National Youth Leadership Forums

[TimeforMe]

Have any of you had children (or even yourself) who attended any of these? DS got an invitation in the mail today for the Forum on Law held in Washington D.C. He is a hs junior and is considering going to college for law. Does anyone know how these invitations are sent out? Are they really sent to a select few? And has anyone gone and is it worth the $? Thanks so much for any information. I'll speak to his guidance counselor but because of the long weekend and the fact we're moving dd into her college dorm on Tuesday, I won't be able to contact her until Wed. So if any of my DIS friends have any info, I'd love to hear it!

 

[TimeforMe]

 

[mchames]

when they first started out, so my information may be dated, but here goes.

The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) is a "spinoff" of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC). At that time, both organizations were run by the same people and shared some staff. I do not know if that is true today. The NYLF runs programs on various topics such as Law, Security and Defense (we did this topic when I was there) and others. CYLC does a more general program on government and politics.

When I worked there, invitation lists were compiled mostly from questionaires that are given to students with standardized tests such as the PSAT (and others). By checking the box that states something like "I want my information to be sent to colleges and other educational programs ", your child's information will then be sold to companies compiling lists for their program. On this questionaire your child would have answered questions such as GPA, studies of interest (LAW in this case) and if their answers fit the parameters of what a particular organization is looking for, their name will be released. No test score information is released, so these invitations are not based on any particular scores, just self-reported information. So, in answer to your question as to whether or not these invitations are exclusive, I would say no. At the time I was there, another way of issuing invitations was to contact specific schools that had a strong program in the area of interest and have them recommend students for the forum.

If I can answer any other questions, just ask. Again, my information may be dated, but I doubt the procedures have changed all that much.

Mary
PS: I just realized I'm OLD!!! That was my first "real job" out of college!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My daughter got one in the mail. I threw it in the trash with all the other invitations to forums, summer programs, and the like.

It just seems like to me that if it were a real honor or there was something really worthwhile about it, they wouldn't be asking me to fork out all that cash.

 

[barkley]

my daughter has gotten these 'invitatations' for several years (and shes only a 6th grader). i always toss them. i kind of wondered what type of program it was (how good their screening process was on selecting attendees). i was totaly put off when a couple of girls at dd's school attended one a couple of years ago (they went to one that supposedly was geared for kids with leadership attributes)-the only thing those two could have led was a prison riot! there was no way grades, behaviour or conduct could have played a part in their selection (no way the teacher or principal reccommended them-they were perpetualy on academic or conduct probation and had juvinile police records for bringing an illegal substance which they attempted to use on school grounds).

i think the valid programs are those that only cost travel expenses and then allow you to make your own travel arrangements (i went to highschool with some very steller students who went to some with incredible speakers but there were no fees, their meals, hotel lodging and all the admission fees for the places they went to were free-all they had to do was arrange/pay for air travel and bring spending money).

 

[Galahad]

My daughter got one in the mail. I threw it in the trash with all the other invitations to forums, summer programs, and the like.

It just seems like to me that if it were a real honor or there was something really worthwhile about it, they wouldn't be asking me to fork out all that cash.

Not sure I understand this. DS as gone on one and it was quite valuable. He's gone to summer programs and camps for years, some very expensive, and so far all have been more that worth it. His summer music camps for example are by audition only, so by definition they are select and and "honor". Yet they cost a lot of money. I'm sure none of these things operated entirely in the black or they wouldn't be 501c(3)'s (which most of them are).

We know from teachers that many of these programs ARE done by recommendations from teachers. I'd say more are not scams than are. He has done a couple of programs that are in our state that did not have a cost to us and they were also quite valuable, but not demonstrably moreso than those we paid for.

 

[Tazicket]

i think the valid programs are those that only cost travel expenses and then allow you to make your own travel arrangements (i went to highschool with some very steller students who went to some with incredible speakers but there were no fees, their meals, hotel lodging and all the admission fees for the places they went to were free-all they had to do was arrange/pay for air travel and bring spending money).

I went to a conference like this my Junior year of high school. It was something the school nominated me for and I don't think I forked out any money at all. It was a leadership conference called HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) and we did lots of teambuilding and trust exercises and such.

 

[spacemountain]

I actually went on the global youth leadership conference from the organization which was cool because we went to D.C. and New York and I got to become really good friends with people from all over the world. I got recommended based on my PSAT score, but you can also get recommended by an alumni student or a teacher. Anyways, the trip was 100% worth it. I had the best time and would recommend it in a heartbeat. We focused on global conflicts and resolutions whereas your DS's will be different, but I think that if he wants to go into law, then this is an excellent oppurtunity for him and he will also get to meet lots of kids his age that share the same interest as him. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[TimeforMe]

If I can answer any other questions, just ask. Again, my information may be dated, but I doubt the procedures have changed all that much.

