The 41st Annual National Conservative Student Conference

FAQs

• +When should I arrive?

  You should arrive at the Renaissance (999 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001) between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29. The conference starts at 6:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. Parking is not provided so if you plan to drive please plan accordingly. While parking is available from the hotel you can find more affordable options in the vicinity. You will receive more detailed arrival information a day or two before the conference.

• +What time does the conference end?

  Check out is Saturday morning, August 3, at 11:00 a.m. Students are welcome to stay until 11:00 a.m. Saturday, but may also depart following the conclusion of the program Friday evening (approximately 10:00p.m.).

• +What is included with my $500 fee?

  The $500 fee is broken into two components, a $100 tuition fee and a $400 deposit. After attending the full program and following all conference guidelines your $400 deposit will be refunded by check on Saturday morning upon check out. The $100 fee is your final out of pocket cost to attend the program. Almost everything is included, such as your food (three meals per day), 5 nights in a luxury hotel (only two students per room), tuition, materials, and other related costs. While many books may be provided, some are sold at the conference, so you may want extra spending money if you plan to purchase the speakers’ books to be signed. Leave extra room in your suitcase, as we often give out SWAG!

• +Is travel assistance available for students?

  Yes—travel assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for those with demonstrable financial need. While travel assistance is never guaranteed, Young America’s Foundation will gladly consider all completed requests. If you have financial need, please email a brief essay (no more than a page) to travel@yaf.org that includes:

  • Language regarding your financial need
  • What you hope to gain by attending the conference
  • Your travel plans
  • The expected amount of your travel plans and the amount you are requesting. (For example, Expected travel cost from SBA to IAD is $500. I am requesting $200 in assistance.) Please note that travel assistance is not guaranteed, and is allocated on a case-by-case basis. Incomplete essays will not be considered. Travel assistance essays are due no later than July 1, but are issued on a first come, first served basis. If you are not dependent on full financial assistance, we recommend purchasing your ticket as soon as possible to lock in the lowest fare. Travel assistance does not cover ground transportation, baggage fees, seat assignments, etc.

• +Are tuition scholarships available for students?

  Yes—tuition assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for those with demonstrable financial need. If you have financial need, please email a brief essay (no more than a page) to Jolie Ballantyne at jballantyne@yaf.org with some language regarding your financial need. We cannot consider your request until we receive this essay.

• +Can high school students attend?

  This is a college student-only program. Students are eligible to attend beginning the summer before their incoming freshman year of college. Newly graduated high school seniors are eligible to apply, but must list the college they will attend in the fall on their application

• +What is the dress for the program?

  During the day, you are required to wear business casual and have the option to wear business formal clothing. During the dinner banquets each evening, you are required to wear business professional attire. You may wish to bring casual clothing for your free time. During the opening dinner barbeque, we ask that you wear SWAG (T-Shirt or sweatshirt) representing your school.

• +How much extra money should I bring?

  This depends on what you do, because some students go out every night while others prefer not to. We advise that you bring some spending money for books that can be signed by the speakers. You will also need about $50 for transportation to and from the airport if you fly. Bring extra money if you anticipate going out frequently. The D.C. area can be more expensive than many other cities.

• +To which airport do I fly?

  You should fly to Washington – Reagan National Airport (DCA) because it is closest to the conference site, but you can also arrive at Washington – Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore Washington International airport (BWI) which are further from the conference site. Taxis are expensive from both airports, so you may wish to use public transportation.

• +How will I get to and from the airport and the conference?

  We do not provide students with transportation to and from the airport for this conference, but it is simple to arrive at the hotel via Metro. You can also schedule a Super Shuttle van ride

• +What if I take the bus or the train?

  Students can arrive at Union Station in Washington, D.C. and take the Metro to the JW Marriott.

• +What are the activities during the conference?

  During the day, you will listen to exciting conservative speakers and participate in question and answer sessions. Each evening will feature a dinner banquet with a special guest speaker and time for questions and answers. On occasion, you will even have an opportunity to meet and have your picture taken with our speakers!

• +Will I have free time during the conference?

  You will not have much free time in Washington since we provide you with a comprehensive program. You are free in the evenings after dinner (at about 10:00 p.m.) and many students go out and enjoy the town at that time each night. If you wish to have more free time in Washington, you need to come early or stay late. Young America’s Foundation is not able to make these arrangements for you but we can help with the event hotel logistics.

• +Can I stay in the hotel extra nights before or after the conference?

  Yes. Feel free to call the hotel to make these arrangements, or you can contact Jolie Ballantyne for more information. Young America’s Foundation is only responsible for your accommodations during the specified times (Monday-Friday nights). You may want to arrange for extra time in Washington before or after the conference on your own.

• +What are the living arrangements?

  Students will have one or more roommates of the same sex for the week at the hotel. The registration form allows you to request roommates, and we will do our best to accommodate those requests. If you wish to room with two or three roommates, all of you must list one another on your application.

• +How many students are expected for the conference?

  More than 300 full-time students are expected to attend the conference from all over the country, and hundreds of Washington-area interns will also join us for dinner each night.

• +Is there a registration deadline?

  Yes, the last day to apply is July 20.

• +Can I sponsor a student to attend this program?

  Yes! Your generous tax-deductible gift of $2,000 will allow Young America’s Foundation to host a student at this program who could not otherwise attend. You can designate a specific student you know to attend, or sponsor a student who is receiving free tuition as a result of financial need. For more information about these and other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Young America’s Foundation Development Officer Haley Jones at hjones@yaf.org or call 800-USA-1776. Students interested in assistance should apply for travel or tuition assistance. Please see the instructions in the questions above.

• +What if I have other questions?

  You will receive information via email a day or so before the conference about what is on the agenda, and how to arrive at the conference site. For questions that are not covered here, please email Conference Director, Jolie Ballantyne at jballantyne@yaf.org.

• +What are the terms and conditions for this event?

  Terms and Conditions:

  a) I recognize that my participation in the National Conservative Student Conference is made possible through the generous financial support of Young America’s Foundation’s supporters nationwide. As such I agree to attend all sessions of the National Conservative Student Conference. I understand that if I fail to attend all sessions of the National Conservative Student Conference, I will be charged, and I agree to pay, the total cost of my attendance for the conference, which is $2,000.

  b) I assert that I am not here under any false pretense. I will not disrupt or undermine the event by my actions.

  c) I understand that Young America’s Foundation has a set procedure in place for outside organizations to attend the event and I am not allowed to promote any other groups or organizations without written permission from Young America’s Foundation.

  d) I must notify Young America’s Foundation by July 1, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. EST of my inability to attend or I will be charged the supplemental fee of $2,000 since it is too late to give my spot to another student.

  e) I understand that the conference fee, including all deposits, is not refundable if I cancel my participation after July 1, 2019.

  f) I understand I will be assigned roommates for the conference. I may request preferred roommates of the same sex, but there is a chance I may not be able to room with them.

  g) I agree to abide by all rules and instructions of Young America’s Foundation and Marriott Hotels, and to obey all laws. I agree to notify Young America’s Foundation’s staff immediately if a problem arises during the conference.

  h) Young America’s Foundation uses real photos, videos, and quotes from our students for promotional purposes and to advance its mission. By attending this program, I do hereby grant Young America’s Foundation (“the Foundation”) permission to use, exploit, adapt, modify, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform