Congressional Youth Leadership Council

Career Opportunities & Internships
21

<p>
[quote]
Is it overpriced? Yes. But it could become a turning point in her life and I would hate to pass it up.

[/quote]

Personally I don't believe in paying to experience the turning points in my life. Although you'd be sure to have a great time (they would in any scenario when a couple hundred high school students spend a few days away from home over the summer). I would say it adds something between zero and 0.75 attractiveness points to an application. So if $2000 means nothing to you then by all means go ahead because it'll be a fun experience.</p>

<p>As for it being "non-profit", that really doesn't mean anything. All that matters is how much you're paying, what you're getting out of it, and how sketchy or legit the program is. In this case, it's legit, and that's all that matters. I know 3-4 nonprofits (501(c)(3)'s) founded by some friends that still make money off their customers/participants/users and provide all kinds of services.</p>

22

<p>Whenever I get anything in the mail I turn to the Better Business Bureau. So despite all the back and forth from the pros and the cons in this thread, I simply rely on the professionals to tell me if a company is honest or not. The BBB states that the CYLC has an unfavorable file...that's all I need to know.</p>

23

<p>it's been a year and a half since S1 went to a week at CYLC. i still look at it very favorably, as he learned a lot, enjoyed it etc. But, i have to say the follow-up propaganda we receive from them is remarkable. They are fishing for a response to 'help plan for college' or ‘learn about financial aid’. i ignore it. I’m guessing there’s a for-profit piece to that end of it?
Also worth noting: Anyone can be nominated. S1 was able to nominate S2 for the program...and now S2 gets all kinds of mailings about how special he is to be nominated. kind of puts their criteria into a different light.
My advice is to treat it like a good summer camp, not any kind of an ‘honor’ to attend.<br>
I still recommend it to those who ask, but it’s got to be because the kid has an interest in the subject (government) and you have the $ to afford the week.</p>

24

<p>My daughter has gotten these fancy “nominations” before but they were always way over priced so i never considered it, this one is affordable it seems but i really want to know is it worth it, do they just shuffle these kids around more like a tour or just observing? Are there other smart kids there that it will be beneficial for her to have conversations with . whats the sleeping \roomate situation? what do you really do there? i know i saw the schedule/iten online but what really happens. help concerned mom who really cant afford it but doesnt want my daughter who really is an a student to miss out on a life experience if it will be beneficial add character?</p>

25

<p>most of the posts prior to your will answer your questions. there are decidedly two points of view on this, but I’d say it’s a worthwhile experience IF you can afford it. Nothing ‘special’ about being nominated though. you said you are a :
"concerned mom who really cant afford it " so i’d say skip it.</p>

26

<p>There are summer camps which cost much less, last longer, and offer more.</p>

27

<p>I just would like to say that when I received the letter in the mail telling me my daughters teacher recommended her for her academic achievement,outstanding leader ship and maturity for her age, it was very believable to me because Chelsea Rose is all of the aforementioned. I was excited to the point of tears. Unfortunately she being smarter than me and checked into it and called me very upset when she found out it was not EVERYTHING it appeared to be putting it nicely. Now she was crying because she felt I would be disappointed, which of course I was. That goes to show you what an extraordinary kid she is and as her teacher said very mature for her age, I yhink it is horrible to give people such high hopes believing this is something very special and select when in fact it’s just another money making angle. SHAME on YOU!!!</p>

28

<p>I just received a letter from the CYLC for my daughter as well. I know she is special and don’t need anyone to tell me so. I would ensure that you mention to Chelsea that you don’t need anyone to tell you that she is an extraordinary kid.
As for the program, it probably is a great time for the attendees but what wouldn’t be. I would follow the other posters advise and look for alternative opportunities that may not be as expensive if you want to spend that kind of money.</p>

