National Youth Leadership Forum

[Tandyc]

My son has been invited to attend this forum as a junior in high school. All the paperwork the forum has sent seems wonderful and like it is a true honor to be asked, but I am sceptical. I have never heard of this organization. It is a 10 day forum on medicine in my son's case. They offer dates in 8 cities with many big name medical facilities and people, but it is expensive
($2650). I think it sounds like a great opportunity if it is really what it says it is, and we have started the process to talk to other children who have attended but I thought I would ask by dis friends for an insight.

Thanks for any thoughts or help you may have.

Tandyc

 

[Hannathy]

My DD attended this same forum on Medicine, she went to Chicago. She absolutely loved it!!! Believe me they get a lot out of it and is worth the money. They work their butts off. Their day goes from 7Am till at least 10PM and many days they were out on the bus way earlier than 7. They saw surgery, shadowed a DR., Spent a day in a Med school and talked with Med students. They had a lot of seminars, lectures, and workshops also.

She picked up a lot of valuable tips in preparing for college and Med school and I think it either firmed up a lot of kids who were on the fence one way or the other-like the kid who passed out during surgery, don't think Surgeon is his first goal anymore! My DD has wanted to be a DR. since she was 3 and this was just a dream come true 2 weeks. It was also nice to spend so much time with other kids who are wired the same way you are and not to feel different because you are driven and know what you want. She still talks with several kids on the computer that she met in Chicago.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Moving to the Community Board.

In my opinion, it's an expensive vacation with wonderful experiences for your child. But it's not that big of an honor. My very average DS was also invited to attend their conference in D.C. the past few summers.

College admission officers don't take attendance at one of these into consideration when evaluating applications.

We saved the money and put it into his college fund.

 

[mrsklamc]

Are you talking about HOBY (Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Forum?) If so this is very prestigious and I would chalk it up to something to put on scholarship applications.

 

[Hannathy]

NYLF has a high GPA requirement to attend and it is far from a vacation! My DD came home exhausted. They really work them. They had 1 off Day in 2 weeks and then even had workshops in the morning and had the afternoon off.

It most certainly is something to put on a college application.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Any and every thing seems to go on the college apps.now

My ds has gotten invited last three years including the DC one. (he was too young IMHO) We chose to wait since he is only a sophomore THIS year...He tests VERY high, so not sure how or who put him on their list.

I think that if it is in the "Learning" area they are even considering, and you can afford it, go for it.....Opportunites knock, experiences, networking, Like Minded kids (WooHOO) etc.....Its why we're taking advantage of opportunity to pay Now, for college credits for my ds.

Good Luck with your decision.
Nice to hear others' experiences, ya gotta love the Dis, someone always seems to have the info we need/seek!