I was sent an invitation to represent my school at the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) and I was sent an email about Brown University Pre-College Programs. I heard and read that sometimes these programs can have a negative effect on your college apps if you do attend these programs. I’m not particularly interested in getting into these colleges (looking at other Ivies). But I was wondering if it was possible to do the program but then write on my college apps how much the experience have changed me as a person and my views about certain particular things. Will writing on my college apps about how much the program changed me be beneficial if I was applying to other Ivies or elite colleges other than those mentioned in these programs?
Do those programs cost a lot of money? If they do, then chances are they are probably a scam and wont be taken seriously on the college applications (colleges do not see expensive summer programs as prestigious). Wouldn’t write a college essay about them either.
Along with tens of thousands of other HS students with a 3.0 GPA or better. You’re being targeted for marketing. While the program participants may have some value, they are shrewdly marketed to prey on people’s vanity and insecurity about needing to beef up their admissions profile. Google NSLC – it’s the same group that does the Future Physicians and Future scientist conferences. They make a LOT of money. I’m sure you got sent a “press release” too, right? You were instructed on how people did fundraisers and stuff too, right? Think about it. All that leads you to handing them cash. What does that say?
Again, it appears that attendees enjoy themselves – it’s just the oily marketing that is noisome to me. It’s not a benefit to your application per se. Certainly the promised “recommendation letter” (one of the perks they tout) that your college-age team leader at the conference will write for you will be next to worthless.
Can it be a source of a good essay? Sure – anything can be. But know that thousands of others will be doing the same thing – it won’t be unique. And do you honestly think a 3-day leadership conf should be the ephiphany moment that’s will be the heart of your personal statement?
National Student Leadership Conference isn’t a “scam”…that is, they do have programs and those programs are legit. Now did they pick you individually because you are so awesome and everyone will be in awe of your leadership? no.
Is it worth it for the money? That is something you have to decide. My daughter did the Junior NSLC program and it was good for her in that she got a chance to do something independent. These programs might be beneficial if you have never really done anything on your own before. Will they change your life? Not sure.
My niece did the People to People Ambassador program which is similar…They make it seem like an honor and all that…but she had a lower-middle-class upbringing and this was the first time she ever got out of the country…she went to Australia. For her it opened her eyes to different cultures and parts of the world that she would have never seen otherwise.
I would think it as a “neutral” as far as college apps, but it may expose you to some different people and ideas.
Sounds like a waste of time when you could be testing a real interest in a field you might want to work in, learning a skill you actually want to have, making an impact on something that matters to you, or experiencing something that really does push your boundaries and changes your life. In short, this is just a bogus activity in lieu of putting some real thought and effort into coming up with something that actually IS life changing. Don’t sell yourself short that way. There are too few opportunities to really figure out who you are and what you care about to throw it away on something that you think will look impressive (but in actuality has been seem by adcoms a million times.)