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Anyone looking at Harvard Summer School?
I was just looking at the harvard summer school program (www.summer.harvard.edu) and it looks really good - though expensive. Just wondering if anyone had any experience of it; I am currently in upper sixth and was just wondering whether the people there would be a lot older than me as some of the courses (maths) look like uni standard. Any input would be really appreciated.
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I was looking at it a while back, but due to attending a wedding I couldn't look too far into it. From what I know about the ages that take the course it's open to American sophomores, juniors and seniors (Our last three years) so you would probably be in the eldest group of students during the summer school.
I believe you would have to consider the Secondary School Program (http://ssp.harvard.edu/) as opposed to the one you linked.
While I didn't see explicitly any age requirements, a question in the FAQ asked about youth programmes and linked the SSP web site. International admissions information is located here.
While I didn't see explicitly any age requirements, a question in the FAQ asked about youth programmes and linked the SSP web site. International admissions information is located here.
s0phie-x
I looked into doing one at UCLA in the year between lower and upper 6th (next year)
They too looked really expencive. The main reason I was interested was that you cain college points..
They too looked really expencive. The main reason I was interested was that you cain college points..
Your profile suggests you live in South England? If so, and you're planning to go to university in the UK, American University Credits won't help you in any way really other than maybe as something to mention on your personal staement.
This is probably a bit late, considering that it's been two months since the original post was posted...
I went to the Harvard SSP (Secondary School Program) last summer. It's supposed to be for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, so, basically, Upper 5, 6-1, or 6-2 (Year 11, 12, and 13 in other words), but I did run into someone from year 10 there.
It was quite an experience. I was expecting to be in classes of people my own age, but in one of my courses, there were people who were already university students, and it really made the classes feel genuinely like University classes. In actual fact, they are university level classes. You get actual credits for the courses you take (providing that you pass) and you are treated as a responsible university student. Obviously, we spent a lot of time having fun and going around Boston.
Personally, I would recommend the program to Year 12 students particularly. You don't have curfew (bonus) and you don't have exams clashing with the start of the program.
I went to the Harvard SSP (Secondary School Program) last summer. It's supposed to be for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, so, basically, Upper 5, 6-1, or 6-2 (Year 11, 12, and 13 in other words), but I did run into someone from year 10 there.
It was quite an experience. I was expecting to be in classes of people my own age, but in one of my courses, there were people who were already university students, and it really made the classes feel genuinely like University classes. In actual fact, they are university level classes. You get actual credits for the courses you take (providing that you pass) and you are treated as a responsible university student. Obviously, we spent a lot of time having fun and going around Boston.
Personally, I would recommend the program to Year 12 students particularly. You don't have curfew (bonus) and you don't have exams clashing with the start of the program.
sugarwhirl89
This is probably a bit late, considering that it's been two months since the original post was posted...
I went to the Harvard SSP (Secondary School Program) last summer. It's supposed to be for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, so, basically, Upper 5, 6-1, or 6-2 (Year 11, 12, and 13 in other words), but I did run into someone from year 10 there.
It was quite an experience. I was expecting to be in classes of people my own age, but in one of my courses, there were people who were already university students, and it really made the classes feel genuinely like University classes. In actual fact, they are university level classes. You get actual credits for the courses you take (providing that you pass) and you are treated as a responsible university student. Obviously, we spent a lot of time having fun and going around Boston.
Personally, I would recommend the program to Year 12 students particularly. You don't have curfew (bonus) and you don't have exams clashing with the start of the program.
I went to the Harvard SSP (Secondary School Program) last summer. It's supposed to be for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, so, basically, Upper 5, 6-1, or 6-2 (Year 11, 12, and 13 in other words), but I did run into someone from year 10 there.
It was quite an experience. I was expecting to be in classes of people my own age, but in one of my courses, there were people who were already university students, and it really made the classes feel genuinely like University classes. In actual fact, they are university level classes. You get actual credits for the courses you take (providing that you pass) and you are treated as a responsible university student. Obviously, we spent a lot of time having fun and going around Boston.
Personally, I would recommend the program to Year 12 students particularly. You don't have curfew (bonus) and you don't have exams clashing with the start of the program.
Could you post more about your experience there? What did you study, what was the learning environment like, how long did the programme last, how much did it cost, how did you find the application process, what you gained from the programme, etc? Thank you.
Edit: Also, how many courses are students allowed (or supposed?) to take? Is the HSS recognised and valued for admission into UK universities?
