New York Times story on "selective" summer programs

Pre-College Topics Summer Programs
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<p>[Congratulations</a>! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch.)](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html?_r=1&ref=education]Congratulations”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html?_r=1&ref=education)</p>

<p>From the story: </p>

<p>These ticker-tape parades in an envelope — the Congressional Youth Leadership Council tells potential participants they are “the nation’s most highly acclaimed students” and “most promising young leaders of tomorrow” — bewilder many parents and students. On the chat forum College Confidential, the thread begins in 2007: “I got this thing in the mail which I am not sure about. . . . Is it worth it? How does it look for college?” Others wonder: “Is it overpriced?” Is it “legit”? The thread continues into 2009.</p>

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<p>Thanks for posting the link.</p>

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<p>“People to People Ambassador Programs, which boasts of ties to Dwight D. Eisenhower, has had to apologize for sending invitations to its leadership programs to deceased children and an Arkansas family’s long-dead one-eyed cat.”</p>

<p>Priceless.</p>