national student leadership conference?

<p>Just got a letter today from this organization. Are they legit? Kinda random, because I did bad on the PSAT. I don't know how I got the letter. It just says that I was identified as a leader and an academically excellent student from my school. Makes no sense really. </p>

<p>Can anyone shed some light please. It's expensive to go to it, but if it's legit, I wanna go. Oh, and they have different leadership "programs" and I'd be going to the Health and Medical one. Seems awesome. Says you can do simulated sutures, knots, etc. But again, idk if its legit. Thanks! </p>

<p>EDIT: You can go to UC-Berkely for it, or UMaryland, or UChicago or Northwestern. THose are legit uni's, but not sure about the entire program....and why me? I am a leader in my own mind, but like PSAT score sucked. I got this along with those persuasive letters that uni's send in the mail. (I got one from OSU today)</p>

<p>National</a> Student Leadership Conference</p>

<p>NVM, apparently PSAT and SAT scores aren’t taken into account. My grades in school and stuff are good, but I wanna know more about this program. Any info. pls. share. You can get recommended by your school, but I highly doubt my school did that, like my GCs don’t know anything about Canadian applications, let alone US programs</p>

<p>If you want to do it because you actually want to do it and have fun…go ahead…</p>

<p>If you’re doing it for the prestige and college apps, don’t. </p>

<p>Read this: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/620019-national-student-leadership-conference.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/620019-national-student-leadership-conference.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you’re paying for something you didn’t originally apply for…generally it’s not worth it.</p>

<p>Thanks darksoulz. Yea, didn’t apply for it, maybe my GC did for me, but I didn’t. My PSAT sucked, but my grades are good. The universities are really good universities, why would they partake in such a program if its not even that prestigious? I mean, such schools have better things to do, don’t they? Like, why would they even want their name attached to such programs, besides the fact that it attracts kids who might not even be kids that’d go to their uni anyways (that thread you sent said that tonnes of ppl get letters).</p>

<p>Well, I wanted to go because it seemed super interesting. But, I mean, 3 grand for something thats not even relatively prestigious? Like, that has to be a factor. I don’t have money to throw around, so I’d wanna go to something that’s really interesting, but also, helps out in college apps., etc. 3grand for “just a good experience” isn’t worth it, there should be a little additional value.</p>

<p>As you said, it’s about money. </p>

<p>It’s not like you see an ivy-league name attached to it.</p>

<p>Yea, if there were an Ivy-or top schol name attached I’d go because I know its money well-spent, but as of now idk if i want to go to this thing</p>

<p>u can smell the scam…i got a letter from the people to people org. summer conference at hopkins, harvard, stanford, columbia, etc and i still thought it was a huge scam (5000 for 5 days of camp r u serious?..)</p>

<p>^holt *****! 1K a day?!!! are they on crack? </p>

<p>Yea, I don’t understand though. Like, I mean, they have a website and everything. Testimonials, Facebook page, tonnes of stuff that kind of proove that they are legit. NSLC seems really great that its at some top uni’s like NOrhtwestern, Chicago, etc. MY question is why are these top uni’s sponsoring or hosting these events/lending facilities? </p>

<p>Seems kind of contradictory. My dad thinks its a really awesome idea, but when i told him it seems too far fetched and isn’t even prestigious or worthy ot put on an app. he was like “You need to experience the real world. You are just trying to save money. blah blah blah”. Seems like these people convinced him…and all those ppl on their facebook page.</p>

<p>BUT, why are top uni’s taking part in these programs? I’m so confused. Like even if they get paid to do it, its not like they need the money and these programs aren’t even prestigious, so wouldn’t it just hurt their reputation as being such elite uni’s? like, i had a 183 PSAT, lmao, and I got a letter. I don’t think UChicago is looking for the next “leader” and “academic student” with a 183 PSAT.</p>

<p>I participated in the NSLC last summer in New York, and I can assure you it’s not a scam. Consider it an expensive summer camp that introduces you a to a particular profession. Do it only if you or your parents can comfortably afford it or if you can fundraise to cover the bulk of the cost. Do not do it for prestige, because the organization sends out invitations to all those who reported an acceptable GPA on the PSAT/SAT questionnaire and checked the box allowing communication from “talent search” organizations. Those who don’t receive the invitation can simply “pay to play” as long as they have at least a “B” average. The invitation and “press release” are simply marketing schemes designed to capture easily-flattered overachievers.</p>

<p>Despite its ethically dubious marketing strategy, the NSLC was a very fun 9 days for me. I didn’t learn much from it, but I got to tour New York, meet some Pepsi execs, and got to know some great people, some of whom I still talk to today. I also enrolled in the college credit option via American University and became friends with the PhD student who was leading the seminar. She wrote me a great letter of recommendation for my college applications and is somewhat of a mentor to me. That was the main thing I got out of the trip. I doubt this is a representative experience, though.</p>

<p>In sum, don’t expect to learn anything valuable or pad your resume. Do expect to have a good time, make new friends, participate in some leadership and career simulation workshops, and perhaps meet one or two important people. If you do choose to go, just make sure you choose a program in a city you’ve never been to before.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the info. I thought it’d be impossible to find someone (a canadian) who went to this program.</p>

<p>Yea, its expensive, and I’d like to go (parents don’t mind spending money if its for a good cause) but UofToronto has a medical youth summer program which seems just as interesting. You need to apply to it and stuff too.</p>

<p>Both seem like great options and seem to offer great opportunity (apparently at the UofT one, you get to use equipment med students use and such, so it’s great). I’m just thinking, if the UofT one is more ‘prestigious’ I’d go there (save some cash too). </p>

<p>What do you think? Are the UofT med summer program (its like a week long) be more prestigious? I might as well get more bang for my buck, don’t you think?</p>

<p>Np. Gives me an excuse to procrastinate on my paper!</p>

<p>Neither of these programs will win you any points on your (American) college apps – this I know. Like the NSLC, UofT’s “youth summer programs” are designed to be fun, not intellectually challenging. Just take a look at the “Academic Content” section for proof. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’d learn more (but again, not a lot) at the NSLC program if you were to enroll in the college credit option. You would also walk away with an official transcript American University, which is more “prestigious” than a congratulatory certificate, if you want to think of it that way.</p>

<p>But ultimately it comes down to a simple cost-benefit analysis. In my opinion, the best thing to do during the summer to improve your college app is to hold a full-time job or internship. Top colleges see “working kids” as contributors to the maturity and diversity of the class; alternatively, a medical internship would give you a much better glimpse into how things really work, as well as a possible recommender and/or mentor. Perhaps most important, both of these things would give you something legit to put on your resume, and your real-world resume is what matters once you get to college.</p>

<p>yea, I am a baseball umpire in the summer and an ice hockey referee in the winter.</p>

<p>How do I get an internship? Sorry if I seem so lost, its 'cause I am. I would honestly love to get a cool internship in a medical environment. So, what exactly is the process and are such opportunities available to me? And is an internship just like a work placement to gain experience? Do you get paid? I think it would be cool to get an internship maybe in an operating room so I can experience the pressure and environment.</p>

<p>I’m literally getting excited just thinking about this opportunity lol.</p>

<p>Inquire around for possible spots (start emailing hospitals) or ask your guidance office for anything. I know my school tries to find internships for students - a friend has one at some engineering firm that was set up by my school. He also gets paid (minimum wage though). The other half of the time is through connections. (I got my mentor that way). </p>

<p>You won’t get something in an OR because you’re still a high school student and it’s just not feasible to place you there.</p>