@maroonhamster19, the kind of camp that would impress those schools include: Ross Mathematics Program, MIT’s Research Science Institute, The Telluride Association Summer Program, MITES (The Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science), among others. They are highly competitive, have very limited slots, and are usually offered free to those who qualify (in other words, none of those attending pay tuition). There are a lot of other camps and programs that provide students with great experiences. Sounds like the ones you mention may be like those. They are great. Of course they will enhance your college application. But other schools besides those you mention will probably be more impressed by the fact that you attended. What I am suggesting is to stop focusing on this small group of schools. There are so many great colleges and universities in this country. Why are you neglecting or rejecting 99% of them?