<p>Can anyone tell me if the National Student Leadership Conference is worthwhile and an asset on college applications? It’s pretty expensive and I’m not sure my daughter should do it.</p>
<p>Some kids enjoy it, but it definitely is not an “asset on college applications”. It is not very selective, and the participation is mainly determined by the parents’ ability and/or willingness to pay for it.</p>
<p>A GOOD summer program to look at is Hillsdale’s: </p>
<p><a href=“404 Not Found - Hillsdale College”>404 Not Found - Hillsdale College;
<p>My 16yo went to Normandy Beach, London and Paris last year and is going to Rome this year. She loved it!</p>
<p>It’s a scam. Don’t pay for it, unless for some reason your daughter really wants to go. Colleges won’t look at it. They may even scoff if they see it on an app.</p>
<p>Hm, I went to the 2003 NYLF on Technology. I would say that it was a really boring experience. It was mostly people talking in seminars stating the obvious “Work hard” kind of things. There was really no hands-on work. I think the experience itself was good, just for a change of pace but it was not that fun to me.</p>
<p>As to the question about college admission, I think it really does help. It really shows that you are willing to try something different and I think it did help make me a better leader and more confident. It really is a boost on the application though. My interviewers were really curious as to what really went on and I think they were impressed with the details.</p>
<p>This Fall I will be attending Pomona College and I personally think this experience helped me stand out from other applicants.</p>
<p>Oh! You can also fundraise. I think it is on their site. You visit certain people/companies/organizations and ask them to sponser you and then in return you come back with your experience and articulate your thoughts and whatnot. I didn’t do it, but I wish I did because I know several alumni that did.</p>
<p>Bates College has a good creative writing program.
Brown has a very comprehensive summer program where the students are given much independence.</p>
<p>mchllhcm - I can almost guarantee that college admissions officers don’t look twice at the “Young Leader” type programs. Admission to such programs is ridiculously simple - a teacher only needs to recommend a student and the student is offered admission. It may be a nice experience, but if someone is looking for something to strengthen the resume, this isn’t where to look.</p>
<p>My daughter went to NYLF-Law Feb2004. both of us felt it was a worthwhile program. If anything, it shows prospective colleges how the student is willing to utilize their time. I also think for my daughter the fact it was in D.C. and field trips she went on added to the value of the trip. It was expensive and we were lucky at that time to afford it. </p>
<p>She also went to a summer program for minority students.<br>
<a href=“MITES – MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science”>MITES – MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science;
<p>What was GREAT about this program was it showed her what was out there and gave her a preview of college life away from home on the opposite coast. Admittance was very competitive, particularly because the tuition is covered by the program! Comparable programs at comparable schools cost between 5 and 7 thousand dollars. If you live in California, there is a COSMOS program offered at a couple/few of the UCs that costs about $2000 but they also offer scholarships.</p>
<p>Both of my s’s have attended different programs through Duke University’s TIP program (its equivalent to Johns Hopkins CTY). They have both enjoyed their experiences and made good friends there. One of my older s’s best friends in his college dorm (residential college) is someone he met at TIP a few years ago. They’ve spent 3 weeks at Duke East, Duke West and Davidson, which have given them a taste of college life. Neither attended the program because it would “look good” on their application, but because they were genuinely interested in the classes they signed up for. Younger s. is taking a class on Sports Law this summer. He took a debate class last year (and now there is no arguing with him 
) Older s. took a film class and a class on Artificial Intelligence. If cost is an issue, they do have scholarship $ available. I’d recomend it (“it” being the program).</p>
<p>Last summer, I did the Summer Discovery program at UC Santa Barbara and it was great! The program took place during UCSB’s “summer session”, and the program participants were allowed to either take 2 college credit classes. It lasted for 6 weeks, and they had planned trips and activities. It was great</p>