I know it’s a little early to be thinking about next summer, but I’m hoping someone could give me some advice. 
I’m a high school junior. My DREAM school is Barnard College, but obviously it’s very selective and I’m not sure I have very good chance of getting in. I know Barnard does summer programs for high school students, and I think attending one (in addition to being a great experience and making me fall even more in love with the school) could help me a lot when I apply by demonstrating interest in the school (and of course summer college programs look nice on resumes even though they’re probably not going to be the “hook” that gets you admitted). Another option I’m considering is volunteering abroad, preferably at a wildlife conservation although I’m open to any kind of volunteering. I’m wondering which you guys think would look better to college and improve my chances of getting into Barnard (or any school) more? Basically, all other things are equal: both would be incredible experiences, both are pricey, etc. Any advice or information is appreciated!!
Colleges don’t give much weight to pricey activities, because they are pricey and most students don’t have access to them. Not necessarily bad, but you should do it for the experience, because pricey doesn’t wow.
Voluntourism is controversial (some people believe it does more harm than good), so I would recommend researching the program thoroughly before you decide to go.