National Academy of future scientists and technologists

Besides poster #18, I don’t know of anyone who says they didn’t get tickets. My issue is the bloviated promises (which you seem inclined to believe) that make it not worth the value. When the for-profit org provides pseudo fake “press releases” for the students themselves to send to their local news outlets touting the program’s exclusivity (and the need for most kids to fund raise in order to afford the “honor”) – then it smells to high heaven.

As a matter of fact, participants generally have a good time. But as a boost to college applications? An for-profit venture aimed at anyone with a pulse and a 3.5 GPA or better and the $1200 to $1500 of fees – simply isn’t exclusive whatsoever. And colleges know it. Did you see the part where it promises to get you a recommendation letter from your kid’s advisor/chaperone? It’s a 20 year old college student who writes one for everyone in his/her assigned group. How valuable do you think THAT is going to be for your kid’s college application?

Receiving an invite is akin to getting invited to NSHSS or getting another app for a new Discover credit card.

It won’t boost her college app just for attending. It’s not like she earned some national award after years of dedication and savvy. Not like winning an admit to a rare state dept program or getting that NASA internship. It’s not even selective. It’s just another “pay to play” event held by a for-profit venture.

I know kids who attended the NYLF conference for medicine. They had a good time. The cost was chump change to their families.

But when adcoms see it, what do you think they think? OMG, this kid got the same invite thousands of others get and actually went??? She must be special?

so my daughter just got this in the mail tonight. i found this extremely odd, due to her grades being not up to par. so i started searching for more information. they are very convincing. im glad i stumbled upon this thread. im sure the program is very enlightening, but i dont have $1000 to send into the void, nor the money for air fair and lodging for three days.

Please don’t post to old threads. Glad you were able to find the reference using the search option.