- Bank of America reprogrammed its Student Leaders summer opportunity for the 2026 cycle.
- The program previously served high school juniors and seniors; the program now calls for applications from college freshman and sophomores.
- The program continues to pair Student Leaders with paid internships at a local nonprofit.
After 21 years, the Bank of America Student Leaders program, a paid summer internship experience known for partnerships with local nonprofits, has shifted its focus from high school students to college undergraduates.
“I think that was quite sad,” junior and aspiring applicant Rohin Saharoy said. “I feel like it was probably a better opportunity for high schoolers. College students can get these opportunities. It’s a lot harder for those our age to obtain these experiences.”
The program was a unique gateway for students of all backgrounds to gain experience in a real working environment. It lasted eight weeks, concluding in a weeklong Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. that brought together attendees to learn from nonprofit leaders and collaborate on future community solutions. Now, the program is six weeks long, with the Summit shortened to three days. In prior years, applicants had to be rising high school juniors and seniors in participating Bank of America regions, but now they must be college undergraduates. This year’s application will open in early February and close in early March.
The program’s application was accessible for a wide variety of applicants due to its emphasis on community impact. In the past, grades and test scores were excluded altogether. For the 2026 cycle, the program will be looking at college transcripts to verify grade eligibility as well as the student’s standing with their institution.
“It was such a great opportunity for me and those pre-college who are trying to get more professional business experience,” alumna Dhruti Halambi said. “It was one of my favorite things I did in high school, and I feel like it helped me get a good foundation for the type of person I want to be here at UCLA.”
Previously, 315 student leaders were selected every year to participate. It is currently unclear as to how many students will be selected this year, and if there will be fewer qualifying regions than in previous years.
“I think it was really unique to have this opportunity for high school students because it opened their eyes and introduced them to public policy before they made decisions about their career choice,” alumna Kendall Nord said. “If someone’s exploring this as a senior in college, they might not get as much out of it because they might’ve already decided what they want to do with their life.”
This change has left many aspiring applicants’ excitement for the program on a hiatus as they turn to other summer opportunities. While there are other fully funded programs, Bank of America Student Leaders educates students of any interest, building a class of leaders that range from poets to scientists due to the lack of specific discipline-based program cohorts.
“It was a great experience, and I’m so grateful to have been included in it this past year,” Nord said. “I’m sad for all the other high school students who aren’t going to be able to do it anymore. I’m glad it’s still available to some extent, even if it’s a couple years later.”
