I am a good student, but not good enough to get into programs like RSI or SSP or TASP…what are some programs that are still merit-based and not just ‘pay to attend’ that are still good quality?
or could someone link me to a similar thread? 
What subjects are you interested in? Operation Catapult at Rose-Hulman is not too expensive considering it is 3 weeks. Carleton has some summer programs that also aren’t too bad price wise compared to some at top schools. They are ‘pay to attend’, but may not take everyone, and have some worthwhile experiences associated with them.
I like biology and lab research as well as computer science (programming or electrical engineering). That’s pretty broad, I know, but I have had trouble narrowing my interests down. I’m not worried about the price so much as the selectivity and admissions process. Thanks for the suggestions, @intparent , I’ll look into them!