People to People Leadership Summit - is it a scam?

[moopdog]

My son was nominated by one of his teachers for this program due to his "scholastic merit, leadership potential, and exemplary citizenship" according to the letter. It is something I've heard of but from what I understand, it's very costly and involves your child traveling for 14-21 days over the summer to foreign countries, etc. Not saying it's not a great opportunity, but it seems to me that the only kids that seem to get this "honor" are from families that can likely afford it.

I could be way off, and if we choose to go to the informational meeting I guess we'll find out more for ourselves. I just thought I'd see if anyone out there has had experience with this program or not. Open to ideas...

By the way, my son will be 12 in a couple of weeks, and he was so floored by the fancy letter and all the praise within in it that he of course really wants to participate. They use wording like "More than 80% of our alumni were able to gain acceptance to their first-choice college", etc. I'm sure some of you have seen this same letter...?

 

[megsoro]

A friend and I got that letter early on in high school. My family couldn't afford it, but she could, and went. It was the worst experience ever! Her trip was to the UK, Ireland, Wales. They "forgot" a child in Dublin, and got half an hour away on the bus before anyone figured it out. And it turned out they did mostly touristy things, nothing leadership building, etc. Would have been cheaper to send her on a guided tour over the summer by another company. They were often allowed to go about the cities by themselves- which for my friend was fine (we're from NYC) but that's probably how that one boy got lost in Dublin...

YMMV, this was almost eight years ago now, maybe they've gotten a bit more organized? Attend the info session, see what they say.

 

[ceecee]

We've been getting them since DD was in 5th grade. Like I would let my 5th grader go to another country for 21 days! It is expensive, I think my DD's friend who went to Alasksa paid close to $6000. The one we checked out to Australia & 2 other countries was $7000. DD's friends family is not wealthy be any means nor was she that smart so I think they just invite a lot of kids because many can't go. Another friend checked it out when her son was invited to Japan (they are part Japanese) and she said the family trip cost less! DD's friends trip was wonderful (they never go anywhere on vacations so it was a real treat to her) another friend (an older group 14 yr) were allowed to drink in Germany and were not very well supervised as they went out on their own a lot.
These were People to People Ambassador programs and the invites were very fancy with a seal! Supposedly this program was thought up by a former president.

 

[MM27]

I get those letters all the time to "nominate" students. They just want names. They don't care about grades, leadership, etc. They want people that will be able to afford their overpriced trips.

I have a friend that chaperones trips because the chaperones travel for free. She said she would never again chaperone a high school level trip because the kids were wild and there were doing many things their parents would never be okay with She sticks to the elementary/middle school groups now.

 

[MariDisney]

People to People is essentially a very overpriced travel agency for young people. That's not to say that they can't have good experiences on the trips. They can. It's not something I'd let my daughter do. I could find a way for her to do it much more inexpensively. As far as it being an honor, I've gotten the letter several times in the past few years. I'm in my 40s. My DD has gotten several beginning when she was 10 or 11. I've even gotten it addressed in a way that made it clear they bought mailing lists because of a mistake (somehow I'm on a list somewhere with my maiden name as my first name and my former last name).

 

[moopdog]

Pretty much what I expected to hear. Thanks for the reality check!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Try a Google search on "people to people student ambassador program scam" and you will get pages of multiple problems

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I'm sorry to hear the program has apparently gone down hill so much!! I went when I was in 10th grade I think. Summer before or after 10th. I think it was '93. Anyway, went to Australia and had an absolutely WONDERFUL time. There was no nominating stuff, I saw it on the back of a magazine we had in a science class. I'm sure it was tons cheaper. Total cost for 3 weeks was $3000 plus the flight to get me to CA and any souvenirs. A couple of years later I had a cousin that went to Russia and she had a great time too. For a students perspective it was a priceless adventure. We did so many different things in such a short amount of time... thing's I'm sure we'd never have done if it were just a family vacation (not that mine could have ever afforded that.) I'm sure it's gotten far more expensive now and I really don't think I'd send my child, even in high school, but I also thing the whole school system has really gone down hill... I don't think I'd trust anyone to take them, I'd have to go as an adult ambassador too.

