The LEAD Program, since its inception in 1980, has devised a successful formula of identifying, recruiting and selecting high achieving students for the program. Students must complete an application and submit essays, recommendations, transcript and leadership experience.

LEAD’s extraordinary success in diverse workforce development is due in large part to the generosity and shared vision of our university and corporate partners. Realizing the need for increased diversity in business management, leaders in the public and private sector have paved the way for the nation’s brightest high school students to become accomplished and responsible business leaders.

For more than 30 years, LEAD’s Summer Institutes have served over 10,000 students and have grown increasingly competitive, generally receiving three times more applications than available capacity.

• Receive hands-on experience in business or engineering at one of the nation’s leading universities
• Hear first-hand from executives at the top companies in the world
• Reside and attend classes on-campus and attend unique cultural events
• Build relationships with peers from around the country that share your interests and aspirations
• Connect with LEAD alumni who can serve as mentors in your college and professional life
• Learn about internships, employment opportunities and special events available to LEAD alumni

About LEAD Business

The Summer Business Institute (SBI) program is LEAD’s longest running Summer Institute and is considered the “flagship” program. The SBI program exposes scholars to business principles and the skill sets needed for successful business careers. The program challenges them through applied learning experiences often facilitated by college professors, links scholars to corporate executives in business fields and peers with similar aspirations and abilities.

During LEAD SBIs, scholars reside and attend classes on-campus at a select number of the nation’s top business schools for three or four weeks. SBIs provide diverse, high-achieving rising high school seniors the opportunity to explore finance, entrepreneurship, accounting and marketing, among other business sectors.

The goal of the SBI is to expose scholars early in their academic development to the innumerable career opportunities in business. The program equips them with knowledge and expertise from our nation’s leading universities and corporations, empowering LEAD scholars to confidently make better informed decisions when choosing their university and career.

Exposure to business principles and the skill sets needed for successful business careers empowers LEAD scholars to confidently make better-informed decisions when choosing their university and career.

The objectives of a LEAD Summer Business Institute are to:

• Engage scholars in an intense, hands-on curriculum incorporating case studies, business plans and team projects
• Provide scholars with first-hand knowledge from business professionals through mentoring and corporate site visits
• Develop scholars’ presentation and public speaking skills
• Impart principles of responsible leadership
• Engage scholars in cultural and social activities
• Prepare scholars for college

ABOUT LEAD Computer Science (Level I: Experience)

LEAD’s CSI programs create a pipeline in STEM fields based on the need to develop and expand student’s critical thinking and problem solving. We integrate practical issues with theories in STEM in response to economic trends, employment needs and innovation through education.

The program exists to expose academically promising middle and high school students from diverse communities to both colleges and careers in STEM fields.

We introduce, support and expose students with an opportunity to explore the field of computer science by developing a curriculum with each participating university and pair’s active learning with programming topics.

OUR GOALS:

• To introduce students to the fundamentals of computer science through a collaborative curriculum created by LEAD and participating universities.

• Provide support through academic enrichment programs in math, science and standardized testing to prepare students to become college bound. We achieve this goal by pairing students with either faculty or a residential teaching assistant who provides one-to-one instruction as well as learning seminars.

• Expose students to corporations and professionals working in STEM fields to provide them first hand knowledge of working in the industry. We achieve this goal by partnering with companies through workshops, speakers and site visits.

ABOUT LEAD Computer Science (Level II: Foundations)

LEAD’s CSI programs create a pipeline in STEM fields based on the need to develop and expand student’s critical thinking and problem solving. We integrate practical issues with theories in STEM in response to economic trends, employment needs and innovation through education.

The program exists to expose academically promising middle and high school students from diverse communities to both colleges and careers in STEM fields.

We introduce, support and expose students with an opportunity to explore the field of computer science by developing a curriculum with each participating university and pair’s active learning with programming topics.

OUR GOALS:

• To introduce students to the fundamentals of computer science through a collaborative curriculum created by LEAD and participating universities.

• Provide support through academic enrichment programs in math, science and standardized testing to prepare students to become college bound. We achieve this goal by pairing students with either faculty or a residential teaching assistant who provides one-to-one instruction as well as learning seminars.

• Expose students to corporations and professionals working in STEM fields to provide them first hand knowledge of working in the industry. We achieve this goal by partnering with companies through workshops, speakers and site visits.

ABOUT LEAD Engineering

The Summer Engineering Institute (SEI) provides diverse, high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors the opportunity to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers. During the SEI, students reside and attend class on-campus at partner schools, ranked in the nation’s top engineering schools, for three weeks.

The SEI immerses students early in their academic development and exposes them to innumerable career opportunities in engineering and computer science. The program equips them with knowledge and expertise from our nation’s leading universities and corporations, empowering students to confidently make better informed decisions when choosing their university and career.  Students are engaged in an intense, hands-on curriculum comprised of engineering instruction, computer programming, problem solving, and data analysis.

The objectives of LEAD’s Summer Engineering program are to:

• Engage students in an intense, hands-on curriculum comprised of engineering instruction, computer programming, problem solving, and data analysis
• Develop students’ presentation and public speaking skills
• Impart principles of responsible leadership
• Engage students in cultural and social activities
• Prepare students for college

ABOUT LAUNCHPAD

Career Readiness Program for High School Students

Start paving your way to college and career success in high school with Goldman Sachs LaunchPAD (Prepare, Advance and Develop). Our three-year program, created in partnership with LEAD (LEADership, Education and Development), offers a unique combination of experiential learning, mentorship and college readiness. You will develop your strengths, build confidence and gain exposure to the many career opportunities within the financial services industry.

LaunchPAD at a Glance

• All expenses paid, three-year program including a series of 10+ day-long college preparation and career-readiness symposiums

• Weeklong kickoff program, including a one-day symposium at Goldman Sachs, while living and attending classes at New York University

• Invaluable, ongoing mentorship from business professionals in the financial services industry

To learn more about Goldman Sachs, please visit our website: gs.com/careers.

Who is eligible to apply to a LEAD Summer Program?
We accept applications from current eighth graders, freshman, sophomores and juniors for our summer programs.  Please review the chart below for program eligibility.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in order to apply for the LEAD Program?
Yes. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in order to apply.

What if I can’t afford the program?
Some scholarships are available for students with financial need.  In order to be considered for a scholarship, students must request and submit our scholarship application. Information on how to apply for a scholarship will be included in acceptance documents.

Who should I contact if I experience technical difficulties with the application?
Please contact apply@leadprogram.org or call LEAD at 215.261.7001.

What standardized test results are required?
We require either PSAT, SAT (Critical Reading and Math) or ACT (composite) scores. Results of SAT II (Subject Tests) and AP exams are optional.

What if I don’t have the exact test scores or GPA that LEAD requires?  Does that mean I have no chance of getting accepted?
The LEAD Admissions Committee understands that test scores and grades can’t possibly paint a full picture of an applicant. Therefore, the LEAD application review process is holistic, meaning that family situations, and the required short responses, essay and recommendations, also play major parts in one’s admittance into the LEAD program. However, that does not mean that one shouldn’t strive to reach and surpass LEAD’s minimum requirements for GPA and standardized tests scores.

What if I don’t get into a LEAD program?
Please understand that the LEAD application process is highly selective, and that many highly qualified applicants cannot be offered admission. Also realize though, that there is a waiting list that holds many students from all four programs, all eager to share a LEAD experience, so if you are not initially accepted, you still have the possibility of attending. We also recommend re-applying the next year if you are still eligible.