Ivy League Summer Programs For H.S. Students - Part II

We recently posted a blog about the benefits of Ivy League summer programs. While we think these programs are a worthwhile pursuit, there are also some downsides that should be considered.

Ivy League summer programs have long been hailed as prestigious opportunities for students to delve into advanced coursework, engage with top-notch faculty, and network with like-minded peers. These programs, hosted by renowned institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, and UPenn, promise an immersive and enriching experience to high school students from Grades 9 and older. However, beneath the glossy exterior lies downsides that often go unnoticed. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the drawbacks associated with Ivy League summer programs, shedding light on aspects that aspiring participants – or typically, aspiring applicants to such colleges – should consider.

The most important thing to know is that attending a summer program at an Ivy League college does not guarantee or even increase your chances of admission to that college. This is a misconception that we constantly have to correct. Just because your student attends a summer program at Brown or Yale does not give them a leg up when it comes to admissions at Brown or Yale.

During the summer, college dorms and classrooms are mostly empty. Looking to increase revenue, colleges have found a clever way to monetize these empty dorms and classrooms by enticing high school students to campus for the summer programs. These colleges see high school students looking to spice up their resumes with seemingly prestigious summer programs as cash cows, charging exorbitant prices to attend these often-fluff programs. 

You also want to watch out for summer programs that are short in duration, which typically means they are survey courses that aren’t particularly useful for students who want to develop a more substantive understanding of a particular subject or area. Instead, choose programs or internships that offer long-term commitments that will lead to measurable growth and/or output. 

So many summer programs focus more on social aspects and less on academic or intellectual developments. While we don’t scoff at a good networking opportunity or a fun summer making friends, programs that don’t challenge or engage your student academically or intellectually aren’t worth the money or time. They certainly aren’t going to help your student stand out to Ivy League college admissions officers.  

We don’t want to discourage your student from attending a summer program. Some students, especially 9th graders, could find survey courses useful as a way to explore a new interest. However,  we do want to make sure that our students choose a summer program worth their time and effort — a summer program that reflects their interests and talents, helps to cultivate their passions, and gives them a leg up when it comes to admissions to elite colleges.

Don’t forget to check out our post on the benefits of Ivy League summer programs. Not all Ivy League summer programs are created equal, and by no means are we discouraging you from applying to them. Just choose wisely! If you’re not sure about certain programs or how to find ones that fit your intellectual profile and academic interests, you can always reach out to us. Ivy Link’s advisors and specialists can help you identify worthwhile summer programs.