I'm a first year at Einstein, and I decided not to take the summer biochem both because I was a biochem major in college and because I didn't want to cut my summer short.
The different reactions from the "Uncle Alberts" show what was important to those people - one having a crash course in biochem would seem to be the most important factor (had he gone), and the other thought the opportunity to settle in was very helpful. From what my friends who went tell me, most of them tend to agree with the second person. The real gunners in the class aren't the ones that were here over the summer, because they would never admit that they need extra help (in anything). The people that took the summer biochem in my class are mostly more laid back, and they seemed to have had a great time while they were here. They went out every night, there were some extra orientation events, and they got to meet people early, making the actual orientation week a little less awkward.
So, if you value your summer highly, or if you know you would be bored to tears going over molecular genetics, cell structure, and enzyme kinetics for the millionth time, don't bother. Otherwise, consider it. It's low stress, and it gives you an intro to MCFM (molecular and cellular foundations of medicine) and some of the professors.
