<p>I got invited to this too( and last year) but i didn’t go…but one of my friend’s did and she strongly encouraged me for anyone to try it out…like 411 and sk8 said she had a blast and made friends she still talks today…</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html</a></p>
<p>Is just found this article, see page 5. We normally toss these invitations and have opted for things like the Congressional Award.</p>
<p>I have never heard of this until now.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten invitations for two years now… I thought it looked cool, but my dad wouldn’t let me go because he thought it was a scam.</p>
<p>My friend went to like the junior one to DC a few years ago and she hated it, but I still think it would be fun to go.</p>
<p>My teacher wants to nominate me but I don’t know what it’s about can you please explain it to me.</p>
<p>Ummm - students - you’re on these boards because you’re wanting to go to BS. There are raucous debates about the merits of one school over another. And yet you’re recommending a program that :</p>
<ol>
<li>relies on blind mailing lists to make “cold calls.”</li>
<li>nominations from teachers who have never experienced the program and don’t know better</li>
<li>a program that was forced to drop it’s nonprofit status (nonprofits have to spend at least 5% of their revenue - this one spent 1.7% even as they raked in millions.</li>
<li>has an “F” rating at the Better Business Bureau</li>
</ol>
<p>Take that money and put it somewhere useful. The Adcom interviewed for the article has already said she’s seeing more and more kids with that credit on their resume and it’s meaningless.</p>
<p>So if you want to spend the money for a fun summer camp in which the organizers are making millions - be my guest. A friend of mine is an investigative reporter who looked into a student death at another organization that “touts” its overpriced trips to students. Then she figured out that all those “honorary” Congress people aren’t even aware they’re on an advisory board.</p>
<p>Caveat emptor. It’s a lot of money for something that won’t count later in life. And they’re counting on the fact that you’ve got deep pockets and don’t know better.</p>
<p>It just wants your money. I promise. My bro did it and said he learned nothing. Not to offend, but he said “it was for rejects”</p>
<p>Whether programs like this have merit or not is kind of beside the point. I don’t like the way they try to make the kids feel like they have been chosen based on some kind of merit when in fact, it’s a typical “pay to play” program. If you can afford it, you can go. You’d probably have a great time. The only “selection” that happens is whether they the marketing firm they bought your address from thinks you have the money and inclination to go.</p>
<p>We just added it to recycle bin along with the letters from Who’s Who Among People Who Are On Our Mailing List and People to People “nominations.”</p>
<p>I have recieved this invite as well, but decided not to go. First of all, it costs about $2,000 for a week, and second, it does not really provide exceptional oppurtunities. It is not a scam, but I seriously doubt that going will open many windows, as it is not at all exclusive. In my school, the top few students in each class got invited. To give you an idea, there are about 12 kids per class. That would mean that around 1/4 of the kids got invited. Perhaps, though, as I live near D.C., I don’t fully appreciate the value of studying in the nation’s capital. So, if you are set on going, and can easily afford it, then, by all means, go! Don’t be flattered into going, however. I nearly was ;)</p>
<p>I received a letter from a similar program (People to People) that told me I was eligible for a trip to France. In the end, I decided not to go. Personally, it cost WAY too much money (I’m not rich), I’ve also went to France already, and it didn’t sound all that exceptional. If you’re looking for a vacation, then go ahead. But prestige or a life-changing experience? I don’t think so!</p>
<p>We did PTP after my daughter got her “invitation” and begged us to let her go. Although my daughter had a great time, the trip is grossly overpriced, they wait until after the “no refund” deadline to add additional fees such as “fuel surcharge” and the faculty didn’t want to come home early so they delayed getting medical help for a student until the last evening. While they were gone my D pointed out the other kids began drinking in the hotel.</p>
<p>How about this - you can do the SYA summer program for a LOT less money and you’ll stay 5 weeks in full immersion compared with 2 of mostly vacation with a few days of host family stay (maybe) in the PTP program. </p>
<p>So imagine my shock when an investigative reporter I know, was contacted by a parent whose son’s trip overlapped my D’s (from a different state). He died after begging the faculty to take him to the hospital and they waited until he was in crisis.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/p2p_hill.html[/url]”>http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/p2p_hill.html</a></p>
<p>PTP now floods our home with requests that we “nominate” D’s friends in exchange for a drawing for scholarship funds, and they’ve implemented a PTP trip for doctors. Figure they’ve squeezed all the blood out of the student turnips and are now going after the pocketbooks.</p>
<p>I’ll say it again - these places were created to take your money and give you something of less value in return. The hucksters have spent years polishing their act to sound legitimate. Buyer beware. It’s an expensive vacation geared towards kids with deep pockets or family members wiling to fund raise.</p>
<p>OH MY GOD…how could those people do that. I thought I was missing out on a great deal originally when we said no to PTP…thank goodness I didn’t go!</p>
<p>Oh - they have a new angle now. My DH is getting bombarded with PTP’s new promotion - overseas cultural visits for physicians – yawn.</p>
<p>I’m sure they mined his name from our daughter’s application. Only after we kept ignoring those almost monthly “dear parent of PTP student” I’m sure you want to nominate your (niece, nephew, cousin, pet, other child, potential fetus, etc…)</p>
<p>This kind of stuff blows you away.</p>
<p>Another y…a…w…n…
My daughter works in the summer…full time.</p>
<p>I second the YAWN–parents, encourage your kids to find something on their own this summer instead of the tired programs that seem to suggest that student can only participate in school and ECs where the idea is handed to them by some structured program, or worse, if mommy and daddy pay. So tired of these . . . For you IVY-crazed parents, I attended an admissions workshop (for one of the coveted) where the DOA pointed out they too are sooooo tired of every kid writing about building latrines in Guatemala: “Really, there must be more latrines than fannies at this point!”</p>
I received a mail saying that i have selected for the global young leaders conference
however i don’t know who nominated me. is it possible to find out who nominated me and i am more interested in a mother programme, can I change the programme??
Hi I really encourage you to read the articles about how this is a huge for profit business that feeds off the ambitions of students and their families.