Summer 2027 Enrollment
Enrollment opening soon.
Enrollment for Summer 2027 coming soon. Join our early mailing list to get notified when the application goes live.
The NSLC Experience
Pre-college summer programs for high school and middle school students
Since 1989, the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) has helped middle and high school students bridge the gap between academic interests and real-world experience through immersive pre-college summer programs on renowned university campuses.
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Interactive Programs
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Prestigious Locations
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Years of Experience
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Student-Staff Ratio
Career Exploration
The best way to learn is through experience
By combining hands-on career exploration with leadership development, NSLC gives students the chance to experience the work behind their interests, gain clarity about potential college majors, and build skills they'll carry into college and beyond.
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Hands-On Simulations
Interactive simulations give you the opportunity to explore real scenarios you'll face in your chosen field.
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Trips & Tours
Go behind the scenes to see how professionals put their knowledge and skills into practice.
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Guest Speakers
Professionals share stories from their careers and insider tips on the best ways for you to succeed.
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Campus Life
Experience life on a college campus, build independence, and make friends from around the world.
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Leadership Training
Develop the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills required to achieve your academic and career goals.
With programs spanning medicine, STEM, business, government, and more, there's an NSLC summer for everyone.
Student Outcomes
The NSLC advantage, according to our students
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Felt better prepared for college
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Grew confidence in their abilities
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Confirmed their college major or career
Make worldwide connections
Meet students from around the world who share your interests and excitement for the future.
Grow as a leader
Build confidence in your leadership abilities through communication, teamwork, and collaborative challenges.
Gain independence
Become more comfortable away from home while learning to navigate new surroundings and responsibilities.
Embrace new challenges
Take on unfamiliar experiences in an environment where you're encouraged to experiment, learn, and try again.
Hear from our students
Find Your ProgramThe staff were amazing, the activities were engaging, and the friends and memories I made here will stay with me forever.
Julia G. · Medicine & Health Care
Duke UniversityIt could be one of the most impactful decisions of your younger life, and it’s worth anyone’s time if they have the opportunity.
John F. · Engineering
University of OxfordThe program is one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever experienced, and I would recommend it to everyone.
Jacob M. · Business & Entrepreneurship
Columbia UniversityIt’s truly a magical experience. Everything just clicks so perfectly, from the academics, to the staff members, to the friends you make.
Matias A. · Law & Advocacy
Georgetown UniversityThere are so many people here that I connected to that I probably wouldn’t have connected with otherwise, and that’s such a gift to me.
Naia H. · Film Production & Screenwriting
UCLA
Campus Life
Experience life on a college campus
From bustling cities to traditional college towns, explore life at one of 11 renowned university locations and get a better sense of what you're looking for in a future college.
Choose your campusAmerican University
Washington, D.C.
Columbia University
New York, NY
Duke University
Durham, NC
Georgetown University
Washington, D.C.
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Rice University
Houston, TX
University of California, Berkeley
San Francisco, CA
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
University of Oxford
Oxford, England
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
NSLC FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some of the questions we hear most often. Don’t see yours? Explore more FAQs or reach out to our team and we’ll be happy to help.
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers experiential pre-college summer programs for middle and high school students. Since 1989, NSLC has combined hands-on career exploration, leadership development, and university campus experiences to help students explore their interests and make informed decisions about their futures.
At NSLC, career exploration and leadership development are designed to work together. Students take on challenges inspired by real professions, explore their interests through hands-on experiences, and practice communication, collaboration, resilience, and conflict resolution through dedicated leadership training. Rather than simply learning about a subject, students have opportunities to discover what pursuing that interest might actually involve, while developing skills they can carry into whatever path they choose.
NSLC gives students opportunities to test their interests before choosing a college major or career path. An aspiring engineer might discover a passion for designing and building, while a student interested in medicine might realize they’re more drawn to research than patient care. Along the way, students practice leadership skills, collaborate with peers who share their interests, and experience life on a university campus. Whether they confirm an existing interest or discover a new direction, students can leave with a clearer understanding of themselves and their possibilities.
Not at all! NSLC welcomes students who are curious about a subject or career, whether they’ve been interested in it for years or are just beginning to explore. No previous experience in their chosen field is required. Students might discover a new passion, confirm an existing interest, or realize that a particular career isn’t quite what they expected. Each outcome can help them make more informed decisions about their future.
NSLC welcomes middle and high school students who meet the following eligibility requirements:
- High School: Ages 14–18, with at least one year of high school completed and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Graduating seniors are also eligible.
- Middle School: At least 11 years old and currently enrolled in grades 6–8.
All students must complete the online NSLC application and place a required deposit for their program. Students will also be asked to list the name and email of an educator that will complete a Grade Verification Form on their behalf.
Tuition varies by program, location, and housing option. You can find current tuition rates on each program page, along with available dates and locations. Tuition includes academic instruction, program materials, activities, and scheduled trips, with housing and meals included for residential students. NSLC also offers need-based scholarships to help eligible families offset the cost of attendance.