<p>i just got one for the medical one so i did some research on it. i think it's a waste of money because most hospitals have a free program that allows students to follow a doctor around and ask questions.</p>
<p>I just received a letter from NYLF/MED and the only reason I am going to attedn next summer is because my cousin attend 4 years back when she was a senior and to pay for her trip she got sponsors. I am going to have people donate money and sponsor so that I can attend.</p>
<p>I hope you don't do one of those things where you mail all of your family friends and asked them to donate money for your overpriced trip.</p>
<p>It can come off as very tacky, as people feel obligated to give you something.</p>
<p>I'm a high school teacher, and last year one of my students attended this forum. I'm pretty skeptical about such programs, but for what it's worth:</p>
<p>during the forum, I received daily emails purportedly describing what experiences my student was having, and afterwards they informed me that my student had "selected me to nominate" my high-achieving students for subsequent programs. This year they have contacted me a number of times asking me to nominate students based on "academic excellence and leadership potential".</p>
<p>So -- there may be some substance to the claim that students are nominated, but their business model seems to be circular: flatter students by making them feel singled out, pump them for teacher names, flatter teachers by making them feel singled out, pump them for student names.... rinse, repeat.</p>
<p>Im Jon and Im a Sophomore at Rutgers College of Engineering
I went to NYLF/DID (the last session of defense, intelligence and diplomacy before it became national security) and as a graduate and someone who went through the college admissions process already i think i can shed some light. when you are applying to your top schools (ie. Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, UChicago, Notre Dame ect.) it is seen as another activity but a GREAT conversation when your in your interview, my interview for UChicago almost absolutely revolved around my NYLF experience, but it is not a sure fire way to get in. i made a lot of friends there and almost all of us did not get into our top choice schools but were wait listed or something like that but our top schools were also extremely hard to get into (Dartmouth, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Middleburry, UChicago, Georgetown ect.) one friend got into Wellsley in mass and transferred to Columbia but she had a 2250 SAT. the program will not make up for low admissions stats but will shine for those with requisite stats.
But that does not say that the program is useless. over the summer when i applied for internships and jobs, it is something i included on my resume and each interview it was something that came up and i received offers from everywhere, even the GOP National Committee to be a field director for the McCain Campaign.
In short, the program is a highlight for those who will benefit from it. if your going to do it to get into your dream college, its a waste. however, if you are truly interested in the field you will be attending the conference in it is the experience of a LIFETIME im saying this 4 years later 2 years into college with a lot of additional experiences under my belt. you meet literally with the best minds in the field. we had an under secretary for the navy come speak and assistant director of the CIA. and the staff is some of the top of their field, my group's head was working on her Ph.D. in government from Dartmouth and they all care DEEPLY about the students and the program.
Before i go out an a rant about how good the program, let me end by reiterating my point: If your doing it to get into a dream school because it will look good, please, dont waste your time, your parents money and ruin the experience for everyone else who is into it. BUT if you truly enjoy the topic in your forum, you will leave with a clear comprehension about your interest and it will most likely be one of the best weeks in your life!!</p>
<p>if you have any questions or comments about this, email me @ <a href="mailto:icemanx193@aol.com">icemanx193@aol.com</a></p>
<p>Good luck with everything!</p>
<p>I have never gone with People to People, so I cannot say anything about their program, but I can tell you by being on two CYLC programs that they are a complete waste of time.
I participated in a National Youth Leadership State Conference, and this year I went on the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference.</p>
<p>The NYLSC was 4 days of me and other kids from the surrounding states in a conference room in a hotel. We talked about what it was to be a leader and played "games" that weren't very fun. I felt bad for those who came to New Orleans for the first time because they never left the hotel - we didn't see actual sunlight for four days. This was a waste of time, but the other students from my school and I just figured that it would look good on our college applications.</p>
<p>This January I went with their program again to Washington D.C. to see the Inauguration of the 44th and first African American President. I figured that they would have everything planned out, set up and that everything would run on schedule. This never happened, and you can type it into google to hear numerous accounts of other students who weren't fed, didn't get to their hotels until 3 o'clock in the morning, or even didn't get to see the Inauguration. I have typed up my account of what happened to me the days I went there and as of right now it is almost 6 pages long. It details how we had to wait in line at the airport for almost 2 hours to get checked in (we never really did ) - how others we talked to later had stood in that line for 6 - 7 hours and never got food - how I was almost separated from the other girl I was flying with - how we were just dropped off in the middle of no where and told to just meet up in a couple of hours - how we were deserted during the actual inauguration and were surrounded by no other scholars - and this list goes on and on. If you think all this sounds bad, think of a little kid doing this as well as PYIC also had 6th, 7th and 8th graders participating - and just think , I live in New Orleans, and I am used to the crowds during Mardi Gras and the antics that happen there, but a little 6th grader who lives in some small rural town in Minnesota would have no idea how to get out of the large crowds we were in, and would have been left on multiple occassions as the bus I was on did to multiple students.</p>
<p>Please I urge you to not send any of yourselves or your children on any of the CYLC.org programs. Your child has not been nominated as a select scholar, they send out more invitations than spots and the students who are chosen are chosen by random.</p>
<p>I did NYLC last year.........save your money. Total joke.</p>
<p>The Youth Leadership Program sent my daughter an email which gave her the impression that they thought she might want to work for the C.I.A. My daughter had just recently gone to see a movie about Daniel Ellsberg. She wrote them a letter about Daniel Ellsberg. Now her father and I don’t like to think that a little girl like our daughter could be writing about her political beliefs to God knows who. We think that they should not have access to the email addresses of minors.</p>
<p>hey everyone…im new to this but ummm anyways i got a letter for youth leadership program and i was wondering how i can make it a forsure thing that i will get in…can i get a responce from anyone who has been to it</p>
<p>It is legitimate. As a high school gifted counselor, I have had students who participated in various NYLF programs and all came back motivated and enlightened. Although not as highly selective as the literature may imply, most of the students who attend are interested in opportunities beyond the classroom that will help them prepare for college. Any experience that exposes students to experts in a field of interest can impact career and college planning. The students also tend to form connections with fellow participants that last through high school. If you don’t have to fly to get there, I think the cost for a 5 night, 6 day enrichment camp is reasonable. No doubt, a local internship may be cheaper, but the overall experience would not compare.</p>
<p>S1 participated the NYLF medicine program in Chicago two years ago. He loved it. Still connected with friends made over there. Worth the cost? Only tangible out-come is that he knows what is required to get into medical school. After this camp, he has a better understanding. Although no decisions made either way, (he is about to get into college this fall, thus too early to tell), I think it may pay off longer term.</p>
It’s obvious that you are affiliated with NYFL