What's the best way to get someone to sponsor your child's education at a prestigious summer program?

Ask the summer program for additional financial aid. Oftentimes, if you push a little and demonstrate genuine financial need, programs such as the Pre-College Programs at Brown will grant you additional funds to attend. Academic summer programs tend to be unreasonably expensive so you can usually negotiate a lower price.If this doesn’t work, I would suggest calling up relatives and friends. Your closest acquaintances will be more than willing to share some money so that your daughter can attend the summer program. You could also try starting a campaign on http://gofundme.com, which is a personal crowdfunding platform. Hope this helps!

Realistically, fundraising is the best option. Your daughter can ask relatives for contributions in lieu of birthday presents. She can also send a flyer to neighbors. People are generally very supportive of the educational ambitions of a young person. Selling crafts, baked goods, etc. are also an option. It will be good experience for her to learn to “present” herself. It is also entirely reasonable for her to work and pay part of the tuition. My kid worked the whole of the summer before her junior year and then part of the summer before her senior year and made a lot of money.She should understand that participating in Summer@Brown won’t “make” her application, if she wants to go there. If it is simply unaffordable, there are likely good options at other, less expensive colleges and universities. If she wants to investigate a subject not offered at her high school, a summer course at a community college can be very worthwhile.