I've been hearing about the National Youth Leadership Forum lately, and I'm a little skeptical. Is it worth attending? Is it legit or just a money-making scheme? Would appreciate some real feedback from students who've been through it!
While the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) is a legitimate program with various sessions targeted at different fields like medicine, engineering, law, etc., it's important to note that it can be quite pricey and is not highly selective. As a result, colleges may not weigh participation in this program as highly as participation in more selective and prestigious summer programs.
That said, students who have attended NYLF have reported having positive experiences, learning a lot from the program, and making new connections. It can be a valuable opportunity to explore your interests and gain some hands-on experience in your chosen field.
However, if you're considering it primarily to boost your college application, you should be aware that there are other more cost-effective options that may be more impactful. It would be a good idea to also explore free or low-cost selective programs in your area of interest, such as research internships or summer programs offered by local universities, as these can have a more significant impact on your profile and be more financially accessible.
Ultimately, whether or not to attend NYLF depends on your specific goals, interests, and financial situation. If your main goal is to improve your college application, consider seeking out more selective and prestigious programs first. But if you're looking to learn more about a particular field and have a unique, hands-on experience, it might still be a valuable opportunity for you.
To get a more comprehensive sense of what's out there in terms of college prep programs and high school internships, I'd check out CollegeVine's blog, which contains a series of posts broken down by geographic location or area of interest (such as medicine, engineering, film, and so on). You can find those posts here: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/extracurricular-activities/summer-activities/
Good luck with your future pursuits!
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