I did one of these at AIB (art college in Boston) - The dorms were next to Harvard Law school.... To be honest, it was fun... but not worth how much it cost.. And there were restrictions considering the mix of ages.. They had to make sure everyone was safe etc.. Gotta bear in mind they treat you like kids compared to back home...
Knogle
Edit: Also, how many courses are students allowed (or supposed?) to take? Is the HSS recognised and valued for admission into UK universities?
"Secondary School Program students take one short session course for 4 units of undergraduate credit, which is considered a full courseload."
The courses they offer are:
•
Anthropology and Education
•
Intensive Introduction to Computer Science Using Java
•
Nationalism in Latin America
•
The Samurai
•
Summer Seminar—The Book of Hours: Picturing Prayer in the Middle Ages
•
Monuments and Cities of the Islamic World: An Introduction
•
Summer Seminar—The Politics of Love and Friendship: The Sources of Human Affiliation in the Family, Society, and State
•
Introduction to Psychiatric Anthropology: Society and Mental Illness
•
Fundamentals of Contemporary Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe
•
Introduction to Irish Myth and Folklore
•
Intensive Introduction to Data Structures Using Java
•
International Law
•
Colonialism in Africa
•
Summer Seminar—The Meaning of Madness
Source: Harvard website - Secondary School Program
As you can see there's a rather eclectic mix of courses
, if you want more information on the SSP then try this page.I guess you can go in with absolutely no prior knowledge of the subject?
X
"Secondary School Program students take one short session course for 4 units of undergraduate credit, which is considered a full courseload."
The courses they offer are:
Source: Harvard website - Secondary School Program
As you can see there's a rather eclectic mix of courses , if you want more information on the SSP then try this page.
The courses they offer are:
•
Anthropology and Education
•
Intensive Introduction to Computer Science Using Java
•
Nationalism in Latin America
•
The Samurai
•
Summer Seminar—The Book of Hours: Picturing Prayer in the Middle Ages
•
Monuments and Cities of the Islamic World: An Introduction
•
Summer Seminar—The Politics of Love and Friendship: The Sources of Human Affiliation in the Family, Society, and State
•
Introduction to Psychiatric Anthropology: Society and Mental Illness
•
Fundamentals of Contemporary Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe
•
Introduction to Irish Myth and Folklore
•
Intensive Introduction to Data Structures Using Java
•
International Law
•
Colonialism in Africa
•
Summer Seminar—The Meaning of Madness
Source: Harvard website - Secondary School Program
As you can see there's a rather eclectic mix of courses
, if you want more information on the SSP then try this page.Not too sure with how this unit system works. So basically we have to do 4 of those courses to 'complete' the HSS and be issued with a certificate?
Knogle
Not too sure with how this unit system works. So basically we have to do 4 of those courses to 'complete' the HSS and be issued with a certificate?
No, I think you do one course for four credits towards your undegraduate degree, it seems like you therefore only learn from one of those topic areas
.X
No, I think you do one course for four credits towards your undegraduate degree, it seems like you therefore only learn from one of those topic areas .
.How about students who don't intend to pursue a degree at Harvard, and only want to "complete" the Summer School - how many courses do they need to do? I've tried to search but I don't think I've found the answer.
Knogle
How about students who don't intend to pursue a degree at Harvard, and only want to "complete" the Summer School - how many courses do they need to do? I've tried to search but I don't think I've found the answer.
I think its the same, you only do one course, though from the website it suggests you can do more than one under exceptional circumstances - think you'd have to convince them that you could cope with double the workload though.
Knogle
One course? Pfft! Looks like I'm over-ambitious.... 
Doesn't seem that attractive after all. Sure there's the prestige.. but the opportunity cost is enormous.
Doesn't seem that attractive after all. Sure there's the prestige.. but the opportunity cost is enormous.
Apparently, its also not that hard to get into. And you probably would be limited to one course:
Question: May I enroll in one 4-unit course during the eight-week session as well as a 4-unit course in short session I?
No. That would create an academic overload during short session I.
Source: Harvard website.
They don't seem to want people taking even one and a half courses, let alone multiple ones.
X
Apparently, its also not that hard to get into. And you probably would be limited to one course:
Question: May I enroll in one 4-unit course during the eight-week session as well as a 4-unit course in short session I?
No. That would create an academic overload during short session I.
Source: Harvard website.
They don't seem to want people taking even one and a half courses, let alone multiple ones.
Question: May I enroll in one 4-unit course during the eight-week session as well as a 4-unit course in short session I?
No. That would create an academic overload during short session I.
Source: Harvard website.
They don't seem to want people taking even one and a half courses, let alone multiple ones.
