<p>they had other weeks to do the program, you should have picked one that was more justified for your child to attend.</p>
<p>Oh, let me tell you … this was the greatest experience in my life. I learned so much. The conferences were amazing. It could have been more expensive. At the conference I met people who told me that Harvard and Princeton admitted them just because they were alumni of this truly amazing organization. And then, the people who run it … omg, they would put Mother Teresa to shame. They actually spend some of their own money to run this organization. </p>
<p>I am so impressed that I felt the need to let you know. And, no, I do not work for those great souls. I just came here to let you know. And, of course, the fact that I have zero posts should attest to my integrity on that matter. </p>
<p>===============</p>
<p>What do they say about a fool and his or her money? Suckers are born everyday. The FBI should not have recruited Michael Douglas to scare rogue traders; Gordon Gekko should be on the gilded “recruiting” documents.</p>
<p>We have gotten those beautiful, EXPENSIVE invitations (and the accompanying letter just for us parents) and it screams SCAM to me! It’s just too official and perfect right down to the “newspaper article” folded and slipped inside. It is an expensive packaged program for those wealthy enough to afford it. Sounds like some people have attended and enjoyed it, but there is no merit involved, just a for profit business.</p>
<p>We throw them away. They are very “fancy” looking. I’m always disappointed when I realize what they are.</p>
<p>straight to the trash can. Better spent money on a family vacation to DC or Boston. Or a summer camp where you can master a skill outdoors or academically. Please do not put this as an accomplishment on your resume. Surprised that the guidance departments get hammered into giving out student names for this business. I am a homemaker with a graduate degree but get regular offers to see my name in Who’s Who books. For a price.</p>
<p>^^ I agree. Paying money to attend a ‘seminar’ is NOT looked upon as an example of ‘leadership’ by colleges. Mass mailings probably invite thousands with the intention of hooking a few and may even utilize flimsy selection critieria to imply selectivity. These are primarily money making efforts for those who run the program. Even non-profit organizations pay their workers a salary, so these are mostly money generating schemes for those who run them. If you were added to ‘who’s who’ when in college, other then paying for them to publish your name in book…what good did it serve?</p>
<p>I recently saw a family friend’s kid on Facebook saying how honored she was to be nominated, what a great program, how selective, etc. Her final line-“Let the fundraising begin!”</p>
<p>I hope she doesn’t come my way.</p>
<p>Hi guys, my son recently received an invitation a while ago, we were originally interested due to all the things it says. However, after some research and asking school counselors, this program is really just after profit. It is very expensive as we all know, and the program really isn’t as good as they put it. After several phone calls, they constantly push towards profit, and so we became dissatistfied. Also, having to miss school for a week would obviously create a huge impact on our child’s grades, even if they could make up the assignments. Do not fall for this, just toss it in the trash.</p>
<p>Hi
You commented on the National Youth forum and mentioned that you son found another program in Dc that he found valuable.</p>
<p>Could you tell me what it was and what other programs you may have looked at as well?</p>
<p>Thanks very much!</p>
<p>Kathy</p>
<p>While this post may be extremely old, the reason that people don’t just want to give the other kids a chance is that there are so many kids that it is not worth it. I received this letter from roman catholic and liberal arts school, which was a bit deterring. As important as your children may seem to you, they are just another application form to a college. Bolster you SAT scores and go to this place if you believe it helps. Colleges don’t want people who with tons of community service hours. </p>
<p>Hello, I have 4 kids who have all received this letter and they all have different academic abilities and none of them were truly nominated by anyone. I also have friends who have sent their child on this program because they have the means to do so and don’t want to believe their child wasn’t really nominated by a teacher or school official even though their child may be struggling academically and have very few outside interests.</p>
<p>It may be a wonderful program but I could not afford the fees. Instead, I have found very reasonable leadership week long camps on universities which cost about 250 for the week and your child spends the night and interacts with business leaders and professionals in the interested field. Why so inexpensive? because they are subsidized by the field of interest or a legitimate business association. </p>
<p>Also I have one son very interested in some sort of service field. I found he could spend a week with Vermont park rangers and also end up with a certification in a few different things. He went to this program 2 summers. We live in Pennsylvania and it still cost us only 200 bucks because the program was subsidized by the State of Vermont.</p>
<p>So I guess my point is programs are subsidized when the are truly about the topic and a nomination. My advice is steer clear of the expensive price tags with a fancy name …there are great programs out their just do some research!</p>