Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

i got something in the mail about national leadership conferences. has anyone attended them and how good are they in general and for college?

By Crnchycereal (Crnchycereal) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 05:17 pm: Edit

Expensive, over-priced vacations. Not terribly profound, nice if you want to get away for a bit. Virtually no added advantage for college.

By Fire03 (Fire03) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 05:21 pm: Edit

what else would you recommend?

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 05:29 pm: Edit

People go to leadership conferences for different reasons. If you are resume-padding, they are not the thing for you. S went to one where he was totally into the subject and I can truly say it was a life-changing experience.

By Got2go (Got2go) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 08:00 pm: Edit

Just don't let your parents put an article in your local town newspaper about how you were "accepted" to attend a national leadership conference. (or one of the other "accepted to pay $2000 conferences"). Parents of one poor sap did that in our town and we all had a good laugh.

By Homeskulmom (Homeskulmom) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 12:02 pm: Edit

I wonder about these myself. Why would attending a leadership conference be less "resume-friendly" than any other experience-gathering activity that we parents pay for? (Examples include college-level courses for high schoolers, summer travel, camps, etc.)

Aren't all of these experiences life enhancing?

Why would a college admissions officer look down on a leadership conference?

What activity would a high schooler do for that week that would be better?

By Got2go (Got2go) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 01:06 pm: Edit

I spend a week each summer collecting broken and obsolete cell phones to donate to street people so that they can look like they're talking to someone on the phone when they talk to themselves.

By Efilsiertaeht (Efilsiertaeht) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Homeskulmom, I believe we are particularly talking about NSLC: national student leadership conferences. Not just any leadership conference... a leadership conference could look really good. Just not an NSLC. Those leadership conferences... at my school they have a reputation of being "a week with a bunch of rich pricks". It is not a college course, and basically my entire school gets invited... which is why it doesn't look good. It's one of those invites that nearly everyone gets, so on a resume it looks like "My family can afford to send me to this thing". Especially for the non-specialized ones, it really appears as someone who wanted to pad their resume.

Got2go, that is SO great. :-D

By Meh (Meh) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 02:26 pm: Edit

I was one of only about 5 students who were nominated by one science teacher for NYLF. I've decided not to go to such a program becuz of the above reasons (money, not prestigious, etc.) However, to be selected out of a school of 1400 for such a program is definitely an honor, right? Obviously, my school staff is not aware that such a program might be a scam, but i feel like i can still write down on my resume for awards/honors that i was nominated. what do you think?

By Yeppers (Yeppers) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 02:35 pm: Edit

umm... i went for one... on medicine... and i learned A LOT... but i was really interested in medicine... don't just do it for resume padding... only do it if you're interested in teh subject.

By Collegematerial (Collegematerial) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:34 pm: Edit

yeppers: I also was nominated (not by school, but through the collegeboard, SAT ,etc) for the Medicine NYLF. I am also interested in medicine (very serious about it as a career), so I'm deciding to go. I am not doing it for the college/resume thing but for acutal experience. Was it worth it in that respect? I got the invitation packet in the mail, and my parents asked the parent of a student who had done it before, and she said it was wonderful. That student by the way is at COlumbia University. SO, I hope you can give me a brief overview of how it enhanced your knowledge about the field of medicine and if you think it was worth it. Thanks!

By Datadigit1 (Datadigit1) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:54 pm: Edit

Most of these "leadership conferences" sound like the first in the long list of "academic money making scams" that you'll surely encounter during your college career. There is nothing wrong with such conferences, but the golden rule is that if you have to pay for it (or have to pay for anything more than a nominal fee say <~$100) then it's probably not worth you time and also (in terms of your app/CV) probably already has a reputation of being a "purchased" credit on your list.

Similar things happen once you are in college... assuming you are a half decent student you (and your parents) will get mailings from every "honor society" in the world. A few of these are probably worth joining (i.e. the professional society for your field) but most of them are just money making schemes. My parents signed my brother up for a bunch of these and all he gets out of it are mailings every month advertising XYZ Honors Society pre-approved Visa Card!!!

So back to leadership conferences... if it's something truely legit like say your state runs a weekend conference for student council leaders from your school ect. then that is probably worth while and would look good on your application... and in just about all cases of legit conferences it's probably something that your school sets up and (hopefully) pays for. As for these other conferences, it's not worth your time and certainly not worth your, or your parent's, money!!! In terms of college applications you'd be much better off spending that money on something else, anything else.