Thanks for the info, Mary. So do you think the conference itself is worth it then?

barkley: I don't think we're talking about the same invitation. These are only sent to high school juniors and seniors.

This is a not-for-profit organization. I can't imagine how they could afford to house, feed, and get all those kids around from different points and not charge any $. Travel arrangements are not made by them, except to get the kids around once they get there. What they do is have different speakers come in and interact with them such as debates, etc.; they go to different law schools and actually sit in on classes; they sit in on an actual courtroom; etc.

Thanks to all those that replied! Any more with firsthand experience?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My son went to the one for Diplomacy and Leadership or something like that 2 years ago when he was a junior. It was dh big idea, not mine. He didnt even have the right gpa, but then again he goes to a very academic private school and they might grade things differently but he was pretty close to the gpa. We really wanted ds to go to a college like georgetown, american etc. and were kind of pushing him in that direction. His school leadership was in student govt. The program itself was very well supervised, when we called ds was usually never there anyway, most of the time they didnt get back to the rooms to around 11 pm. They also had to pick 2 choices of where they wanted to go. He picked stuff like cia, pentagon etc. They rank them. Well he had like gettysburg #23 and that is the l of 2 choices they sent him too, he enjoyed himself. He also got to go to some war college which he liked. He said others who got the cia, embassys etc. told him they were so bored because all they got to do was sit in the lobbys because of security issues etc. He did like the mock stuff he did during the day etc. We wrote it on his activities and honors for his 2 college choices and I really dont think it mattered at all, he didnt even get into the 1 college he applied to. So in other words, that class meant nothing to them.

 

[Galahad]

I think doing these things as a resume' builder doesn't make sense. If you think they will benefit from the experience then go for it. Its value, like an education's, IMO, doesn't lie in what it will "get" you.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in the summer of 2003, and am actually now a moderator on the message boards that NYLF has. It is a FANTASTIC way to get a taste of the career field. We had amazing guest speakers, went on various site visits, and did various things associated with being a doctor (did a simulation of The Match which is when med school grads get paired with hospitals for residency, etc) to see what we would actually experience should we choose to go into that field
The experiences that I had were totally worth it. Did it make a difference on my resume? Dunno, don't care. It was such an eye opening experience. It is EXTREMELY well run. Tight security, strict schedule, etc. Plus there is some time for fun too (I believe all sessions wrap up with a special closing dance; mine was on a cruise on Boston harbor). To give you an idea of the site visits that I took (all programs go on site visits, and they are all very well integrated into the type of forum), I spent a day at Harvard Medical school, touring the school, and learning about the med school app process. I also got to check out various slides (cancer, intestinal walls, etc) under microscopes. In HARVARD. I spent a day at the Boston University School of Public Health, having discussions about public health issues, and learning about the field. And the day that really meant the most to me, was the day I spent at New England Medical Center (the hospital associated with Tufts), shadowing a nurse in the NICU. I still wonder if some of those itty bitty babies (one was *barely* a pound) lived, and if so, how they're doing today. Most special was seeing the 2 year old come back to visit his old nurses. He had been born under 2 pounds, and was perfectly healthy at 2 years old. A true miracle
If your son has an interest in the field, you can afford the program, and he can afford to miss the time from school, I highly recommend it. He will get a very in depth look at what the field of law is REALLY like (not the hollywood version), and what it takes to get there. He will meet hundreds of others with interests like his. I have friends all over the country from my forum. It's just an incredible experience, and very well run. I can't speak highly enough about it
The nominations come from a variety of places. Mine came from my high school Latin teacher who knew I was interested in medicine. One of the guys in my group had been nominated by his pediatrician. Alumni of the program can nominate students. And yes, some of the nominations come from interest/profile forms from the collegeboard
You might also be interested in checking out the NYLF message boards . The website for NYLF is http://www.nylf.org so you can also go there for other information
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions; I'd be more than happy to answer them, or to track down one of the other NYLF moderators who may be more familiar with the law program, to get an answer

 

[DisneyGirl]

they go to different law schools and actually sit in on classes;

I don't know anything about these programs (never heard of them), but I did go to law school. I don't think THIS can be useful. If anything, it will be boring. You really need to understand the cases that are being discussed, and the law that was taught prior to that class day to get anything out of the class...

...On the other hand, if they go to tier 1 schools, he will get to witness the tier 1 preferred way of teaching law: the socratic method... it might make him decide NOT to want to go into law

I suppose sitting in a courtroom would be useful (though those are always open anyways), and debates maybe-- really depends on whether the debate is open, and there is a wide range of opinions, or if it is skewed toward a certain view (wouldn't work as well). To truly learn to argue the law you need varying and even opinions and arguments-- any skewing of a group will focus the mind to one angle, which is not what you want to do (you really need to recognize the other sides-- and it's easy for the human mind to lean a certain direction and be blinded by potential arguments on the other side).

