Is the The National Academy of Future Scientists legit?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the legitimacy of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists, exploring whether it is a credible organization or potentially a scam. Participants share their findings and opinions regarding the organization's purpose, structure, and value, with a focus on its seminar series and summer camp-like format.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express excitement about the organization but raise concerns about its legitimacy due to mixed online reviews and the absence of a Wikipedia article.
  • One participant describes it as a seminar series aimed at students, suggesting it may resemble a summer camp where attendees engage with industry leaders and peers.
  • Another participant notes that the organization was founded recently and highlights inconsistencies in its promotional materials regarding the event location.
  • There is skepticism about the potential benefits of attending, with some suggesting it may not significantly enhance college applications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the legitimacy of the organization, with multiple competing views presented regarding its value and credibility.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the lack of concrete information about the organization, such as a list of represented schools and cities, which may affect perceptions of its legitimacy.

GiantSheeps
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The National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists

That's the full title of the organization, does anyone know if it is a legitimate organization? I got really excited when I saw, but then when I looked it up on the internet I found a lot of people asking if it was legitimate and there were mixed replies. I couldn't even find a wikipedia article for this. It says Buzz Aldrin, David Wineland, John C. Mather, Cherry Murray, and Stuart Schmill are "mentors". It would be great if this was real, but I'm afraid it might be a scam. Does anyone know what the deal is with this group? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
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It looks like a seminar series where they get interested students to attend to listen to various industry leaders to talk about the future.

These things are very common for engineering professionals and scientists. You attend and listen to new research discoveries in your field.

In this case, it will be more like a three day summer camp where you will be more excited to talk with other like minded students discussing what the speakers talked about and you will have spent a lot of money for that privilege. It could be a lot of fun but is it really worth it. Your parents migh think it will help you get into a better school but it's three days of talks nothing really concrete.

That's just my two cents though.
 
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I never heard of it before, so I did a Google search and turned up probably the same things you did. It was founded just last November, by a guy who's launched some other variations on this theme. Their web site doesn't even yet have a list of schools and cities represented.

On one page they say "The Congress will be held in one of America’s science and technology meccas, Boston, Massachusetts [...]" but on the "accept" page the FAQ says it will be at UMass Lowell. Lowell is not Boston!

I'd call it a gamble, and treat it like a summer camp sort of thing. If the program and other activities look interesting, and if your parents can afford it without taking money away from other priorities, you might consider it. I doubt it would provide a significant advantage on college applications.
 
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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20160129-column.html
GiantSheeps said:
The National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists

That's the full title of the organization, does anyone know if it is a legitimate organization? I got really excited when I saw, but then when I looked it up on the internet I found a lot of people asking if it was legitimate and there were mixed replies. I couldn't even find a wikipedia article for this. It says Buzz Aldrin, David Wineland, John C. Mather, Cherry Murray, and Stuart Schmill are "mentors". It would be great if this was real, but I'm afraid it might be a scam. Does anyone know what the deal is with this group? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20160129-column.html