College application people read thousands and thousands of applications, they know what these "scam conferences" are and certainly won't be impressed by it on your list of accomplishments.

P.S. The note about the article in the paper about the student that was "accepted" to go to one of these was classic... I wish I could have seen that ;-)

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:15 pm: Edit

Homeskulmom asked, "What activity could a high schooler do for a week that would be more important?"

Actively participating in an activity that truly was select, not an activity that essentially was offered to anyone whose parents would pay big bucks for it.

Even better: Participating in a productive learning or service-oriented activity that the high schooler created for themselves.

This could range from spending time with a professional who works in a field that interests the student to participating in a local writer's workshop and then writing a short story based on techniques the student was exposed to there to creating and doing a service project for a local nonprofit.

By Yeppers (Yeppers) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 10:52 pm: Edit

well.. they DO take you up close and personal with a lot of things. You actually get to spend days in clinical places. The chicago one... where i went... they bring residents to talk to you... they also have doctors coming in to talk to you about their fields. The daily program that they have is alright... It's supposed to help you think like a doctor. If you want more info email me... i dont' want to bore everyone else with all teh details...

By Upmysleeve (Upmysleeve) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:36 am: Edit

There's also the advantage of staying at a college campus for two weeks. I stayed at Emory for the NYLF on Medicine and saved a college visit there.

By Soblase (Soblase) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:48 am: Edit

i was nominated for nylf, went, loved it, wrote about it in my app and got in EA.

guess its different for everyone

By Audreyhepburn (Audreyhepburn) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 01:04 am: Edit

I went to NYLC and loved it!!! stop worrying about what colleges think. if you have the money and want to do it- GO! i can't imagine that every activity you do depends on whether it helps you get into college. a word of advice: if you are very much into leadership, and this is expressed through other leadership activities, going to a leadership conference will make you seem all the more passionate about leadership which = GOOD to admissions.

By Intb (Intb) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:53 pm: Edit

I went to NSLC this summer, to me its a pretty good experience. Recently received invitation from NYLC and GYLC anyone been there?

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 02:04 pm: Edit

There is nothing wrong with going to any of these programs and enjoying them. There are many programs where you can get wonderful experiences and if the activites listed in them appeal to you and you have the money, go for it. I see Outward Bound and other wilderness, survival programs, pre-college programs, drama opportunities, college tours, European tours, around the world tours, and all of them look so wonderful We are running some catholic youth leadership groups here--I have hosted several firesides at my house, and a group is scheduled to go to DC to visit key people in organizations there. But none of these activities are ECs in the sense that they enhance your college application. They can enhance your life and you can certainly draw on these experiences, but do not equate them with any honors or awards, anymore than a family tour of China would.
The one issue that does arise in listing these sort of things is the same one regarding expensive family activites. It is, in general, not a good idea to write an essay on an extravagance or luxery such as the China tour or a summer on the family sailboat or other such things. It is not a fast and binding rule, but such topics need to be broached with knowledge that the experience was bought. These days they are hawking all kinds of experiences-my neighbor bought her daughter a trip down the Amazon to distribute school supplies to disadvantaged communities there, at a cost of $6000. $3000 buys a community service project in Mexico to help build a water purification system. My son's a capella group is planning a European tour that he desparately wants to join, and I know it's going to cost. I probably will pay up and let him go, but I don't expect this to be a kudo on his college list. Most of life is not spent trying to build up a college resume.

By Collegematerial (Collegematerial) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 09:18 pm: Edit

The last few who posted: Thanks. I was getting a little discouraged because a lot of people in this discussion board (not just this link) have been saying how worthless NYLF (I am doing the medicine one this summer) is and how it was a big waste of money. I wanted to go because I am really interested in medicine, but everyone was making it out to be like a scam or something I was beginning to feel bad for accepting the invitation. I hope I'll have a great of experiences as you all had. Thanks again!

By Soblase (Soblase) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 09:24 pm: Edit

College-- I had great time doing medicine! And not only do i not think that it was not a scam, i think it helped me with getting into college


have a great time!

By Theirish (Theirish) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:41 am: Edit

I'm glad some of you had worthwhile experiences. I would have to say - be hesistant about how it could positively affect your college applications. My youngest daughter who is 14, has received this invitation for two years in a row - the whole bit about being a top student, nominated, etc. However, our daughter has Down Syndrome and Autism and is in the special ed classroom. Really makes me shake my head when we keep receiving this type of mail. The experience may not be a scam but the "credentials" sure seem suspect to me.

