I recently heard about the Envision National Youth Leadership Forum and was intrigued. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with it? Can you tell me what it's like and whether or not it's worth attending?
While experiences at Envision National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) can vary from student to student, it's important to understand what these programs offer and some potential drawbacks as well.
NYLF programs primarily focus on providing experiential learning opportunities for students in various fields of interest, such as medicine, law, and STEM, among others. They also aim to boost leadership skills and potentially expose students to new career paths. If you are curious about a particular profession, these programs might give you some practical exposure and networking opportunities.
However, criticism has been raised about these programs being "pay-to-play," meaning your selection is not heavily based on academic merit or talent but more on your ability to pay the attendance fee. While you may walk away from the event with new knowledge and experiences, colleges might not view your attendance at these forums as particularly prestigious or selective.
In regards to the cost, consider it carefully. NYLF programs can be pretty expensive, and you may find that there are other ways to explore a field of interest that are less costly. For example, looking for a part-time job or internship in your field of interest, or finding a local mentor can all be cost-effective ways to explore potential career paths.
Ultimately, whether it's worth attending depends on your personal circumstances, interests, and what you hope to gain from the experience. If the cost is not a significant factor and you feel the intended program might be interesting and useful, then it could be worth considering. However, if you are looking for a significant boost in college admissions, it's advisable to seek other more selective and academically rigorous activities.
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