You just opened the mailbox and there it is. A thick, glossy envelope addressed to your teenager, sporting a fancy gold seal and the words National Young Leaders Forum: National Security (NYLF NS). It says they’ve been "nominated" for their academic achievement. It mentions George Mason University. It talks about "global threats," "cybersecurity simulations," and "exclusive access" to places like the Pentagon or the State Department.
Naturally, your first instinct is a mix of pride and a slight, nagging suspicion. You head straight to Reddit. You type in "nylf ns legit and scam reddit cybersecurity" and suddenly you’re staring at a digital fistfight. One person says it changed their life. Another says it’s a predatory money grab that cost them $4,500 for a glorified summer camp.
So, what’s the real story? Is this a prestigious stepping stone to a career at the NSA, or is it just a very expensive piece of mail? Honestly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It's kinda complicated.
The "Scam" vs. "Legit" Debate: Let’s Get Real
First, let's clear up the word "scam." In the literal sense, NYLF NS is not a scam. It is run by Envision by WorldStrides, a massive for-profit educational travel company. If you pay the tuition—which, for the 2026 sessions, is hovering around $4,527—your kid will actually go to Washington, D.C. They will sleep in a dorm (usually at a school like George Mason or Georgetown), they will eat mediocre dining hall food, and they will participate in the scheduled simulations.
They won't take your money and vanish into the night. That part is legit.
The reason the "scam" label gets thrown around so much on subreddits like r/ApplyingToCollege or r/cybersecurity is because of the marketing. Envision buys massive mailing lists from organizations like the College Board. They send out thousands upon thousands of these "invitations."
If your student has a decent GPA, they’re probably getting one. It’s not "selective" in the way a Harvard summer program is selective. Basically, if you can pay the bill, you’re in. That's the part that feels "scammy" to parents who thought their kid was one of only five students chosen in the state.
What Actually Happens During the Cybersecurity Track?
If you're looking at this through a cybersecurity lens, you have to manage your expectations. This is a leadership forum first, and a technical bootcamp... well, it’s not really a technical bootcamp at all.
- The Simulation: The heart of the program is a multi-day simulation where students are split into groups (like the National Security Council or the CIA). They have to respond to a fictional international crisis.
- The Tech Side: In the cybersecurity track, students might look at how a digital attack affects national infrastructure. They’ll talk about policy, ethics, and "strategic decision-making."
- The Experts: You’ll hear from speakers. Sometimes they are heavy hitters—former FBI profilers or retired intelligence officers. Other times, they are mid-level bureaucrats. It’s a bit of a roll of the dice.
If you’re expecting your kid to come home with a CompTIA Security+ certification or the ability to run a penetration test in Kali Linux, you’re going to be disappointed. This is about the policy of security, not the code of security.
Does NYLF NS Actually Help with College Admissions?
This is the big one. Most parents drop $4k because they think it’s a "hook" for college apps.
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I’ll be blunt: Admissions officers at elite universities know exactly what NYLF is. They see it on thousands of resumes. They categorize it as "pay-to-play." It doesn't carry the same weight as a competitive, merit-based program like the Governor’s School, SANS Foundations, or even a solid internship at a local tech firm.
However, it’s not totally worthless. If your student has nothing else on their resume, this shows an interest in the field. It gives them something to write about in a supplemental essay. "I spent a week in D.C. simulating a North Korean cyberattack" sounds better than "I played Valorant for three months straight."
But don't expect it to be the golden ticket to West Point or MIT. On r/westpoint, the consensus is usually: "Go to Boys State/Girls State instead—it’s cheaper and means more."
Breaking Down the Costs for 2026
Let’s look at the math, because it’s a lot.
The base tuition is north of $4,500. Then you have to get them there. If you’re flying into Dulles or Reagan National, that’s another $400-$600. Want the "college credit" through George Mason? That’s an extra fee.
Pro-tip from the Reddit trenches: If you really want to go but the price is a dealbreaker, they do offer "scholarships." They aren't huge—usually a few hundred bucks—but every little bit helps. Also, the payment plans are pretty aggressive. If you sign up in January for a summer session, you’re looking at over $1,000 a month for four months.
The "Social Value" Nobody Talks About
Here is the one area where the Reddit "it’s a scam" crowd sometimes misses the point. For a 16-year-old who lives in a small town and has never met another person who cares about "geopolitical stability," this program can be a revelation.
Many students report that the best part wasn't the curriculum—it was the other kids. Being surrounded by 300 other "nerds" who actually want to talk about the South China Sea or zero-day vulnerabilities can be a massive confidence booster.
One user on r/RBI noted that while the program was "shitty" in terms of depth, they met their best friend there. Is that worth $4,000? That’s a parenting decision, not a career one.
Is it Worth it for Cybersecurity specifically?
If your kid is a "hands-on" learner, probably not.
Cybersecurity is a field that rewards doing. If they have $4,000 to spend, they could:
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- Build a home lab with a dedicated server and a few Raspberry Pis.
- Pay for a year of TryHackMe or Hack The Box subscriptions.
- Take the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate and then sit for the Security+ exam.
- Attend a local BSides conference or a DEF CON kids event.
Those options actually build technical skills. NYLF NS builds "exposure."
Actionable Steps: What Should You Do?
Before you pull out the credit card, do these three things:
- Audit the Resume: Does your student already have strong extracurriculars? If they’re already in a CyberPatriot team or a coding club, they don't need this. If their resume is a blank sheet of paper, maybe consider it.
- Check Local Options: Look for "GenCyber" camps. These are often funded by the NSA and NSF and are frequently free or very low cost. They are much more technical than NYLF.
- Talk to the Teacher: The letter says a teacher "nominated" them. Ask that teacher if they actually did, or if they just signed a general form. If the teacher genuinely thinks your kid would thrive in a D.C. environment, that's a check in the "pro" column.
If you decide to go, go for the experience of being in D.C. and meeting new people. Don't go because you think it’s a shortcut to a six-figure job at a defense contractor.
In the world of cybersecurity, your "Proof of Work" (what you can actually build or defend) will always matter more than a certificate from a for-profit forum. Use that $4,500 wisely. Sometimes the best investment is the one that teaches you how to think, not the one that just gives you a fancy title to put on a LinkedIn profile that nobody's looking at yet.
Next Step: Research GenCyber camps in your state to see if there are free, government-funded alternatives to NYLF before the 2026 application deadlines close.