Many universities, traditional high schools, and private educational institutions offer academic programs during summer. Comparing these programs can be overwhelming because they have different strengths and weaknesses.
In this blog, we present a simple framework to guide your decision and compared the three most common types of programs. Key considerations:
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Accreditation and Credits: Look for programs accredited by recognized bodies like Cognia or WASC to ensure credits will be accepted by colleges and universities. Transferrable credits are a valuable asset for students who want to get ahead in school or prepare for college. College credits can also save students time and money by allowing them to skip introductory courses in college.
- Curriculum and Faculty: Prioritize engaging, active learning curricula taught by experienced and qualified instructors. Alignment with College Board (Advanced Placement) or International Baccalaureate standards is important for college credits.
- Class Size and Interaction: Smaller classes (12:1 ratio or lower) enable individualized attention and active engagement. Live instruction, whether in-person or online, fosters accountability and allows students to learn from others.
- Location and Schedule: Residential programs held on college campuses offer students a unique experience that goes beyond the academic nature of the course. Programs offered at a local school or private institution can have a high overhead of transportation and logistics for parents. Online programs can be extremely time efficient, allow flexibility with summer travel.
- Cost: When comparing program costs, consider factors such as the amount of live interaction with instructors, class size, course duration, transferable credits, and whether the price includes learning materials. For residential programs, include the cost of room and board and travel. Some programs offer scholarships or financial aid to help offset the cost.
Broadly speaking, there are three common options for high school students to consider when selecting a summer program:
University Summer Programs
Many universities host on-campus summer classes that let students experience college life. Some award transferable credit, though classes often have large enrollments and are usually taught by adjuncts or high school teachers rather than full-time college faculty. These programs can be expensive, with limited schedules, and have a competitive application process. Some may offer scholarships, or financial aid.
It is a common myth that taking a summer program at a prestigious university will increase their child's chances of getting into that university.
The summer programs are a source of revenue for the university, managed by a different department, and are not connected to the admissions process.
Traditional High School Summer Programs
High schools offer summer programs are typically held on campus. Some programs offer credits but majority are designed to satisfy prerequisites for courses that students may want to take in the fall. Class sizes are similar to the school's regular class size. High school summer programs are usually less expensive than university summer programs. Like university programs, they have a fixed schedule, limited availability, and are often limited to students enrolled at the school.
Since the programs are taught by the school teachers, they are often limited to the courses offered during the regular academic year.
Private Educational Institutions
Many private educational institutions specialize in summer programs for high school students. They vary widely in accreditation, curricula, faculty, class size, and cost. Some have university affiliations and state or national approvals for their programs that increase the likelihood of credit transfer. Some institutions offer online programs that allows more scheduling flexibility and summer travel.
Private educational institutions may offer unique courses that aren't generally available through universities or local high schools.
How does 2Sigma School's summer of code compare?
Summer of Code, 2Sigma School's summer program for high school students, offers a unique blend of features that maximize value while offering the highest level of flexibility compared to any other option available to parents and students.
- Accreditation: 2Sigma School is accredited by Cognia. Our AP courses are authorized by the College Board and approved across multiple states.
- Curriculum: 2Sigma School's curricula are designed for high engagement and hands-on learning and are among the best worldwide.
- Faculty: 2Sigma School's faculty are experienced, high school teachers and industry professionals. All our instructors have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in computer science and many have industry experience.
- Class Size: 2Sigma School's class sizes are small, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1 or lower.
- Live Instruction: 2Sigma School summer classes are taught live in small cohorts. Students can finish the course at a regular pace during the fall semester to accommodate summer travel plans.
- Credits: 2Sigma School offers high school transcripts for students who finish the course. Most universities accept our transcripts for high school graduation requirements. Some courses are also eligible for college credit if students take a college-level exam (such as the AP).
- Duration: Our summer programs are designed to cover a full-year course over six weeks. Students can finish the course at a regular pace during the fall semester to accommodate summer travel plans.
- Location: Our summer classes are held online allowing students to learn from anywhere worldwide. They offer more flexibility in scheduling and summer travel.
- Cost: Our summer programs are competitively priced below most comparable programs offered by universities and private institutions. Small class sizes and live instruction make our programs a great value for parents and students.