Would attending a summer program through a college increase your chances of getting in?

If you are planning on entering pre-med, yes that would be a good way to get your name greater recognition. If you are planning on a business major, then taking a pre-med orientation course would be frowned upon.

No. I wouldn't count on it. These summer programs don't really have admission standards. They are very popular, too. Harvard is mobbed during the summer! The programs are usually very good. My daughter took "So You Think You Want to Be a Doctor" at Brown University and found it very helpful. Go to the program for the information and experience offered, to "try out" a major, and as a chance to really get to know the campus (tours rarely show you the dorms!). It can certainly be something you write about in your essay. My daughter dissected cadavers and wrote about how she felt about the experience. They are pricey! Look at mysummeradvisor.com for similar programs either closer to home or more affordable and compare. Other child is doing an International Finance program at Brown - not with a view of applying to Brown, but to decide if it is a major to consider.

It couldn't hurt. I went to Stanford. 3 people in my sophomore dorm had not been accepted for freshman year but went there to summer school after freshman year. They applied as transfer students and got in for sophomore year.