Are Summer Programs Worth It?

For younger students, summer programs at universities can be a fantastic way to explore and deepen academic interests. Whether you opt for a program in the US, the UK, Canada or Europe, these opportunities can help you experience higher-level learning and university life.

For students in Grades 8-10 (Years 9-11), attending these programs can be beneficial as long as the topic or topics you will study excite you. Look for a university that offers a good-fit program at a time and location that is convenient for you and at a price your family can afford. If in-person courses are too expensive, online options are also great ways for younger students to develop their intellectual curiosity. 

Older students must be more discerning. Unless the course is a perfect fit for your academic ambitions, it would be wiser to spend your summer on personal projects, community service, research with professors, or meaningful work experiences. Simultaneously, you can always continue to deepen your academic passions through online learning. Admissions officers look closely at how students entering the last two years of high school choose to spend their time. They are not impressed by attendance at pay-to-play courses that admit most applicants – even if the program is offered by a prestigious university. For students entering Grades 11-12 (Year 12-13), a summer program should only be undertaken if it enables you to:

1. Test run a university you are considering applying to through a binding early decision application

2. Engage meaningfully with a subject you can learn about nowhere else (e.g., specialist subjects like sports management, materials science, classics, or computational biology)

3. Complete a task you need to finish for your applications (e.g., build a portfolio or develop your skills in art, design, and performance)

4. Attend a selective program, such as certain math programs, RSI, BU’s RISE, or ISSYP at the Perimeter Institute, to name a few

Summer is one of the best times for students to craft and build their profiles. Summer programs can be part of this plan, but only if undertaken wisely. Deadlines are rapidly approaching, so talk to your Ivy Options counselor or contact info@ivyoptions.com. Be intentional about your summer plans!