Posted by Mom, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Apr 29, 2012 at 9:35 pm Voxpop: Thank you for the link and feedback!
For others, here's some of what was on the link posted:
Not selective
Many high school students believe that attending one of Envision's conferences is an honor and that their participation will positively affect their chances for college admission. CollegeConfidential.com, written by professional college admission counselors, reports that "Too many students are invited to take part to make this a truly selective organization, and so many college candidates do take part—especially those from the more well-heeled families—that college-admission officials usually just yawn when they spot NYLC on an application."[54]
GoCollege.com reports that "such seminars are relatively meaningless as resume builders, at least in the eyes of college admissions officers." It reports that college admissions officers believe that "real honors...generally do not come with a price tag."[10]
Envision sends invitations "on weighty card stock adorned by a giant gold seal," using a "fancy script." It contained words like “elite,” “distinguished,” and “select.”[10] The letter received by the student "appears to be awarding the student recognition."[55] Linda Litterer, a teacher at Fort Madison High School, sent her daughter to the conference. She told the New York Times, “For these kids, it is a big deal.” The packaging for the conference invitation "kind of reinforces that.”[55]
Among college students, Susan Garrity Ardizzoni, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Tufts University, reported that some students who receive invitations are not what she would consider "leadership material."[55] Patrick O’Connor, the director of college counseling at the Roeper School for gifted students in Birmingham, Michigan, reported that he is "happy to nominate whoever wants to go.”[12]
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