Summer Programs: How Your Student Can Stand Out
Ben GutierrezSummer Programs: How Your Student Can Stand Out
Most families think a prestigious summer program name is what impresses admissions officers. It's not and chasing the wrong programs can actually hurt an application. Former Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins admissions officer Ben reveals what selective summer programs actually signal to readers, and how to choose (or build) a summer that strengthens your student's story instead of just padding a resume.
Speaker Info
Ben Gutierrez
Ben Gutierrez has over ten years of experience guiding students through college admissions, with expertise in selective universities. He has served on admissions and scholarship committees at Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins, where he gained insight into what top schools value. Ben helps students—especially those interested in STEM, pre-health, and research—develop standout academic and extracurricular profiles. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Vanderbilt and an M.L.A. from Johns Hopkins.
About this Webinar
Most families think a prestigious summer program name is what impresses admissions officers. It's not, and chasing the wrong programs can actually work against strong students. Join Ben, a former admissions officer at Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins, for a candid look at what selective summer programs actually signal to a reader and where families waste time and money chasing the wrong ones. You'll learn how admissions officers actually evaluate summer activities, why a $10,000 pre-college program often reads no better than a self-directed project, and how to choose or design a summer experience that reinforces the story your student is already telling. Whether your student hasn't planned their summer yet or already has offers in hand, this session will help you make the choice that actually moves the needle.
In this webinar, you'll learn:
- What "Prestigious" Actually Signals: A big-name program logo doesn't carry the weight families think it does. Ben breaks down what readers really look for in a summer activity, and it's rarely the brand.
- The Expensive Program Trap: Paying for access isn't the same as building depth. Learn why self-directed or lower-cost summers often outperform costly "pre-college" programs on an application.
- Making It Fit the Story: The best summer activities connect to something bigger in a student's narrative. Get a framework for choosing a summer that strengthens—not distracts from—their overall application.