The Real Deal with the National Student Leadership Conference?

Hey guys, I've been looking into the National Student Leadership Conference. Is it worth my time? What are the benefits, if any? It's quite the financial commitment so wanted an opinion here.

The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) is indeed a considerable financial commitment, and it's crucial to understand what you're getting into.

While participating in NSLC can be an excellent way to explore your interests and gain hands-on experience, it's not necessarily viewed as an extracurricular that will make your application stand out when applying to colleges. This is primarily because NSLC isn't highly selective; anyone can attend as long as they can afford the cost. As a result, it doesn't provide the same level of distinction as more competitive summer programs would.

One significant benefit of attending NSLC is that you might get to delve into topics you're passionate about and receive experiential learning that might not be available in your high school. You'd also get to interact with peers who share your interests. Moreover, these experiences can provide valuable content for your essays, where you can showcase what you've learned and how you've grown, rather than just listing NSLC as an activity you participated in.

In summary, given the cost, it would be beneficial to weigh in whether the personal benefits you gain from the program would be worth the price tag. That said, if you're considering a summer program for the potential to boost your college applications, there are other free or low-cost summer programs that are selective and might be viewed more favorably by admissions officers. Examples of such include Boys/Girls State, Research Science Institute, or a local internship or job. This allows you to build skills, learn, and show initiative without necessarily burdening your finances.