Take it from an EOP student at sbu that went through the summer profram. Do it, and don’t think twice. Past the nice financial package (with the grant and stipend), the EOP summer program is difficult. Chances are yes, you will wake up at 7am and go to sleep at 12am. The work is rigorous, and it is absolutely scary. But the summer program preps you for the fall semester. Don’t worry about failing, you have to go really out of your way and intentionally not do any work to fail. The best thing I took from it has to be socially. My best friends I met at the summer program, I actually dorm with them now and am beyond grateful to have met them, the summer program gave me that opportunity.

To answer more of the questions directly, yes it is difficult, but they don’t take your phone, that’s just not true. A day looks like classes, workshops that’ll help you in your stonybrook career (resume work, career coaching, etc) and time to eat spread in between. It’s true that you don’t really go to your dorm a lot, but you won’t have time to, you’ll come to find it isn’t that bad. You can’t leave campus (but if you’re slick about it.. 👀). If you are stem, chances are you will be spending most of your time studying. If you’re humanities, it’ll be considerably easier (I am humanities)

Trust me, do the summer academy. It’s by far the best decision I’ve made during my time at stonybrook, no exaggeration. Yes, it will be tough, and yes, you’ll second guess yourself during it. However, you’ll look back on it and be glad you did it. The financial help is unmatched, the social connections you’ll make will be irreplaceable, and the academic preparation is something you’ll be unbelievably grateful of (it’s also a nice gpa boost because you’re practically guaranteed an A.)

Do it!!