usummer pre-college programs portal

A handful of programs were cool enough to really spend some time with usummer and answer some fun questions. We couldn't expect them to submit news too but want to give them a special shout out here. Many thanks to American, Brown, Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, Wabash and SEA. Jim Amidon at Wabash did a great interview with usummer and their free business program sounds focused and cool.

News, April 18th, 2009

Congratulations! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch.)

CYLC gets slammed by the New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html

Condensed by usummer:
"In Mr. Sherrill’s view, a leadership conference is no more or less likely to enhance college applications than, say, soccer camp. “It doesn’t fall into the same category as being selected by your county where there was truly some type of assessment and selection process,” he says. “That becomes a true honor.” By way of example, he cites appointment as a Senate page. “Honors typically don’t come with a price tag,” he says."

That is a sentiment echoed among college admissions officers, who say they do not place much stock in participation in such summits.

There’s the National Student Leadership Conference, which offers a “select group of outstanding high school students” a taste of fields like medicine, engineering and business through field trips and simulations, and a chance to earn credit from American University (P.S.: the course comes for an extra fee — $620 for one credit hour or $1,650 for three, on top of a program fee of $1,600 to $3,000). There’s LeadAmerica’s Congressional Student Leadership Conference, which also advertises credit (P.S.: it’s pass/fail, from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and most universities will not accept it). People to People Ambassador Programs, which boasts of ties to Dwight D. Eisenhower, has had to apologize for sending invitations to its leadership programs to deceased children and an Arkansas family’s long-dead one-eyed cat. And Leadership Classroom takes teenagers to the Caribbean each summer for “experiential learning” in sailing and scuba diving.

But the front-runner of them all is the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. By its own count, more than half a million students have attended its programs, dwarfing its rivals.

Mr. Rossi, a former staff assistant to a senator, and Barbara Harris, a former teacher, started the council as a nonprofit organization in 1985. They also started the for-profit Envision, which managed the council’s operations before buying it outright in late 2007. Though no longer a nonprofit, mailings still refer to the council as an organization, rather than a company, and the Web address retains the “.org” typically associated with not-for-profits.

In February, the Better Business Bureau downgraded Envision to an F rating.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html

The good news!


Ramapo College in NJ has a lot of new offerings this year like Interactive Media, Yoga Theory. Pretty outside the box! Don't let them fool you though, they also offer AP-Calculus and SAT Prep(usummer will take yoga theory, thanks!). They also hit NYC every Wednesday on field trips. They have a killer web site too!  https://www.ramapoprecollege.com/

Just for usummer subscribers, the University of the Arts has extended their scholarship deadline to April 22nd. Besides being super cool people their programs look great too. Just download the brochure and check out page 35. Thanks guys! https://www.uarts.edu/extension/k12.html

Colorado College is blowing it out this summer. They really seem to be on top of their game over there. Not only do their programs look solid but they have some new classes, offer college credit sometimes and have scholarships that are pretty impressive...  Here's some of what they told us:

"This summer we also have a few Topics courses that explore areas of our culture and history in new ways. These are courses like Hip Hop and Ya' Don't Stop: Issues, Debates, and Controversies; Beyond "Reality" - Graphic Noels, Film Fantasies, and Multicultural Mythologies; American History, American Cinema... This year there will be 15 full scholarships, and 15 scholarships offered for 1/2 tuition (room and board not included in 1/2 tuition scholarships. The program is thanks to a generous gift from the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust and additional support from Colorado College. The program is free to full scholarships, and the value of the package is approximately $4,000. The 1/2 tuition scholarships covers the cost of $1,272.50 in tuition."
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/SummerPrograms/SummerSession/HSstudents.asp

Not news, but totally noteworthy!

News continued...

Ringling College of Art and Design is offering 3 college credits to any students who complete their pre-college program. Here's what their Director had to say about the program:

"In PreCollege Perspective we understand that you’re passionate about art, and that matters to us. You will expand your skills, techniques and understanding of media. Group and individual critiques help you strengthen your PreCollege work and build your portfolio for college admission, scholarships and other professional goals."   - Nancee Clark
https://www.ringling.edu/PreCollege
Thanks Nancee!


American University was cool enough to get back to us too. Their programs look great and they even have a commuter option this year! https://www1.american.edu/sis/precollege/


Watkins is turning into another usummer favorite. If their programs are as good as their pre-college staff seems to be(and we hear they are) this is a program not to be missed! Here's part of what they shared with us:

"EARN A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WHILE YOU ARE HERE!  If you successfully complete the Pre-College Program and decide to enroll at Watkins, you are eligible for a $4,000 tuition scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded over eight semesters, if you maintain a 3.0 GPA and enroll full-time."

Pretty sweet right? Check out their site: https://www.watkins.edu/prospective-students/pre-college-program  
(A parent told us that Hollins College does something very similar)


Southern Oregon University announced they still have room in their summer program and one former student called the program "... pure awesomeness!"   Hilarious! Thanks SOU, your programs look top-notch!  https://www.sou.edu/youth/high_school.html