By Collegematerial (Collegematerial) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:22 pm: Edit

Thanks Soblase!

By Aggiepremed (Aggiepremed) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 07:44 pm: Edit

Hello, I think i can help clarify some things. I attended the NSLC Law and Advocacy program in Summer 2000, and i thought it was a great experience. It helped me decide that law is not for me. I will say that it was kinda expensive for me to go, but i wanted to get out and explore "college life" and "Washington D.C.". Its definetly worth it, if you want to breach out of your town and go somewhere out there to inprove your radius of expansion in life.

I also went back summer 2003, and worked as a T.A. (team advisor, counselor position) for Medicine and Health Care, and got to see whats behind everything (logistics, preparations, etc.). Actually I enjoyed this experience more, being a TA, I got to see how the students got more and more inspired as the days go on. The students dont just sit there at the conference, the program has it planned that they work on a group project together (and its nothing tough, everything is planned out). For example, for the Law conf., you will work on a homicide case, which is quite interesting, which at the end of the conference, you get to do a mock trial with another opposing group. And for the Medical Confer., you will work on Medical Ethics debates. It is quite rewarding to see how the students work together as a group, and how friendships bond there. We also like the students to reflect on what they want to do with their lives, and how to impact others around them, we would do leadership seminars just for them.

For the "Costs", i will say that it might seem like a money maker to you, but you have no idea how much it costs to put on a program like this. I will explain some of the costs to you that NSLC has to have, and therefore put on the Tuition and fees. 1. the places where the students stay at. Its either a nice hotel, or nice dormitories on the campus that they are at. I for know that it is very expensive to have high school students stay at a dorm, the UNIVERSITIES charge a whole bunch of $ so they can make a big profit. Also, their meals are all provided, either at the cafeteria, or box lunches that we provide. 2. The transportation costs- We use charter buses to carry the students around, we do not just use school buses. The charter buses are airconditioned, with a restroom in the back, and confortable seats. We take at least 1 field trip a day, and to rent these buses, it costs a lot of money for us to provide, but we want the students to be confortable. 3. The fun social events we provide. We have ice cream socials, game night socials, and cake socials, and they are all provide that the students will be able to mingle around. These cost a lot of $, considering that we have to provide everything. I can also tell you some other fees that go into making the student have a good experience. It is not cheap to create one of these conferences.

Also, the T.A.'s who work during these conferences, we are solely there to make your student have the most pleasurable, fun, educational experience they can. We work long hard hours, supervising and mentoring the students. I would say, whoever is working as a TA for any NSLC program is not for the paycheck we are getting, it is because we want to be there to support and mentor these high school students. Any of the students can come talk to us and some do keep in contact with us throughout the years, like i do with mine since 3 years ago. We do not work for the sole being of being "their mom and dad", but as a leader to help inspire these students. Most of the TA's who work have attended ivy leagues or high ranking colleges or at their honors level at their college. I would say that we are there to challenge your student.

For the nominations, random people get ot nominate your student, not just mass mailings. The high school counselor or other alumni students get to nominate. So for one, i would say its pretty neat to be able to be nominated for this. ALSO the students there, are very smart, and i would say that a whole bunch of them will end up in high level colleges after they graduate high school. I would say, some of the students there, just blew me away with their intelligence. And you could always tell from the students which ones that their parents made them come and the ones who are serious about it. Ok, i will say that there were a lot of "rich kids" there. But a whole surprising amt of medium, middle class students were there. For me for example, i attended one, and i am in the lower class system of finances from my parents. SO its all different students. My parents wanted me to go for the educational experience, no matter the cost, and i have broadened my horizons so much from getting away. I am a honors student now, at a TEXAS state university , and am in a program right now, that has given me automatic acceptance into any TEXAS medical school. I would say that this could be your student, i was inspired by this conference, and have gone out, and done things that i wouldnt have, if i didnt go and get my sights outside my small hometown. I am also going back this summer to work again, because i want to, its a great experience.

If you have any other questions concerning this conferences or just want to ask me about logistics or other matters, please post them. And yes, you can say I might be biased, but I am just trying to tell my side, so some of the others can see what really goes on.

THANKS. SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS.

By Youthscam (Youthscam) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

I worked for Envision EMI, Inc. - the parent company of NYLF and CYLC for 7 years...in my opinion...don't waste your money... the programs are Camps for rich kids. It's not an honor or helpful for college admissions. It is helpful for bank accounts of envision EMI's owners.

Richard, Barbara, John...how ya doing?