Our Programs
For more than 20 years, Leadership Initiatives has partnered with outstanding high school students to gain real-world experience, explore future careers, and develop critical skills to create the next generation of leaders worldwide.
As a nonprofit organization, we are proud to offer real internships that impact the lives of students and the individuals they are partnered with.
Leadership Initiatives offers the leading experiential education programs for high school students with endorsements from the Microsoft Youthspark Program, the Starbucks Foundation, the International Youth Foundation, GlobalGiving, PrepScholar, and the Future First Foundation.
Advanced Medical Neuroscience Internship
In Leadership Initiatives' Advanced Medical Neuroscience Internship, students work directly with Dr. Giordano, the Chief of Georgetown's Neuroethics Studies Program and Co-Director of the O’Neill-Pellegrino Program in Brain Science and Global Health Law and Policy.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship
The Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship is a first-of-its-kind accelerated internship that pairs motivated high school students with medical pioneers from across the globe to train the next generation of doctors.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
July 19th - July 25th, 2026
July 26th - August 1st, 2026
AI & Emerging Technology Internship
Step into the future with the AI & Emerging Technology Internship, an immersive program designed for ambitious students ready to transform the world through innovation. Hosted at Georgetown University, this one-of-a-kind internship dives deep into the power of artificial intelligence and its transformative potential across industries.
In-Person Dates:
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
Criminal Law & Trial Internship
The Criminal Law & Trial Internship is a first-of-its-kind accelerated internship that allows motivated high school students to intern with a law firm on an active criminal defense case. Cases are selected by legal advocacy groups in Washington D.C. where clients are in need of additional resources to provide a proper defense.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
Advanced Law & Justice Reform Internship
The Advanced Criminal Justice & Reform Internship is an accelerated first-of-its-kind internship that allows motivated high school students to work on social justice reform and advocate to release first-time offenders who committed crimes before adulthood and went through transformative growth while incarcerated.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
International Leadership & Business Internship
The Leadership Initiatives International Leadership & Business Internship is taking our first-of-its-kind accelerated internship to the next level. Students will choose an entrepreneur from the developing world to partner with and assist in developing their start-up business.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
July 5th - July 11th, 2026
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
National Security & Diplomacy Internship
The National Security and Diplomacy Internship is a first-of-its-kind program that allows students to work directly with national security experts, train in the latest intelligence tactics and implement security strategies to save lives.
In-Person Dates:
July 26th - August 1st, 2026
Cybersecurity & Defense Internship
The Cybersecurity & Defense Internship is a first-of-its-kind program that allows students to work directly with cyber security experts, learn anti-hacking tactics in various fields, and implement security system protocols for previously hacked companies.
In-Person Dates:
July 12th - July 18th, 2026
July 19th - July 25th, 2026
Jumpstart Program
Students who participate in this dynamic program will be fully engaged with our curriculum, inspiring independent thinking, creativity, personal growth, and self-confidence. The Jumpstart Program for middle school students has just the right balance of academic rigor and excitement. Students have the chance to find their passion early in life utilizing the help of LI mentors to guide them throughout their week-long exploration.
In-Person Dates:
June 28th - July 4th, 2026
All students who attend one of our Summer Internship Programs will receive free SAT/ACT training through PrepScholar, one-on-one admissions consulting with a former admissions officer, essay editing assistance, two letters of recommendation, and scholarship application assistance. These benefits remain available for six years to allow nominations for rising freshmen through rising seniors.
Click on each academic benefit below to learn more :
1. One-on-One Advising
2. College Essay Assistance
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. College Probability Modeling
6. Admissions Panels
5. Personalized Websites
Jumpstart your college experience.
Summer program students will have the opportunity to meet virtually, one-on-one with a college admissions expert from our partners at CollegeAdvisor. They will help walk students through the ins-and-outs of college applications, essay writing, and scholarships.
Students can speak directly with dedicated admissions counselors and former admissions officers to provide them with an in-depth understanding of the college application process. These counselors have personal and extensive experience in the college application field that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Students are recommended to have their most pressing questions about the college application process ready so they can have them answered by someone who knows the application system inside and out.
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.
One-on-One Advising
All Summer Internship Program participants receive one-on-one essay editing assistance from Leadership Initiatives partner University Connection.
This offer is exclusive, and not available with any other institution or program!
Each student essay 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.
Editors bring their experience in many different backgrounds, including Science and Technology, Commerce, Management, and the Humanities.
College Essay Review
Letters of Recommendation
Matthew Matusiewicz - Full Ride to UC Berkley School of Engineering
Samantha Williams - Attending Harvard University
Meredith Karle - Full Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Request a letter or recommendation here.
All Summer Internship Program participants will have the opportunity to request up to two letters of recommendation from any member of the Leadership Initiatives staff, including Executive Director Marshall Bailly.
Student interns will also have the opportunity to receive letters of recommendation from Leadership Initiatives partners affiliated with the International Internship Program (IIP).
