National Junior Leaders Conference

Review: The Junior National Young Leader's Conference directly contacted my then 11 year old daughter (rather than her school nor her parents) that she had been accepted into their prestigious Summer program for young leaders. She was immediately inflated and very much wanted to attend the conference. Their costs, $365 application fee - then $2,500 for the two week conference are prohibitive expenses for us. We filled out an application for financial aid. The conference acknowledged receipt of our application on October 15th and indicated we would be informed by December 12th. Having not heard back, I called them mid-December and was informed there was no record of her application, but that I should get in my $365 application fee right away. When I told them that without financial assistance, she could not attend, the phone agent said any "TUITION" paid would be refunded, ignoring the loss of my application fee. I called again in January. Was told my another phone agent that there was nothing in my daughter's file about her application nor my phone conversation in December. This new agent again rolled out the $365 fee and said I could go on-line to review ways we could raise funds. The ways were the equivalent of setting up lemon aid stands or going [redacted] (borrowing from our parents).

I wrote to the program, copying their October receipt of our application. An auto response said I'd hear back as quickly as possible. Two weeks have gone by without a response.

In the meantime, I have google searched the program. On-line sources have claimed they are a scam. The director, listed as a PhD in Education from Purdue is said to have never attended Purdue. One site claims they are listed under six separate corporate names with multiple Revdex.com claims.Desired Settlement: Having experienced my daughter's rise in self-esteem, followed by deflation -- and we suspect her feelings that we, her parents, somehow screwed up this opportunity, my greatest wish as that this company cease & desist their current practices.

In no way should they be allowed to directly contact (seduce) young children with their inflated claims. Correspondence should be directed to adults.

They should never we allowed to secure funds prior to the student and their parents knowing if the desired schedule and the needed financial aid be afforded.

At the very base level, they need better record keeping, follow up, and knowledgable service agents, all of which they are greatly lacking.