29

<p>First off, I’d like to say that I am an alumna of some of the various conferences of CYLC. I participated in NYLSC in Austin, Texas in September of 2004 when I was a freshman in high school. Then I participated in NYLC in the summer of 2006 when I was getting ready to enter my junior year of high school. The following summer in 2007, I participated in GYLC. The final conference I participated in was the UPIC or (Unversity Presidential Inaugural Conference) in January of 2009 for the presidential election of Barack Obama. If I could do these conferences all over again, I most certainly would. Not only are these conferences fun, but they really do inspire you to go out there and make a difference in your community. I was nominated to attend NYLSC by my 8th grade US history teacher. I could not be happier that my teacher turned me on to these amazing conferences. I don’t know where I would be today without CYLC. Being able to participate in these conferences has been amazing. I made so many friends, learned so much more about politics than I ever knew before, and was able to do things in Washington D.C., and New York City that I may have not had the chance to do otherwise. I can’t stress enough, how much I loved and enjoyed the various conferences that I attended through CYLC. They were amazing! I am currently a sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, and I really don’t think I would be where I am today, without the influence of these conferences. Thanks! </p>

<p>-If you have any questions in regard to sending your kids to one of these conferences, don’t hesitate to contact me! I will answer any and all questions you may have.</p>

30

<p>Yes, we got a letter today and I feel that if teachers did recommend a child for this conference (9 days in the summer), they would at least name the school and teacher that nominated your child. My daughter has been doing a lot of work on her own over the years with the local United Nations Association as well as National Council for International Visitors Citizen Diplomacy Program and loves bringing awareness to many of the peace organizations and Millennium Development Goals. </p>

<p>She is also a theater geek and attended theater camp for many years, but realized she would rather move forward with pre=college programs (which all cost a fortune, so I don’t see why people would attack this particular program). Oxbridge programs in Europe run by a Baruch professor are a ton of money and they give you a transcript that you can attach to your college app but so what? With this CYLC note, they are now stating that you can earn college credits (which they didn’t do before as I used to get the pamphlets on the different types of programs: theater (which to me would be a waste and was not impressive since we live in the NYC tri-state area and they are not doing anything special - not a good program if you are seriously into theater btw), law, government, medicine, etc.</p>

<p>In this year’s note, they took about how they are partnering with George Mason University (and say that for 3 yrs has been recognized by USNews and World Reports as one of the top 10 universities to WATCH) and the credits could be earned through them. They kept referring to my daughter as a “National Scholar,” and although she is in a rigorous private school, it is difficult to get high B’s let alone A’s with a curriculum as tough as this one. Again they did not name her school, and if they canvass schools, they would at least mention it. Even those scam college counseling services mentioned my daughter’s school (which was creepy). They are also adding this year a special college admissions seminar (don’t know if they did that in the past) where my daughter (or insert name of your child) can meet A COLLEGE COUNSELOR (could it be from George Mason University? or another company they partner with? doesn’t say). </p>

<p>They are sending the "personal invitation with a personal invitation number and a phone number to contact the Dean of Academic Affairs Marguerite Regan, PH.D. </p>

<p>They did not mention they are a non-profit nor do they say it will enhance your resume, so that is a plus, but they do play up the life-changing skills your child will gain.</p>

31

<p>I don’t know if anyone still looks at this thread, but I’m posting this in case anyone else is doing research like I was.</p>

<p>Today my son received the fancy invitation from CYLC, and my wife was extremely excited. She was trying to decide which teacher had nominated him, and talked with him about the wonderful experience it would be. Me being the grouchy Dad, I did some research on the internet. Mostly I could just find mixed reviews like on this site, but nothing definitive. Then I found an article from the NY Times dated April 2009, stating that they had lost their Better Business Bureau in February 2009. That’s enough for this grouchy Dad to throw the material away. You can make your own decisions. Below is a link to the NY Times site, and I’m pasting the first page of the article below, Since I hear the NY Times will start charging soon.</p>

<p><a href=“Congratulations! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch.) - The New York Times”>Congratulations! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch.) - The New York Times;

<p><times article=“” -=“” sorry=“” copyright=“” nazis=“”></times></p>

<p>Congratulations! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch.)
Tyrone Turner for The New York Times</p>

<p>ON THE PROGRAM Leadership conferees visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial last November.</p>

<pre><code>* Twitter

  • Sign In to E-Mail
  • Print
  • Single Page
  • ShareClose
    o Linkedin
    o Digg
    o Mixx
    o MySpace
    o Permalink
    </code></pre>