 

[luvdzny]

DD (17) attended the NYLF of Medicine in Atlanta in July. She plans to go to med school and in her words it was the "most amazing experience of my life!" She loved it and did not want to come home. She had some great "hands on" experiences and met a lot of great kids that she continues to stay in touch with. She would love to go again next year and hopes to be nominated. If you have any questions you can PM me and I will try to answer them. We weren't sure if she would like it but she really wanted to go. I am glad she did, I think it was good for her.

 

[TimeforMe]

I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in the summer of 2003, and am actually now a moderator on the message boards that NYLF has. It is a FANTASTIC way to get a taste of the career field.

Wow--I came to the right place then, huh? I knew someone on the DIS would have firsthand experience. Thanks for the info. The point of the forum and what he is most interested in is, as you said, to get a taste of the career field and give him more of a clue as to whether or not he'd like to pursue law as a profession. It hadn't even occurred to either of us about using it to "build his resume".

Thanks for all the replies and when/if we have more questions, I'll know where to go.

 

[mchames]

Again, my experience is 15 years old...

I do think the conferences are worth it if you look at it as an experience like summer camp and not as a resume builder. I was right out of college when I worked there and I thought most of the forums and events were pretty cool. Supervision and security were also really tight. The topics are interesting and when I worked there (and I assume they still do) they always tried to have at least one event for the students that a typical tourist to Washington, DC would not be able to do. From reading the other posts, it sounds like they have expanded topics and cities over the years.

I worked there when they were first starting out. They've now been around 15-16 years, so I'm guessing they're doing something right.

Mary

 

[disykat]

I do think the conferences are worth it if you look at it as an experience like summer camp and not as a resume builder.

ITA. We've thrown all my son's "invitations" away. He has enough options without spending the big bucks and traveling all over the country or world. However, if he ever gets actually selected (not "nominated") for something in music, we might consider it because that's his passion.

I don't consider those invitations any big honor. Everyone I know seems to get them. That doesn't mean the people who go don't have good experiences, it's just not the big honor it's held up to be.

 

[spacemountain]

I don't consider those invitations any big honor. Everyone I know seems to get them. That doesn't mean the people who go don't have good experiences, it's just not the big honor it's held up to be.

Out of a school of a couple thousand, I was the only one who got an invitation from this organization. So it is more of an honor than other programs, such as People to People (a program I also participated with) where lots of people get the invitaions. And you can tell when you are there that it is only a select few who get invitations because everybody I met was extremely bright and a very good kid.

 

[barkley]

I don't know anything about these programs (never heard of them), but I did go to law school. I don't think THIS can be useful. If anything, it will be boring. You really need to understand the cases that are being discussed, and the law that was taught prior to that class day to get anything out of the class...

...On the other hand, if they go to tier 1 schools, he will get to witness the tier 1 preferred way of teaching law: the socratic method... it might make him decide NOT to want to go into law

I suppose sitting in a courtroom would be useful (though those are always open anyways), and debates maybe-- really depends on whether the debate is open, and there is a wide range of opinions, or if it is skewed toward a certain view (wouldn't work as well). To truly learn to argue the law you need varying and even opinions and arguments-- any skewing of a group will focus the mind to one angle, which is not what you want to do (you really need to recognize the other sides-- and it's easy for the human mind to lean a certain direction and be blinded by potential arguments on the other side).

and if they want to read about the socratic method in law school they can pick up scott turow's great novel 'one l' which gives his first person accounting of being a year one law student.

 

[barkley]

Thanks for the info, Mary. So do you think the conference itself is worth it then?

barkley: I don't think we're talking about the same invitation. These are only sent to high school juniors and seniors.

This is a not-for-profit organization. I can't imagine how they could afford to house, feed, and get all those kids around from different points and not charge any $. Travel arrangements are not made by them, except to get the kids around once they get there. What they do is have different speakers come in and interact with them such as debates, etc.; they go to different law schools and actually sit in on classes; they sit in on an actual courtroom; etc.

Thanks to all those that replied! Any more with firsthand experience?

nope the ones dd gets are for highschool jr/sr's. shes in a one room school house that goes from k-begining of highschool. somehow the student names got sold without a reference to their age so we get stuff sent to her all the time about these programs, fee for attendance seminars on starting your search for college scholarships 'NOW' and other stuff geared to much older kids.

i've had a few friends with kids in jr/sr year that truly were exceptionaly good students and they passed on these in favor of some of the same types of things that were offered to them free (had to pay for travel) by some colleges that were courting them (one went to a 2 week on campus at brigham young, one went to cornell, stanford and cambridge week longs). they realy enjoyed/benefited from these and i suspect it did'nt hurt their college applications to have participant status at these listed (they both got multiple offers with some very interesting financial aide packages).