<p>Becky 12..the cost is $2,185 plus $99 for Optional Travel Protection Plan...plus the cost of your transportation .. they will send out a release to all your local newspapers....that is one expensive newspapead...... they accept students with 3.5 gpa[ or higher but......if you don't have a 3.5 (they will accept you because you can pay)</p>
<p>I actually went to one of the leadership conferences, it was a wonderful experience. The experience is expensive, and it's not something that will get you into college on its own, but it's really worth it if you can do it. I met some great kids from all over the country while I was in D.C. Most programs are expensive, but many of them, not just the leadership ones, but the college ones as well, are worth the experience. I truly enjoyed my experiences both at the leadership conference and at a program I did at St. Paul's School.</p>
<p>Actually, those special summer classes for high school students at the prestigious colleges seem to be something of a scam, too. You offer a class at Harvard for high school students trying to beef up their resumes for college applications and charge a few thou for it....</p>
<p>(I posted this before I saw the prev post. I'm sure the conferences and summer classes are good experiences, but whether or not they are worth it is related to how much the money means to you.)</p>
<p>The SAT reasoning test is absurd. The formation of the new test was motivated solely by money--the California colleges threatened to switch to ACT if the test didn't fit thier needs. Realizing this would have a tremendous financial impact the college board changed the test. Further, the SAT requires roughly four hours to take and the company is able to use experimental sections on paying test takers already exhausted from completing section after section of material.</p>