any thoughts if summer programs in architecture/design that may results in a portfolio (or a more polished portfolio) with college application are worth the bang for the buck. The top names generally have close to a 10K price tag, if housing is added to tuition.
One parents opinion.
Summer programs are good to give your child a feel for what it means to be in an Architecture program. The program may result in an item or three that they can use for their portfolio but unlikely going to result in a “complete portfolio”. Of course there are differences one program to the next and we’re talking generically here. Our S23 did an online program through Syracuse that was good for him to validate Architecture as an educational/occupational path. I think it was around $3k for a 3 week program, which ultimately counted for credit into the program he enrolled (not Syracuse). $10K is way more than what I would consider “worth it” - but everyone is in a different economic position.
Again - talking generically - most Arch programs that require a portfolio will state they are looking for exhibits to be “mostly hand drawn/sketched, pencil that show the student can translate an observation or idea onto paper”. We found a much better use of our $ was to find a local artist that could work with our son on ideas for sketches and giving feedback on ways to improve what he was doing. He met with her once a week for an hour or two over a couple of months and we paid her for her time.
It might help if you outline the programs you’re looking at (Summer programs as well as schools your student might be applying to). Some Architecture programs can be much more competitive to get into than the broader school numbers might suggest. For example, Virginia Tech overall has an acceptance rate in the high 50’s - for their B.Arch program it’s in the high 20’s. S23 had 3 schools he was admitted to but not to the Arch program.