Not all summer programs are created equal. Here's my honest assessment of which ones genuinely strengthen your college application.

Highly Valuable:

• Research programs at universities (RSI, SSTP, Clark Scholars) — These are competitive and demonstrate genuine academic ability
• Internships in your field of interest — Real-world experience is always impressive
• Independent projects — Starting a business, publishing research, creating something tangible
• Community service with sustained impact — Not one-week voluntourism trips

Moderately Valuable:

• Pre-college programs at selective schools — They show interest but admissions knows you paid to attend
• Subject-specific camps (math, science, writing) — Good for skill development
• Leadership programs (HOBY, Boys/Girls State) — Selective and recognized

Overrated:

• Expensive "college experience" programs — Admissions officers know these are pay-to-play
• Short-term volunteer trips abroad — Often seen as "voluntourism"
• Generic summer school courses — Unless you're making up credits

My Advice:

The best summer activity is one that aligns with your genuine interests and creates tangible results. A student who spent the summer building an app that 500 people use is more impressive than one who attended a $10,000 summer program at Harvard.

Focus on depth, impact, and authenticity.