Seems like just about anyone can receive a place on the programme. Money-milking cow, anyone?
Thanks X.
Sorry for not replying sooner Knogle.
Basically, most SSP applicants take 8 units worth of courses. Harvard Summer School only offers either 4-unit or 8-unit classes. So, for the summer, you can take two 4-unit courses or one 8-unit.
I took two 4-unit courses: Introduction to Psychology, and Cognitive Linguistics.
The two classes I took were completely contrasted. The Psych class was huge with about 100 students, whereas the Linguistics one had ten people. For the Psych class, we had TA's teaching us for an extra session. For the Linguistics class, we did not have any extra sessions since the class size was quite small.
For the Psych class, we had books that we had to buy and read (they were expensive too!) and we discussed them in class etc. We also had a coursework to do, which our final grade depended on, plus a final exam. For the linguistics class, we only had to write a paper on any topic that we wanted, which was related to anything that had been discussed in the class.
The list posted by X is only a small selection of the courses that are offered. There were lots and lots and lots, but you have to be careful about prerequisites. They send you a full catalogue when you're accepted into the program.
The credit system is not the same as the number of units that you take. You might want to clarify this with someone else with more expertise because I don't want to say anything that might be very wrong and very misleading.
As for the cost... Well, saying that for 8-weeks' worth of classes which take place about twice a week is expensive is a grave understatement. The price should be shown on the SSP website. Also, with regards to the difficulty in getting in, there were a couple of people in the program i met who were amazingly thick. It's works on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you want a place, apply as early as you can.
For those people who do not know this, it is important to note that getting into the Harvard Summer School Program does not affect your application into university. If you did very well, it would be impressive to the admissions tutor, perhaps. Other than having already completed a small portion of your undergrad degree, there is not much else gained that will affect your academics.
All the information on costs, applications etc. are on the Harvard website. I think it's something like summer.harvard.edu, but there should be a link from the main Harvard website. My parents paid for the summer program (since it was actually my mother's idea in the first place - she thinks it'll help me get a place next year *rolls eyes*)
Gains from the SSP: I got a feel of what college life was, I gained more independence, realised that i would be able to cope with being so far away from my parents, acclimatised to the American culture, learnt how to use the currency over there.
In actual fact, it was because of the Harvard SSP that I decided to apply to the states at all, so something must have gone right.
Sorry that this is so long. I hope this has helped.
Basically, most SSP applicants take 8 units worth of courses. Harvard Summer School only offers either 4-unit or 8-unit classes. So, for the summer, you can take two 4-unit courses or one 8-unit.
I took two 4-unit courses: Introduction to Psychology, and Cognitive Linguistics.
The two classes I took were completely contrasted. The Psych class was huge with about 100 students, whereas the Linguistics one had ten people. For the Psych class, we had TA's teaching us for an extra session. For the Linguistics class, we did not have any extra sessions since the class size was quite small.
For the Psych class, we had books that we had to buy and read (they were expensive too!) and we discussed them in class etc. We also had a coursework to do, which our final grade depended on, plus a final exam. For the linguistics class, we only had to write a paper on any topic that we wanted, which was related to anything that had been discussed in the class.
The list posted by X is only a small selection of the courses that are offered. There were lots and lots and lots, but you have to be careful about prerequisites. They send you a full catalogue when you're accepted into the program.
The credit system is not the same as the number of units that you take. You might want to clarify this with someone else with more expertise because I don't want to say anything that might be very wrong and very misleading.
As for the cost... Well, saying that for 8-weeks' worth of classes which take place about twice a week is expensive is a grave understatement. The price should be shown on the SSP website. Also, with regards to the difficulty in getting in, there were a couple of people in the program i met who were amazingly thick. It's works on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you want a place, apply as early as you can.
For those people who do not know this, it is important to note that getting into the Harvard Summer School Program does not affect your application into university. If you did very well, it would be impressive to the admissions tutor, perhaps. Other than having already completed a small portion of your undergrad degree, there is not much else gained that will affect your academics.
All the information on costs, applications etc. are on the Harvard website. I think it's something like summer.harvard.edu, but there should be a link from the main Harvard website. My parents paid for the summer program (since it was actually my mother's idea in the first place - she thinks it'll help me get a place next year *rolls eyes*)
Gains from the SSP: I got a feel of what college life was, I gained more independence, realised that i would be able to cope with being so far away from my parents, acclimatised to the American culture, learnt how to use the currency over there.
In actual fact, it was because of the Harvard SSP that I decided to apply to the states at all, so something must have gone right.
Sorry that this is so long. I hope this has helped.
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