<p>I agree with Keasbey Nights on the essay part.</p>
<p>Another benefit for these kinds of programs is the relations.
If you can impress a professor from the college during the summer program, that impression might be useful later.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you do not attend any of these summer programs and are not doing anything productive during the summer, there really is nothing to be gained.</p>