<p>Hey I’ve been getting letters and such (like all of us) from those Leadership programs, like CYLC, NYLC, People to People, etc.</p>
<p>Which one is actually good? Meaning they don’t just give it to everybody?</p>
<p>The ones that are most impressive are the ones that you don’t get mailings about: These are ones that you get nominated for by your school, and being nominated means that only one or two students are nominated, not that anyone who has a pulse is nominated. </p>
<p>These include the Hugh O’Brian Leadership program for h.s. sophomores and Girls State and Boys State.</p>
<p>If your Chamber of Commerce has a select leadership program for high school students, that, too, is an impressive achievement. Usually such programs are citywide, require an extensive application and only a few students are chosen.</p>
<p>As a general guide, any “select” program that requires a lot of money to participate in usually isn’t that impressive to top colleges. Exceptions are things like being named as your region’s representative to the D.C. Hugh O’Brian conference. That does cost some money (but not the kind of money that the programs you mentioned do), but it is truly an honor because only one or two students from a region are selected to go, and that selection is based on their performance at the regional conference, not how much $ their parents have.</p>
<p>Getting the Girl Scout Gold Award or becoming an Eagle Scout also are impresive.</p>
<p>The programs that you mentioned certainly probably are enjoyable and would teach you some things, but despite their fancy packaging, they aren’t impresive to the top colleges because such colleges have students for whom even the type of programs that I mentioned are not the most stellar ECs for applciants. They programs that you mentioned, however, may be impressive to lower ranked colleges , however, because such colleges may have an abundance of applicants who prefer to only chill out during the summer, not do any kind of structured activities.</p>
<p>I went to the NSLC Medicine in DC at American U. Overall, it was a great experience. I listened to lectures by some great professors and directors at NIH. In addition, I felt that prolly around 50% of the kids are pretty qualified, all the kids on my hall had SATs above 2100. And yes, the Hugh O brian might be prestigious because only a few kids get chosen, but this kid at my school who got chosen, definitely has no shot at any top 20 school. All he did was go in front of the city hall every weekend and hold up anti-Bush posters. no joke…</p>
<p>I went to NSLC US Policy & Politics last summer @ AU myself… it was a lot of fun, but I certainly didn’t go to impress colleges. It was good in that it was structured activity, but I don’t think top-tier schools would really care that much about it. I still learned a good deal and had a good time, though. Not a bad way to spend two weeks.</p>
<p>One of the most impressive leadership programs is the US Senate Youth Program - 2 students from each state selected by exam. It’s not only free but includes a $5000 scholarship. Here’s the link <a href=“Page Not Found | Hearst Foundations”>http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/</a></p>
<p>People to People is a great program. If you are going for a Congressional Medal, it counts towards it. I don’t know if colleges look at it but the experiences are terrific. My son has done 2, Yosemite & Australia-New Zealand and although they’re not cheap, they are a great value. They do so many things.</p>
<p>My son got an invite to the NYLC from our school principal but I’ve heard mixed reviews. I’m looking for info.</p>
<p>I know that the Outward Bound Program is also endorsed by the Congressional Medal Awards and is something you might consider also. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I’ve heard the ones looked most favorably upon by admissions are the ones where costs are covered for everyone selected, because they usually are more competitive. However that doesn’t mean that all programs you pay for aren’t worth it/don’t look good but keep in mind if it’s one where tons of kids each year go to it it’s not going to make you stick out or anything. If your state has a Governor’s School summer program, you might look into applying for that.</p>
<p>I went to HOBY and NSLC Diplomacy Abroad. All I have to say is those two, especially NSLC Abroad was THE most memorable seminar I have ever been to (my picture is on their website too :D). </p>
<p>NSLC is open to anyone I think, and HOBY is very selective. HOBY = suck up to the faculty who gets the mailings. HOBY alumni are actually supposed to go to their HS and remind their faculty to select 2 kids.</p>
<p>I’ve been to NSLC for med, and it was okay. I had a much better time at Boys State though(plus it costed me nothing). Anyone know if Boys State has any kind of impact on college apps?</p>
<p>Boys State is impressive particularly if one gets to go to Boys Nation or gets a top position in your state.</p>
<p>I will second that Boys/Girls State is impressive especially if you get a top position or go to Boys/Girls Nation, I feel it helped me. Yet, most of all it is simply a great program for you as a person regardless if it is impressive or not.</p>
<p>Everyone that I know that has gone has loved it and has kept friends and experiences from it for years!</p>
<p>The HOBY world leadership congress was the best conference I will ever go to!!! some of the most memerable and inspiring 9 days of my life</p>
<p>My Son just got back from NYLC(CYLC)- didn’t do it for college, but for the experience. It was a lot of money, but he said he met great people and was very busy the whole time. These conferences seem to be what you make of them- if you are interested in politics you will probably enjoy them more.</p>
<p>My son is in DC right now attending the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law – he recieved a full scholarship, so the cost was not a factor (he has a job that pays for the plane ticket and spending money).</p>
<p>How it looks on his college application was not a factor in deciding to attend – rather, he is trying to learn more about law. He is an attorney for the local Teen Court, but he isn’t able to participate in debate or mock trials, so the forum appealed to him.</p>
<p>all the organizations are legitimate that you mentioned – in the sense that they give you a service for your money and that most people are satisfied that the program was good.</p>
<p>The question you have to ask yourself – why do you want to go and is that the best investment of your time and money. My son was also invited to attend a program on science and medicine – he has absolutely no interest in those areas and thus the program did not appeal to him.</p>
<p>I will add my vote for HOBY – my son attended and I noticed a real change in him when he came back. It was a fantastic program and he is now an officer of the alumni board for Colorado HOBY.</p>
<p>This kinda goes without saying but don’t pay attention to NSLC. I went summer 2005 for Int’l Diplomacy and LOL…I was bored the entire time! I don’t know what it’s like for the other areas, but anyone who’d been to just one Model UN conference didn’t learn <em>anything</em>. The “leadership” activities were lame. The only thing worth it, in its design, are the chance to meet some cool people, both celebrity (Hillary Clinton for instance) and at the conference–the college kid advisors were amazing. But <em>I</em> was considered wayyy advanced and incredibly intelligent by everyone there. It was a joke! Worth the 2,000 dollars to meet some great people, but if you’re interest in prestige LOOK AT OTHER STUFF…PLEASE! If your HYP material NSLC <em>will</em> bore you. </p>
<p>The only thing stuff like NSLC is good for is demonstrated interest.</p>