LOL just because it has an ivy name in the program doesn't mean it will help you get admitted to that specific college. At all.
If you want to have a meaningful summer, attend programs you really want to go to. Things like summer @ brown and Harvard ssp don't do anything to really help you get into that college. Instead, try doing research (if you're interested in science) or apply to programs like the Summer Science Program or other well-known but competitive camps! They're usually much more meaningful, and will often times help in college admissions more
True that some of the best programs, perhaps most, aren't at Ivies. Perhaps especially in science.
That said, some of the programs at Ivies are put on BY that school - Brown is one - and some are just host campuses - Columbia is one. Quality caries, cost varies, offerings vary. Some give college credit, some don't.