These distinctive and complimentary letters are among the most highly valued benefits offered by Leadership Initiatives. Below are examples of recommendation letters from past students, highlighting the transformative impact of the program on their lives.
College Probability Modeling
Leadership Initiatives and our partners at Parchment, PrepScholar and University Connections have designed a system that will calculate the probability of acceptance into the student’s top university choices based on the students GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, career goals, financial need and more.
Our college admissions team will guide participants in refining their college interest list and developing a personalized application plan.
Drawing on their experience with a wide range of institutions, they offer valuable insights to help students better navigate the admissions process.
Register for college probability modeling today!
Financial Assistance Needs
Extra-Curricular Activities
Community Service
College Probability Calculator
Grade Point Average
SAT/ACT Training Scores
Leadership Initiatives creates a personalized website for each Summer Internship Program participant, showcasing their collaborative efforts with partners and mentors throughout the summer.
Each website highlights your team’s solutions, grant proposal, and photos from your time at Georgetown, illustrating the meaningful impact your work has had on your partners and their communities. A link to your website is included in your letters of recommendation, giving colleges the opportunity to explore and appreciate the exceptional contributions made by every student.
Personalized Website
Click to view our Summer Internship Program websites here.
Summer program students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a college admissions expert. They will help walk students through the ins-and-outs of college applications, essay writing, and scholarships.
Students can speak directly with former admissions officers from schools such as Yale, Brown & UCLA. These individuals have a minimum of 15 years of experience in the field of college admissions.
Students are recommended to have their most pressing questions about the college application process ready so they can have them answered by someone who knows the application system inside and out.
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 Panel
Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Leadership Initiatives is committed to ensuring health, safety, and well-being at all of our world-class summer Summer Internship Programs. Leadership Initiatives closely monitors guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), local officials, and our university partners at Georgetown to evolve our programs and prioritize community and student safety.
Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Participants become a part of the Georgetown community of students and staff who live together in the New South Residence Hall. Students live in two-person rooms and may select their roommate upon enrolling in the program. Leadership Initiatives will provide bedding, towels, and pillows. Each dorm room is air-conditioned and includes a bed, study desk, closet & Wi-Fi. Lounges, game rooms, laundry facilities, and our offices are located in the residence hall. With afternoon activities in the Georgetown Quad and outings along famous M Street, participants are immersed in life as a student.
Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Leadership Initiatives provides three meals, snacks, and drinks as a part of the program tuition. Students order meals on their mobile phones from a selection of local restaurants, including Chik-fil-a, Epicurean, 90 Second Pizza, Georgetown Gourmet, Chipotle, Wisemiller's, and Jimmy John's. Meals are delivered directly to the students, and snacks and drinks are available in dorm lounges throughout the day.
Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
Students are responsible for covering the cost of travel to and from the internship. Leadership Initiatives offers optional shuttle service between Washington-area airports (DCA and IAD) and the Georgetown University campus on the official start and end dates of the program. The shuttle fee is $30 from DCA and $45 from IAD. Upon acceptance into the program, detailed instructions for registering for the airport shuttle service will be provided. Leadership Initiatives staff will meet students at the airport baggage claim area and escort them directly to program registration at Georgetown University.
Program Tuition & Assistance
All-Inclusive Program Tuition
Specialized
Scholarships
Assistance Scholarships
No-Interest Payment Plans
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The program tuition includes the cost of room and board, ground transportation throughout the program, all curriculum and materials, as well as facility and lab fees. Interns will also benefit from a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio during their time in the program.
Tuition covers educational support, including one-on-one college admissions counseling, mentor sessions with experts, workshops, and comprehensive academic services. This includes SAT/ACT preparation through PrepScholar and college essay editing.
Scholarships and payments plans are available.
All-Inclusive Tuition
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No-Interest Payment Plans
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Leadership Initiatives offers a variety of flexible options to pay for program tuition.
Zero-interest payment plans are available in three, six, nine, and twelve-month payment options.
Participants can opt to pay the entirety of their remaining tuition balance at any point during the payment period.
Reserve a place today with a $100 refundable deposit here.
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Specialized Scholarships
Leadership Initiatives is dedicated to providing opportunities for everyone who shows drive, determination, and grit towards their future goals. We have created various specialized scholarships to provide merit-based aid to enrolled and potential students.
Click here to view 2025 scholarship recipients.
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Scholarships
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, all Leadership Initiatives programs are heavily subsidized by our sponsors allowing us to offer programs with academic benefits at a lower cost than for-profit institutions.
To apply for a scholarship click here to fill out the program interest form and indicate you are interested in a scholarship.
Please note scholarships do not stack (this means you can only use one scholarship per program).
Partners and Sponsors
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
Join A Webinar
Request Alumni References
Become An Intern
Testimonials
Visit The International Internship Homepage
Leadership Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported, charitable organization as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Recognition