I didn’t apply for it, nor did I ever hear about this existing before. It says that I was selected and all I want to know is if it is worth it or not.
I was never really dead-set on Business, but still.
I would not plan on doing it for the sole sake of looking better on my college Applications. I would do it for the experience and to also GAIN experience and things of that nature.
It sounds interesting, but I am afraid that it is a scam like NSHSS
I would honestly love to do this so that I could learn more and have a great experience
Also for people who have done this in the past, do you reccomend this program and are there financial aid options?
Haven’t heard of it. When you are solicited without expressing interest, in general, it’s good to run.
When they say earn college credit, well that depends on the college. Don’t assume it’s the host - who are likely providing facility and stuff for a fee.
Personally, I don’t think doing this helps at all for college. If 8 days is worth $5K to you and you think you’d learn about business to see if it’s an interest, then I’d say great. Go on to step school which is to find reviews and even ask them for some recommenders you can contact who went through.
But if you ran for the hills or found a local, free or low cost program, I’d personally prefer that.
So if you deem it credible, then it’s a question of, do you find value in it.
This is what Google sez in response to my question if it was a scam:
“ The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF), run by Envision (WorldStrides), is not a technical scam—it is a real, operational for-profit program that delivers the educational activities it promises. However, it is widely considered a “pay-to-play” marketing pitch rather than an exclusive honor. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Facts About NYLF
How You Got Invited: The “nomination” letters are sent to thousands of students based on mass marketing, standardized test data (such as College Board or school lists), or basic surveys, rather than selective academic achievement. [1, 2, 3]
Cost: Tuition typically ranges from $2,000 to over $3,000+ (and up to nearly $7,000 for longer sessions), not including travel or extra expenses. [1, 2]
College Admissions Value: College admissions officers generally do not view NYLF as a prestigious distinction or an impressive credential. It is a summer camp experience, not an award. [1, 2, 3]
Participant Experience: Feedback is mixed. Some students enjoy meeting peers, exploring a college campus, or hearing from guest speakers in fields like medicine or law. Others feel the content is basic, overcrowded, or vastly overpriced compared to local community college courses, volunteer work, or independent internships. [1, 2, 3]”
It’s pay-to-play, and I don’t know about financial aid options. The “invitation” is also not as exclusive as it sounds as you can just apply if you want. That said - my kid did the engineering one and another classmate did the medicine/healthcare one in the summer before senior year - a few kids in their physics class were “nominated” for various ones by their teacher. My kid and their classmate both really enjoyed the programs and felt they learnt a lot. It was also a fun intro to dorm living on a campus. It’s not going to be any advantage in college admissions because it’s pay-to-play, and I’m not sure it would be worth doing for a subject you’re not that interested in, but if it’s an area that interests you that you want to explore further it’s worth a look. You may want to see if any of their other programs interest you more than business.