Just thought I'd let you know it used to be a great thing.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

My DD was "nominated" kind of interesting since she's homeschooled and I'm her only teacher ......just to be clear I didn't nominate her - the letter went directly into "file 13)

 

[MrsPete]

Those who say that this program has nothing to do with grades or leadership experience are right. I really don't know how the program obtains names; I never nominate anyone.

A couple of my students have taken part in these programs, and without exception they've said they were WONDERFUL. But then, what's not wonderful about going to a foreign country and seeing all sorts of really cool things while meeting new friends? I do think the programs are worthwhile and safe. Are they educational? Yeah, in the sense that all travel is educational, but they're not equivalent to a classroom experience. They're educational in the same way that summer camp is educational -- that is, that the teen learns some independence. College admissions boards and scholarship committees will not find these trips impressive.

It's significant to note that these trips are extremely expensive. With a little research, you could just about take your whole family on a similar trip for the cost of these trips. I personally can't justify the cost.

 

[lady9]

My kids get these every year. A friend did send her kids on a People to People trip, one to Australia and one to the UK. They both had a great time but often stayed with host families. I am not a fan of my kids staying with people I don't know. Just something else to check out before you decide about the trip.

 

[tchrrx]

One of my students from last year received a letter a few months ago. Her dad asked me if I recommended her. I said no, and I told him that I thought it was a scam. Lo and behold, the next day I received a letter addressed to: The child of Mrs. Tchrrx. In other words, they didn't even know DD's name. I told my student's dad this, but he still maintained that it was a legit thing. Last I knew, other teachers in our building were filling out paperwork for her. They said that it asked for a lot of their personal info. I told them not to give any more info than they were absolutely comfortable with giving.

 

[sk!mom]

I don't think it's a scam as much as just not an honor. It's just an expensive tour company that targets students. Many, many, many students get this letter. This year my 30 year old niece even got one. She's really trying to get her mom, my sister, to send her on this long overdue "educational experience."

My DD16 has gotten them for years.

I've been a teacher for 15 years and have never Talked to any teacher who nominated anyone.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I've been getting these letters since my 19 year old DS was about 10. Since it seemed like a vacation more than anything else, I tossed the letters out.
Any money spent on that can be better spent for study abroad in college. My stepson studied in Italy, got 9 credits in three weeks and saw many cities and sights there. My older son is exploring his options for England, Germany, China and Spain- trying to decide which program is better for him. I think college study abroad is a much better way to spend a few thousand than questionable programs discovered by unsolicited mail.

 

[NYCDiane]

From what I've seen/heard, they just collect names and mail out form letters. It's all bull. Do you see the names to the left? President Obama? Does he know he's on their letter as some kind of honorary something or other? I highly doubt it. I got a letter from them for my daughter and promptly threw it in the trash.

It's also waaaaayyyy overpriced!!! A woman at my job sent her kid on a trip with them and it was upwards of $5K. You can probably take yourself and your child on the same trip for less money.

Finally, I wouldn't send my kid away to a foreign country with complete strangers!!!! I wouldn't even send her to the grocery store with a stranger! I don't care if this is an "organization" or not.

 

[NYCDiane]

Another thing.... I don't like that they can obtain my child's name and address to send this letter! Who is providing them with this info????? To get into my daughter's school if I have to pick her up, I have to provide my driver's license and be on the "approved list" to pick her up but these people have access to children's name and home addresses????

 

[sk!mom]

Another thing.... I don't like that they can obtain my child's name and address to send this letter! Who is providing them with this info????? To get into my daughter's school if I have to pick her up, I have to provide my driver's license and be on the "approved list" to pick her up but these people have access to children's name and home addresses????

They probably get it directly from the school district. My district releases information upon request unless parents sign a refusal. Check with your district.

 

[Earstou]

My understanding was that one of my dd's teachers had "nominated" her and thus provided the name and address.

 

[RitaE]

Woo Hoo - Nominate your own snowflake!

http://peopletopeople.com/find/interested

 

[SaraJayne]

My understanding was that one of my dd's teachers had "nominated" her and thus provided the name and address.

No, teachers don't nominate the kids. They either get the info from buying address lists or get it from the school.