I'm seriously considering going to the National Youth Leadership Forum for Engineering. Is it worth it? If anyone has attended, can you share your experience and how it impacted your college apps?
The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) for Engineering can be a valuable experience based on what you're aiming to get out of it. If your goal is to learn more about engineering, meet like-minded peers, and gain some exposure to the field, then it could be a good fit. It provides a unique opportunity to explore different types of engineering and the professional opportunities in the field.
However, you mentioned your college application, and it's important to manage your expectations. While attending NYLF shows an effort to broaden your knowledge and experience in engineering, it's not a highly selective program, and consequently, it won't act as a significant differentiating factor on your college applications like more competitive summer programs might.
Often, admissions committees look for long term commitments and accomplishments in activities related to your intended major. If you're interested in Engineering, they'd probably be more interested in seeing involvement in science clubs, math teams, genuine research projects, engineering internships, or even personal projects.
Think about your motivations, time, and financial resources before making your decision. Just attending an expensive program won't necessarily provide a significant boost to your application. On the other hand, if you're genuinely excited about the program and think it could be beneficial for your learning, it could be a great experience.
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