Summer Program Benefits

All benefits are available for activation for up to six years.

College Admissions Officer Meeting

Meet one-on-one with a college admissions officer for advice on application strategy.

Estimate your likelihood of admission to your top college choices.

College Acceptance Probability Modeling

SAT/ACT Test Prep

Create a personalized online training course to prep for SAT/ACT testing.

Interns can schedule a one-on-one virtual meeting with a college admissions expert from our partners at CollegeAdvisor. Counselors provide practical guidance and an insider’s perspective on what top universities look for in applicants.

These 30-minute sessions are student-led, giving interns the opportunity to ask their most important questions and receive direct, personalized advice from an expert who knows the admissions process inside and out. Interns often use this time to refine essay ideas, narrow their college lists, or develop a stronger application strategy. These meetings are provided to help students move forward with clarity and confidence.

Students are encouraged to bring their most important questions to make the most of this experience -whether it’s refining essay topics, developing application timelines, or setting clear college goals.

Past students have used this time to hone in on their essay topics, decide on how many colleges to apply to, and create application time lines

College Admissions Officer Meeting

Leadership Initiatives has developed a system that calculates a student’s probability of acceptance into their top university choices based on GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, career goals, financial need, and other factors.

Our college admissions team then works with students to refine their college wishlists and create a personalized application plan.

Financial Assistance Needs

Extra-Curricular Activities

Community Service

College Probability Calculator

Grade Point Average

SAT/ACT Training Scores

College Acceptance Probability Modeling

With extensive experience across a wide range of higher education institutions, our team provides expert guidance that helps students gain a deeper understanding of the college admissions process and how to position themselves for success.

Featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post, PrepScholar is the premier online SAT/ACT training resource for high school students across the United States. All summer program participants will receive one year of free online SAT/ACT training, valued at over $1200.

Your personalized, self-paced adaptive program from our partners at PrepScholar offers more than 90 skill lessons and 4100+ realistic practice questions with thorough explanations. It covers all test sections, but the program will keep you focused on areas where you need the most help.

On average, students increase their SAT scores by 180 points overall, with the top 25 percent of students achieving improvements of 370 points or more.

ACT students typically see improvements of four to five points per section.

Parent's receive bi-weekly emails updating them on their student's progress in the program.

SAT/ACT Training

College Application
Essay Review

Submit up to five college application essays for professional review.

Request up to two letters of recommendation for college or job applications.

Letters of Recommendation

Attend virtual college admissions panels with representatives from some of the top universities in the nation.

College Admissions
Q&A Panels

Navigating the college application process can be overwhelming, but a well-crafted application can make all the difference. Leadership Initiatives provides expert editing services to help students present their achievements, experiences, and aspirations in the clearest and most compelling way.

Our editors review essays and personal statements, improving style, clarity, sentence structure, and overall coherence. Students receive detailed feedback and edits designed to ensure every component of the application makes a strong impression on admissions officers.

With our support, students can submit polished, professional applications that effectively highlight their strengths and potential for success in higher education.

College Application Essay Review

Summer Interns who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive two letters of recommendation from any Leadership Initiatives staff member, including the Executive Director Marshall Bailly.

Interns can also request letters from program mentors who guided them during their internships and can personally attest to their dedication, achievements, and the professional qualities they demonstrated throughout the program.

These complimentary letters are one of the most valued benefits of the program, providing support for college, scholarships, and future opportunities. Below are examples from past students showing how these letters have reflected the transformative impact of their internships.

Letters of Recommendation

Every spring, Leadership Initiatives hosts five interactive informational panels open to both students and parents. LI partners with admissions officers from top undergraduate, medical, law, and business schools to offer students and families free, insider guidance on the college application process. In previous years, representatives from Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, and UCLA, among others, have joined to share their insights and answer questions.

The series begins with an Undergraduate Student Panel, where current college students from leading universities share their advice for balancing applications with high school demands, what extracurriculars they leveraged in their application, and more.

Parents and students can participate in any number of sessions that they're interested in. Join us this April and May for these engaging and practical webinars for advice on how to navigate the college and career admissions process successfully.

The series continues with career-focused panels on preparing for future applications to medical school, law school, and MBA programs, helping students understand how to begin building a strong foundation now for advanced study later.

College Admissions Q&A Panels

Scholarship Application Essay Review

Submit up to five scholarship application essays for professional review.

