I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, whether you’re traveling, learning, teaching, working, or just relaxing. I’m packing up our family for vacation and trying to figure out how I’m going to squeeze all of our gear for 7 people into one car! I plan to spend the week enjoying a few beach reads and perfecting my gazpacho.
Many of our students attend pre-college summer programs, which is a popular way to learn more about an academic subject and college you’re interested in. But here’s the interesting twist: the University of Chicago has just launched a new binding early notification option that allows participants in its summer pre-college program to apply for early admission before everyone else. It’s called the Summer Student Early Notification program (SSEN), and it has added a new wrinkle to the early admissions process.
Starting this fall, students in their final year of high school who have completed a UChicago summer program can submit an (extra) early application (between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15) and will receive an admissions decision three weeks later (or prior to Nov. 1). W. Kent Barnds, an Executive VP at Augustana College, writes in a LinkedIn post that “it might as well be Direct Admit for program participants.”
Who is it for?
Students who are certain that UChicago is their first choice and will enroll if admitted. Summer programs are expensive but UChicago’s scholarship programs are robust. This new program will help the university expand its outreach and recruitment of talented students in underserved communities and rural areas.
Why now?
Elite schools compete for talented students and already fill more than half of their incoming classes through Early Decision programs, so this program further contributes to the “early” funnel—and it’s likely more schools will follow UChicago’s lead. These programs, which confer an early advantage in the admissions process, are likely to increase demand for binding Early Decision.
Why does this matter?
From our perspective, this isn’t just about the University of Chicago and its particular decision-making process. This is a disruption to our historical understanding of the impact of college summer programs and their bearing on admissions. In the past, summer programs have been positive avenues for students to explore potential academic interests and develop their personal narratives but have not—in most cases—carried an explicit link to the admissions process at any particular school.
This move by the University of Chicago presents some pros and cons for students:
PROS
Confirms this is their top choice and demonstrates strong interest
Easier to explain in essays why the school is the right fit
Opportunity to connect with faculty in a relaxed academic/social atmosphere
Reduces the stress of waiting, so they can enjoy senior year—and an opportunity to pursue a second Early Decision option elsewhere if this first round is not successful
Though rejection in this round can feel like a setback, students still have 4 more options: Early Decision I, Early Action, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision
Summer program applicants can waive the school counselor letter and some teacher recommendations
CONS
Not all students know what they want by the time they need to submit summer program applications for the following year
Summer programs are not always the right fit—summers are important opportunities to explore a range of academic and personal interests independent of the application strategy for any particular school
Families are unable to compare admissions offers, scholarships or financial aid packages from other schools when committing early
Creates pressure for students to start preparing college applications earlier and earlier, further contributing to the stress and anxiety already associated with the process
Summer pre-college programs are both impactful and valuable for some students, but we also believe strongly that summer is an important time for students to explore their interests to discover who they are and what excites them.
As always, we’re here to help design the most meaningful and impactful summer for your child and to navigate the inevitable twists and unknowns that will continue to unfold.