Academic Summer Programs

Many colleges and universities offer academic summer programs.  We are often asked whether participating in such a program with increase the chances of getting admitted to the university where it is held.  Our advice is that you should do a summer program only if you are genuinely interested in the content of the program itself.  There is no dotted-line between a university’s summer program and their university admissions office and summer program participation does not automatically increase your chances of getting in to any particular university.  However, they can help you get a sense of what campus life and university-level study are like, and can help you develop skills that will be required in your college research and application process.

A subject-specific summer program (e.g. Art & Design, Engineering, Philosophy, Film, Political Science, Mathematics, etc) can last from one to eight weeks and may offer many benefits.

• learn more about a field you are potentially interested in or rule out fields you thought you might like
• study an academic field that you already like at a more advanced level
• get a taste of university-level study, get a feel of life on a university campus
• produce material towards a future portfolio (Art/Design/Music/Drama) for uni applications
• acquire course credits that you can later submit as part of uni applications
• get a recommendation letter from a professor who taught you in the summer program for future uni applications
• get experience that you can use in a Personal Statement or university essay as evidence of your passion and understanding of your chosen field of study

There are also academic programs combined with university research/application advice and university tours.  Such programs can provide helpful knowledge of the university research and application process, and jumpstart working on drafts of application essays.  Leadership or other “themed” summer programs offer you a chance to interact with peers from within the host country (and elsewhere) while engaging in a series of seminars/events/interactive workshops etc. organized around a theme or idea, for example, global leadership, international finance, etc. Some of these programs require you to be nominated by your school or are by invitation only.

Summer programs are typically quite expensive: typically several thousand dollars for a two to three week experience, so families should be sure the program is accredited and well-regarded.  Unsolicited invitations for “exclusive” opportunities should be viewed with skepticism.  While the University Advising Centre does not endorse any summer programs, we can share stories of programs where former students have had good experiences.

Certain summer programs require a reference from a teacher or evidence of high school grades.  It is fine for students to approach teachers directly to ask for such references (these are different from university application references which are managed by the University Advising Centre).

Academic summer programs are certainly not essential for university applications.  Colleges and universities value ANY kind of meaningful experience that you have during your summers/holidays—this could be work experience (paid or unpaid), volunteer work, travel/cultural experiences, spending time with friends/family, or a combination of several of these things. What's important is not how much money you spend to attend a fancy summer program at a prestigious university but what you learn from the opportunities that are available to you.   So plan to do something meaningful this summer!

Follow the Announcements page on our UAC Google Site to learn more about academic summer program opportunities.

Many thanks to our Dover UAC colleagues for sharing their wisdom on this topic.