Engage with professors and experienced professionals to better understand their field.

Receive a certificate of 35 verified community service hours for your time in our internships.

Expert Career Insight

Community Service
Hours Earned

Hundreds of thousands of scholarships exist for upcoming college students, and financial aid and scholarships can be a deciding factor in a student’s ability to attend college.

Each student scholarship application will be edited to ensure it makes an excellent impression at every stage of the competitive application process. The editors will improve the style, clarity, sentence structure and coherence of your application so that your achievements are noticed.

LI provides unmatched one-on-one scholarship assistance to each student through our personalized scholarship editing services.

The graduating seniors of the Summer Internship Program have received over $5.4 million in financial aid and scholarships to attend college.

Scholarship Application Essay Review

One of the most important aspects of gaining entrance to the professional world is experience. As the first impression made on an employer, university, or other institution highlighting experience beyond your peers and is often the key to unlocking these doors.

All participants of the Summer Internship Program receive professional development from experts in multiple fields so they can highlight to colleges, universities, and employers what skills they have.

Students use these experiences to highlight on college applications and resumes what they have accomplished. Leadership Initiatives will serve as a reference for all scholarship, school, and job applications for up to six years after the internship is completed.

Expert Career Insight

Community Service Hours Earned

By volunteering their time to support communities worldwide, interns earn 35 community service hours that count toward requirements for their school or organizations such as the National Honor Society. Leadership Initiatives will provide a certificate of completion, and verify service hours electronically upon request, to ensure each intern’s service is officially recognized.

Leadership Initiatives will work with your school and their community service program to ensure that your work to transform lives is recognized.

Receive first consideration for the school year program after successfully completing a Summer Internship.

International Internship Program

Showcase your achievements on your own custom website created by LI.

Personalized Website

Obtain real-word experience in law, medicine, neuroscience, business, cybersecurity, national security, or AI technology.

Real-World Experience

The single most valuable asset a student can bring to a college application is an experience that distinguishes them from their peers. Students who participate in the Summer Internship Program gain real-world experience, working alongside experts on meaningful projects that make a tangible impact.

This hands-on experience and professional mentorship develops essential skills for college and career, including problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, effective communication, and leadership. Participants also benefit from professional mentorship, exposure to industry practices, and the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and creativity.

Interns leave the program with hands-on experience, professional mentorship, a deeper understanding of their chosen field, and the skills to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and creativity.

Real-World Experience

Through the International Internship Program (IIP), students research and develop solutions to real-world problems in rural Nigeria, addressing challenges in business, health, or advocacy. Interns are paired with development partners and work in teams during weekly virtual meetings throughout the school year, conducting practical research and assisting with improvement implementation. This experience builds leadership skills and critical thinking, setting interns apart from peers while making a tangible impact on underserved communities.

The International Business & Development Program allows students to work directly with businesses in the developing world. LI identifies small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who live on less than $1.90 a day, have limited business experience, and struggle to provide for their family’s basic needs.

The International Public Health Program assists vulnerable populations living in sub-Sarahan Africa. Students work with project managers and health care professionals in Bauchi, Nigeria to develop and implement public health campaigns addressing major health concerns such as immunization, reproductive health, early childhood development, food safety and nutrition, illicit substances, and the control of Malaria and HIV/ AIDS.

The International Law & Advocacy Program focuses on human rights activism through education, advocacy, and public interest litigation. Students collaborate with project coordinators in northern Nigeria to tackle pressing advocacy challenges such as child rights, gender equality, access to education, and combating systemic injustices.

International Internship Progam

Upon completion of your summer internship, Leadership Initiatives creates a custom website highlighting your experience and accomplishments.

Intern websites display your headshot and bio, your team's project or grant proposal, and photos of you and your partners in action, illustrating the skills you've learned and impact you've made on an underserved community. The website link is included in your letters of recommendation, acting as a visual resume and allowing colleges to explore your outstanding achievements.

Click below to view past intern's websites below.

Personalized Website

Our students have been accepted into....

Our office in Washington, DC is open seven days a week - give us a call! A phone conversation allows us to answer your specific questions and provide you with contact information for previous internship participants and their families so that you can get a first-hand perspective.

Join us this summer!

Contact Us

4410 Massachusetts Ave., NW #236

Washington, DC  20016

info@lichange.org

202-738-1115

Helpful Links

Leadership Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported, charitable organization as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Recognition