Families ask me constantly: Do summer programs really matter for college admissions, or are we just paying for something that “looks good” on paper? The truth is far more nuanced than the glossy brochures or Instagram ads might suggest. Understanding whether summer programs really matter for college admissions requires seeing summer through an admissions officer’s eyes, not a marketer’s.
When admissions officers read an application, they aren’t scanning for fancy, brand-name summer programs or assuming a pre-college course signals readiness for their university. Instead, they ask: How did this student use their unstructured time? What choices did they make? Why did they choose this path? It’s the intention behind the summer—and what you actually did with it—that has the most weight, not simply where you spent two weeks in July.
Why Don’t Most Pre-College Programs Boost Admissions Odds?
One of the biggest misconceptions families have is that attending a summer program at a famous university gives a student an inside track when applying there. In reality, the vast majority of “pre-college” programs are not selective, not run by the admissions office, and not viewed as academic achievements.
Many are simply enrichment classes hosted by third-party companies renting campus buildings. Admissions officers read these for what they are: expensive educational experiences, not evidence of standout academic potential.
This does not mean they’re worthless. A short academic program can genuinely help a student explore an interest. It can expose them to college-level work, or clarify what they do (and don’t) want to pursue. But if families believe these programs make them more competitive for that university’s freshman class, they’re misunderstanding how admissions works.
Highly selective programs do exist—MITES, SSP, some Wharton or UChicago summer courses—and these can carry weight when a student applies to the same institution. But because they are extremely competitive, they’re the exception, not the rule.
So when we ask “do summer programs really matter for college admissions?”, the accurate answer is: only certain ones, and only in specific contexts.
Are Paid Research Programs a Trap?
Another trend worrying admissions officers is the explosion of “guaranteed research with a professor” programs sold by private companies. Families pay thousands of dollars to place students in a lab or secure a publication in a student journal. Admissions offices see right through this. They know these opportunities are pay-to-play and often mask privilege rather than potential.
Authentic, meaningful research usually comes from:
- cold emailing labs,
- demonstrating interest in a field,
- building relationships with teachers or mentors,
- or joining an existing research team as a learner, not a “published” scholar.
If you are paying a company to broker that opportunity, it does not make you more competitive. In some cases, it raises red flags.
How Can “Ordinary” Summer Work Stand Out on Applications?
Some of the strongest applications I’ve ever read were built on simple, grounded, real-world experiences. Working at a fast-food restaurant, scooping ice cream, lifeguarding, babysitting, or being a camp counselor tells admissions officers something that a pre-college certificate never could: that you know how to show up, work hard, engage with others, and take responsibility.
Students who work often demonstrate more maturity, resilience, and self-awareness than students who spend thousands of dollars following a summer playbook. And unlike a two-week pre-college class, a job frequently becomes part of a student’s long-term story, something they can build on, reflect on, and tie to their values in essays.
Authenticity and depth matter far more than brand names.
What Makes a Summer Experience “Admissions Meaningful”?
A summer program—or any summer activity—matters when it connects clearly to a student’s curiosity, values, or emerging narrative. If a student is deeply interested in environmental science, spending their summer working at a nature preserve, shadowing a biologist, cataloging species, or writing field guides communicates far more than a generic biology class at a university.
Similarly, a student fascinated by politics who volunteers on a local campaign and works their way from canvassing to volunteer organizing shows initiative and impact. A student interested in education who builds a robotics curriculum for a summer camp demonstrates creativity and leadership.
The point is not the label attached to the experience. It’s the substance.
Q&A: Do Summer Programs Really Matter for College Admissions?
Q: Do summer programs really matter for college admissions?
A: Only the highly selective, university-run programs matter in a measurable way—and even then, they are supporting evidence, not guarantees.
Q: Should students feel pressure to attend a top pre-college program?
A: No. Exploration is valuable, but it is rarely an admissions advantage.
Q: What about paid research programs?
A: Avoid them. Admissions officers consider them pay-to-play and far less meaningful than authentic academic engagement.
Q: Is a job “good enough”?
A: Absolutely. Jobs often demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and character far more effectively than expensive programs.
Q: What’s the real goal of summer?
A: To explore what matters to you and invest deeply in something that builds curiosity, clarity, or impact… not to check boxes. Learn more about How Students Should Be Planning Their Summers Around College Admissions here.
