the cost each summer…and actually get credit when applying to schools in the future…</p>
<p>…to those thinking about these expensive “residential college” experiences or expensive 1 to 2 week community service stints in Africa, Costa Rica, or some other third world country…ask yourself…can I do this closer to home? Most likely yes…</p>
<p>…last, but not least, many of the people working in the admissions department are young recent graduates (many of them who grew up with MODEST means) who will be reading your application…you do not want to come off as being “privileged” by the activities listed on your resume/essay…</p>
<p>…bottom line, don’t do things to “pad” your application or to “look” good…rather be GENUINE in ALL that you do…DO IT because you love it. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>