Summer camp for HS students worth going?

Colleges & Universities University of Michigan
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<p>My daughter, a junor in HS, just got an acceptance notice from UM for its medical school summer camp. We applied thinking this might provide her something valuable and an advantage over other kids when she applies to UM pre-pharmacy preferred admission later this year. Now we found out between my son and her summer schedule, those two weeks are the only time we can take a family vacation. Accepting the summer camp means no family vacation this summer. So unless it is truly valuable, we would like to turn down.</p>

<p>Can anyone share their experience or thoughts on whether this camp is worth attending? Will this provide her some kind of advantage when she applies for preferred admission to pharmacy school at UM? I was told only 50 kids selected out of 300. So it’s a highly selective camp unlike other first come first service camp. The program has a price tag of $1600.</p>

<p>She has very good statistics based on what I have seen on this forum. She is the captain of the Science Olympiad club and has been volunteering at a hospital since last summer, and other stuff. With these, does she still need this summer camp? Will it increase her chance? We really really want her to get preferred admission to pharmacy. </p>

<p>Please help me out. We need a decision by March 16.</p>

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<p>Its valuable and will distinguish your child when it comes down to it, but I would say its probably not worth it. If your child studies during college and gets good grades (the program requires you to hold a 3.5 which is difficult anyways) and a good PCAT score, that should be enough. I would decline the offer just based on the fact that studying for the PCATs will help prepare your child tremendously on their success during Pharm School. This is just my opinion though.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the comments.</p>

<p>The pharmcy school told me 90% of the accepted students have BS. So it seems the only way to get a pharmD at UM for less than 8 years is to get into a preferred admission grogram. I don’t want to pay 8 years for a pharmD. I told her if she does not get preferred admission. She needs to go to one of those 0-6 program in east coast. She does not want go to Wayne State even if they give her full scholarship which they most likely will. She wants the big university experience. We want her to stay close to home. UM is only 30 mins away. We dreamed about having our kids going there since they were born.</p>