<p>Caltech YESS is a scam for non URM students, they will ask you to apply just to add to the number of applications and make the case for the URM students attending strong. But they won’t take you into the program until or unless you are an URM (Under represented Minorities).</p>
<p>Similarly the NASSA program at Pasadenna was a scam too. When enquired they told that you can apply even if you are not staying within 50 miles and then they reject you for the same reasons.</p>
<p>Some one should sue these program for not strictly stating that applications won’t be accepted for other students.</p>
<p>Can you prove this? Those are hefty allegations. </p>
<p>I will add, though, that I contacted CalTech’s YESS program this year (I wanted to get some information for a friend that I thought would enjoy it) and I was told that everyone could apply, but they gave priority to minorities.</p>
<p>That is what they tell and that is why I have problem with this program by telling you they just give priority to minorities they enable hundreds of Non minority students to apply but they endup recruiting > 90% of the minorities which is not same as giving priority. This year they recruited 2 out of 30 non URM minorities.
Is this worth getting 450 applications.</p>
<p>My problem is that they should strictly says the program is for URM and should not accept any application from other students.</p>
<p>Then when they present their statistics that they recieved 90 application instead of 450 for the 30 seats. the colleges will realize that the program was indeed for the URM.</p>
<p>But now these URM students attending YESS get undue advantage at RSI addmisisons as the program shows the selectivity was 30/450.</p>
<p>Also there is no summer program for a good hardworking normal students anymore in this country and soon it will be the same in the College admissions.</p>
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<p>ParentofanIvyHopeful – you have some time ahead of you in regards to college admissions for your student and so many of your posts that I read you seemed so very, very stressed out and frustrated. Please make sure that you are not communicating a bitter attitude to your child.</p>
<p>There are tons of programs out there for hard-working kids – they may not have the fancy name you want, but there are excellent options (including those the student invents on their own). </p>
<p>Did you encourage your child to apply for a program geared towards minorities so that they would have an advantage at RSI applications? (that is what it seems like from your previous post). </p>
<p>Both my kids apply to competitive summer programs – and I certainly don’t encourage them to apply to one that isn’t aimed at them. My oldest isn’t big on science, so I wouldn’t encourage an application for a very selective science program – and I don’t suggest my kids apply to programs aimed at minorities. Those programs are usually very clear about who they are trying to attract – I don’t think it is a mystery at all nor a scam.</p>
<p>My S is a URM who when he applied to YESS and the NASA program had a M SAT or PSAT equivalent of at least 750. He still was rejected.</p>
<p>Those programs are difficult for ANYONE to gain acceptance to.</p>
<p>My friend applied with no SATs (subject or reasoning), no APs, and one honors course (biology). He had a PSAT of 190 (same as mine). The only extracurricular he had was 1 year of Science Olympiad (didn’t make it past regionals - we didn’t even place high…at all). He had great grades. I’m not sure what it was, but I’m sure it was in the 3.8-4.0 range. He is going to YESS this summer. </p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the NASA program, but I do think it says you have to find your own way there if you get accepted on the website. I think this is what kept me from applying. I’m not sure, though.</p>
<p>I certainly am frustrated and stressed out. I forwarded this program to my child. But she did not just applied. She called these people and ask whether it is meant only for URM and she was told that it is not the case and was encouraged to apply.</p>
<p>In the NASA case too she called the office and ask if the 50 miles radius is the strict requirement and was told otherwise and encouraged to apply.</p>
<p>If she had not been diligent and thorough in finding information I wouldn’t be so frustrated but she did all that she was suppose to find out whether these programs are restricted but found otherwise.</p>
<p>So my problem is these people should stop exploiting children and be straight forward to say that it is not open for non URM students.</p>
<p>Irony is all summer program that a normal non URM non poor child is eligible for are fee based and when you try to mention these fee based program in your application the response will be anyone can attend these so what is the big deal.</p>
<p>I think that you will continue to be frustrated and stressed out if you are more focused on what will look good on an application rather than what experiences would benefit the student. And from your comments “when you try to mention these fee based program in your application the response will be anyone can attend these so what is the big deal” it is clear that you are most concerned about how attendance at a summer program will look to others.</p>
<p>The same goes for attending private school – if you are looking at it as a conduit for admissions to an Ivy rather than a fantastic opportunity to a first rate education, I think you will be stressed out as you second guess every decision that is made and every remark that is overheard.</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt a student to apply for programs that they don’t get accepted to – the more competitive programs, the more your student will be turned down. You said that 2 kids were accepted to YESS that weren’t minorities – so apparently they do accepted non-minorities, but your student wasn’t their first or second choice. The same may be said for the NASA program – you student may not have been chosen for reasons other than what you assume.</p>
<p>This is where the teaching of life’s lessons comes into play – always have a back-up plan, always have an acceptable safety and understand that life’s not fair – for anyone.</p>
<p>As far as summer programs for non-URM, I disagree – both my sons have had multiple opportunities to participate in programs that were fantastic opportunities. There are many programs that offer scholarships. However – these programs are very competitive and not all students will get in.</p>