<p>The Columbia, NYU, and Harvard programs you mentioned are all on the “pay-to-get-in” side. They cost so much because you get credit from them (except Columbia, which is IMO overpriced).</p>
<p>Don’t include “boost college application” as a criteria when searching for programs. Often, you’ll dismiss programs that offer experiences comparable to the bigger names.</p>
<p>For LBW, check out some other threads:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1260312-lbw-2012-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1260312-lbw-2012-a.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1069477-lbw-wharton-2011-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1069477-lbw-wharton-2011-a.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/17583-wharton-summer-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/17583-wharton-summer-program.html</a></p>