Government & Law Summer Programs | National Student Leadership Conference

Our programs are over 80% full! Start your application to see current availability.

Government & Law Summer Programs

International Diplomacy

At the NSLC on International Diplomacy, you’ll assume the role of a diplomat for the United Nations, addressing top international challenges and leading global negotiations surrounding foreign policy.

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Political Action & Public Policy

At the NSLC on Political Action & Public Policy, you’ll immerse yourself in the functions of Congress, crafting new legislation as a Senator and discovering the complex process of running a political campaign.

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Intelligence & National Security

At the NSLC on Intelligence & National Security, you’ll manage a crisis and assess threats to the nation as you develop security strategies that will protect the United States.

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Law & Advocacy

At the NSLC on Law & Advocacy, you’ll step into the shoes of a trial attorney as you learn courtroom procedure, examine evidence, and prepare to argue a challenging murder case.

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NSLC Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellation requests may be submitted through the Manage Registration section of your online student portal.

30-Day Grace Period

Cancellation Fee

Enrollments submitted before April 1, 2024, have 30 days to cancel without penalty.

After 30 days, or if enrolling after April 1, please see the table below.

$0 (full refund)

Cancel Date	Cancellation Fee
By April 1, 2024	$350 (6-9 day programs) $500 (18-day programs)
April 2 – May 1, 2024	$1000 (6-9 day programs) $1500 (18-day programs)
May 2, 2024 or after	100% of tuition paid*

*The NSLC will not charge additional payments. Payment plans will automatically end at the time of cancellation.

Flexible Monthly Payments

All enrollments submitted prior to May 1, 2024 will be automatically placed on a convenient monthly payment schedule. After your program deposit, any remaining tuition costs will be divided into equal payments automatically charged to the credit card on file.

Want to remove autopay or adjust your payment dates? Contact us to easily make the changes that work best for you. Final payments are due no later than 30 days before the session begins.

Student Protection Plans

Protect your tuition payments against unexpected circumstances by adding a Student Protection Plan. Affordable insurance can be attached to your enrollment during the application process or in your student account any time before your program begins.

Review full plan details here.

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What does my tuition include?

Tuition covers housing and on-campus meals, plus course materials, academic expenses, trips, tours, activities, and off-campus event transportation. Travel costs to and from the program itself are not included, and students are individually responsible for expenses such as spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and off-campus meals.

What does my tuition include?

Tuition covers housing (if applicable) and on-campus meals, plus course materials, academic expenses, trips, tours, activities, and off-campus event transportation. Travel costs to and from the program itself are not included, and students are individually responsible for expenses such as spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and off-campus meals.

Residential Option: Residential students live in a campus dormitory supervised by NSLC staff. Students are housed with one or two roommates on a floor with students in their age range. The front desk of the dormitory is monitored 24 hours a day.

Commuter Option: After Registration Day, Commuter students will check in each morning from 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM and check out each evening from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Commuter tuition includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but does not include housing accommodations. During the active program hours between check-in and check-out each day, we kindly ask that students only be signed out from activities for medical or family emergencies.

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What does my tuition include?

Tuition covers housing (if applicable) and on-campus meals, plus course materials, academic expenses, trips, tours, activities, and off-campus event transportation. Travel costs to and from the program itself are not included, and students are individually responsible for expenses such as spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and off-campus meals.

Middle school students choose a Residential or Commuter option when enrolling:

Residential Option: Residential students live in a campus dormitory supervised by NSLC staff. Students are housed with one or two roommates on a floor with students in their age range. The front desk of the dormitory is monitored 24 hours a day.

Commuter Option: After Registration Day, Commuter students will check in each morning from 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM and check out each evening from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Commuter tuition includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but does not include housing accommodations. During the active program hours between check-in and check-out each day, we kindly ask that students only be signed out from activities for medical or family emergencies.

International Diplomacy Travel Details

International Diplomacy students will divide their time between two campuses, spending 6 days at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and 3 days at Columbia University in New York, NY.

Session 1 (June 17) and Session 3 (July 12) will arrive at Georgetown University and depart from Columbia University.

Session 2 (June 29) and Session 4 (July 24) will arrive at Columbia University and depart from Georgetown University.

After you’ve been accepted into the program, please visit your student account before planning travel for more detailed information.

What is the NSLC?

The National Student Leadership Conference provides an immersive pre-college experience that prepares students for life beyond middle and high school, allowing them to study in university classrooms, learn to navigate a campus, and experience living with roommates. Students are able to explore a career concentration they are interested in before going into college and declaring a major. Each NSLC program also contains a leadership curriculum designed to teach skills that can apply to all areas of life.

Am I eligible to attend NSLC?

We encourage all 6th-12th grade students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership ability to apply to our summer programs.

For high school programs, students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have completed at least one year of high school. Students may attend NSLC through the summer following high school graduation.

For middle school programs, students must be at least 11 years of age and currently enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.

How do I enroll?

Click here to get started! NSLC applications are completed online and require a deposit with a credit or debit card. If you would like to place your deposit with a check, please email info@nslcleaders.org.

Is there a deadline to apply?

While we have suggested seasonal deadlines, NSLC will continue to accept applications if space is available in a program or on a program’s waitlist. The online enrollment application will display all current availability.

How are students invited?

Students are selected for NSLC in a variety of ways. Teachers, counselors, and NSLC alumni nominate students from across the United States and around the world each year. Students may also be selected from one of several national talent identification surveys, including the College Board Student Search Service and the ACT EOS.

Do you have scholarships?

Yes! Students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and school or community involvement are encouraged to apply for a Summer Program Scholarship to offset their summer tuition costs. Click here to learn about the process.

What does tuition include?

Tuition covers housing and on-campus meals, plus course materials, academic expenses, trips, tours, activities, and off-campus event transportation. Travel costs to and from the program itself are not included, and students are individually responsible for expenses such as spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and off-campus meals.

What is your refund policy?

Cancellation requests may be submitted through the Manage Registration section of your online student portal.

30-Day Grace Period

Cancellation Fee

Enrollments submitted before April 1, 2024, have 30 days to cancel without penalty.

After 30 days, or if enrolling after April 1, please see the table below.

$0 (full refund)

Cancel Date	Cancellation Fee
By April 1, 2024	$350 (6-9 day programs) $500 (18-day programs)
April 2 – May 1, 2024	$1000 (6-9 day programs) $1500 (18-day programs)
May 2, 2024 or after	100% of tuition paid*

*The NSLC will not charge additional payments. Payment plans will automatically end at the time of cancellation.

Do you have payment plans?

Yes! All enrollments submitted prior to May 1, 2024, will be automatically placed on a convenient monthly payment schedule. After your program deposit, any remaining tuition costs will be divided into equal payments automatically charged to the credit card you used to sign up.

Want to remove autopay or adjust your payment dates? Contact us to easily make the changes that work best for you. Final payments are due no later than 30 days before the session begins.

How do waitlists work?

Once a program has reached capacity, you will see a Waitlisted status appear next to the dates on our application. If you would like to join the waitlist, please complete the enrollment process and place a deposit like normal to add your name. Once a cancellation is received, we will offer the newly opened space to the next student on the list. Your deposit is fully refundable if you do not move into the program or choose to remove your name.

Keep reading our Waitlist FAQs for more information.

Program Scholarships

We understand that family circumstances may not enable all qualified students to attend our programs without financial assistance.

Students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and school or community involvement are encouraged to apply for a scholarship to offset their summer tuition costs.

Click here to learn about the process.