Some programs actually turn admissions heads. Others are expensive summer camps.

At Top Dog, we help sophomores and juniors apply to the super good ones: the selective, essay-based, artifact-producing programs that actually move the needle.

They are essay-based, recommendation-based, transcript-based. They want to know how you think. Not how much you can Venmo.

If you can’t articulate your intellectual curiosity on paper, you’re not getting in. That’s where we come in.

What Actually Makes a Summer Program “Worth It”?

When evaluating whether a program actually matters for college admissions, think like an admissions officer: what does this program prove about the student? ROI is not about the name on the brochure; it is about what you walk away with.

The strongest programs are selective, we’re talking sub-20 percent acceptance rates, offer a tangible output like a research paper, film, portfolio, app, or capstone project, and deepen a student’s intellectual identity.

If you’re earning passive credit for showing up, or there’s no application required, admissions offices know it’s pay-to-play.

If your friend’s little brother who has never taken a rigorous class can also attend, it’s probably not doing much for your résumé.

Choose programs that push you, stretch you, and leave you with something that can anchor an essay, supplement, or activities list.

Summer Programs Are Essay Competitions

The programs that matter often require:

• Personal statements

• Letters of Recommendations

• Short-answer essays

• Research interest statements

• Sometimes even writing samples

You are competing against other top students nationally and internationally. This is not “Why do you want to attend?” fluff.

What We Actually Do

We do not hand you a random list and wish you luck. We identify programs aligned with your intellectual direction, vet for selectivity, output, and reputation, strategize positioning, and help craft essays that sound like you, not like ChatGPT. This is all about pushing for specificity, depth, and narrative cohesion.

Who Do We Trust?

I keep vetted lists of summer programs I actually approve of across every discipline, science, humanities, business, arts, policy, you name it. These are programs I have watched students go through, programs that produce real work, real growth, and real outcomes.

Getting in is often a different skill than being qualified. We coach both.

If you want help cutting through the noise, writing essays that get you into programs that actually matter, and building a summer that strengthens your entire admissions narrative, we're ready.