This summer, I was admitted to a cancer research program at a university in NYC, but I wasn’t able to attend because of familial complications and the fiscal cost. My parents weren’t aware of the fact that I would have to pay for train fare and other expenses (low-income), so I wasn’t able to do the program.
Is it essential to complete prestigious or impressive summer programs to gain admission to top universities in the country? Being that I’m a first generation college student and my parents can’t afford to pay for top-notch programs, It’s very hard for me to find summer programs that are suitable.