<p>o</p>

<p>By DIANA JEAN SCHEMO
Published: April 13, 2009</p>

<p>The offer that arrived in Emily Wharton’s mailbox looked and sounded more like an Academy Award than a sales pitch. In fancy script, on weighty card stock adorned by a giant gold seal, the letter congratulated Ms. Wharton for the honor of being nominated to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. It counted 366 members of the United States Congress on its honorary Congressional board of advisers. It told her that she would represent the state of New York and promised a “lifetime advantage” and “valuable addition” to her résumé. It used words like “elite,” “distinguished,” “select.”
Skip to next paragraph
Multimedia
You’ve Got MailGraphic
You’ve Got Mail
Education Life
Go to Special Section »</p>

<p>Enlarge This Image
Tony Cenicola/The New York Times</p>

<p>IMPRESSIVE? A mailing from the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.</p>

<p>Ms. Wharton, a junior at Mamaroneck High School in Westchester County, N.Y., tingled with pride on reading it. “It makes you feel very unique and gifted,” she says.</p>

<p>The Whartons did not respond to the invitation. Still, Emily’s mother, Philippa, received an electronic elbow in the ribs every few days: more than a dozen e-mail messages from the group’s managing director of education, reminding her of enrollment deadlines and offering testimonials from participants and fund-raising tips.</p>

<p>The company that organized the conference, a direct-mail powerhouse called the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, runs an alphabet soup of such conferences that it says are attended by 50,000 students a year. It solicits recommendations from teachers and alumni of previous conferences, and it culls names from mailing lists, for which the council paid $263,000 in 2006 alone, according to its last filing with the Internal Revenue Service, before it gave up its nonprofit status.</p>

<p>Philippa Wharton has saved all the solicitations, she says, “because they irritate me.”</p>

<p>“I like to build my kids up, but on real accomplishments,” she says. “It’s just too much. Instead of coming right out and saying, ‘We organize these wonderful trips to Washington, and you can meet all these other kids who are interested in government and motivated,’ they play up the honor angle. It’s like a marketing scam.”</p>

<p>In fact, the conferences, like many on offer, manage to attract engaged students from around the country. For the Washington gatherings, “scholars” (as conference-goers are called) bunk at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, a brick Georgian flanked by a dining hall and meeting rooms, just outside the city. During their parent-free trip, students role-play political situations, attend workshops, hear speakers and sightsee, and it culminates in a dinner and dance at a local hotel. The young participants generally give the trips positive reviews: surveys by the council show close to 97 percent satisfaction, and many conferees later recommend friends.</p>

<p>But the big promises in its mailings and the sheer volume of its business have gotten the company into trouble in the last few months. At least one lawsuit has been filed over its conference during the inauguration, and in February, after nearly 25 years in operation, it lost its Better Business Bureau accreditation.</p>

<p>At least 15,000 students, many of them alumni, signed up for the event before knowing the election’s outcome. The invitation promised they would “share firsthand the excitement and ceremony of the inauguration of the president and vice president of the United States.” Students did hear marquee speakers — Al Gore and Colin L. Powell — but many have complained they were left largely on their own during the inauguration and parade, to which they thought they had special viewing, and were shut out of crowded panels and other events.</p>

<p>“You’re told it’s very selective, it wasn’t at all,” says Rasheed Hamdan, a graduate of American Military University. He flew in from Baja California Sur, Mexico, for the conference, the first he had ever attended. He had special business cards printed up and bought a tuxedo for an advertised black-tie gala, which turned out not to be formal or an official ball but, he says, a “glorified prom night.”</p>

<p>Parents paid $2,300 to $3,000 for students to attend the four-day program, a total of more than $40 million.</p>

<p>Malcolm Evans, a sophomore at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, left the conference early in frustration. “For that much money, and the way the stuff was worded, it seemed like you would have a much more personal and exclusive experience,” he says. To view the inauguration, he had to trek out at 2 a.m. to stake a spot at a lamppost along Pennsylvania Avenue.</p>

<p>The lawsuit was filed in New York by a father who says his 12-year-old daughter attended the conference but ended up watching the swearing-in on television.</p>

<p>Richard Rossi, a co-founder of the council and the company that owns it, Envision EMI, says there was a great demand to attend the conference, and with a staff of nearly 1,000 on hand, he believed that the company was well prepared. The logistical challenges proved overwhelming, though. “We were operating in almost a war zone, literally a presidential state of emergency,” he says. “There were a lot of things going on that were inconveniencing even V.I.P.’s.”</p>

<p>Still, he adds, the majority of participants “had a positive to transformational experience.”</p>