The True Value of Attending Pre-College Summer Programs

by ANNIE STENT

Summer break is a time for rest and relaxation, sand and sun, and time away and tanning — or at least it used to be. Summer seems to have become more of a time for building out a resume for college or attending a “prestigious” pre-college program.

college program does not guarantee that someone will be admitted to a school; in fact, many suggest that it doesn’t even assist with acceptance, and the price of most programs expose major equity issues.

Pre-college programs tend to exude prestige. That prestige comes, of course, from the prestige of the school hosting the program. According to an article by The Washington Post, lengthy admissions processes for the programs also serve as a marketing tactic to make them appear more selective and in turn, more desirable. People are psychologically more willing to pay for a good if they know that the good will be difficult for another person to obtain, as displayed in a survey conducted by Chicago Booth Review. This trend applies to colleges too, and thus their pre-college programs.

be the difference between a “yes” or a “no” when the time comes.

The schools do not hide this: Harvard directly states that its pre-college program in no way guarantees admission on its Common Questions page. They say that it will strengthen an application to Harvard as well as any other college or university. Demonstrated interest at a school can make a difference in admissions, but precollege programs do not go beyond this as some people may expect. If people are able to take that at face value and not expect much more of an advantage, they may be able to more realistically enjoy programs they choose to attend.

Additionally, the price tag on these programs creates a massive equity issue.

reveal that the financial aid offered at all these programs does not cover everyone’s needs. They are well aware of the financial stress that these programs pose, but the revenue is all that colleges prioritize.

These programs are held at colleges across the country. Many families see it as a leg up, a way to express interest in the college to increase their chances of admission or as a way to display productivity in the summertime. They don’t, however, necessarily provide that desired advantage. Attending a pre-

The idea that these programs will give students a leg up or an advantage for getting into the school is just not realistic. The Washington Post article cites admissions experts, such as college counselors and admissions officers revealing that attending a pre-college program doesn’t offer parents what they often think they are paying for: an advantage in the admissions process. There is nothing wrong with hunting for an advantage in such a grueling process where any effort to set oneself apart can

A three second Go Fund Me search for “pre-college programs” will reveal over 300 families looking for help to fund their child’s opportunity to attend a program. The Washington Post article mentions that some colleges, in their offer of admission to their programs, share fundraising tactics such as a Go Fund Me page. Many programs offer financial aid as well, dependent on factors such as funding availability and family income. Harvard’s summer program, for example, offers aid, but on their Common Questions page, they reveal that they cannot predict how much funding each student may receive. The sheer amount of Go Fund Me pages

The programs aren’t all bad. They may be expensive, and they may not hold the weight that many assume they have, but they can still be an opportunity to explore academic interests that we may not find in other places. Pre-college programs, if we take them for what they are and acknowledge the equity issues that they pose, can be valuable, engaging opportunities. If we don’t, they will continue to disappoint us in the long run and students will continue to waste their time stressing while attempting to schedule the perfect summer.