Succeed
    Leadership Institute
    In-person Program

    Leadership Institute

    by Wake Forest University

    A residential leadership program combining workshops, team challenges, professional insights, community service, and personal development.

    Last verified: 9 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Leadership Institute at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Applications open

    Eligibility

    Grades 9-12; good standing

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18

    Location / Region

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

    Cost

    $3,500

    Duration

    1 week

    Format

    In-person

    Application deadline

    Rolling · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

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    Accommodation: Required campus residence hall
    Meals: All meals provided
    Certificate / Outcome: Wake Forest completion certificate
    Campus experience: Workshops, service, evening activities
    Faculty: University staff and industry professionals

    Leadership Institute summary

    This is a hands-on residential program about influencing others, working toward shared goals, and developing a personal leadership style.

    Students learn through workshops, team-building, case studies, guest perspectives, campus activities, and service with local nonprofit organizations.

    It suits students who want structured personal development and practical leadership experience before college.

    What is Leadership Institute?

    The Leadership Institute is a Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program experience that helps high school students develop the ability to inspire people and work toward collective goals. Its academic focus spans relationship development, communication, personal branding, resilience, team dynamics, cultural awareness, diversity, and equity.

    Students move between workshops, team challenges, case studies, professional perspectives, and reflection. They also develop their resumes, identify personal strengths, serve with local nonprofit organizations, and experience residential university life.

    Why Succeed highlights Leadership Institute

    • Leadership is practiced through team challenges, case studies, peer activities, and reflection rather than taught only through lectures.

    • The curriculum connects self-awareness and communication with resilience, diversity, equity, and team dynamics.

    • Students learn from Wake Forest faculty and staff as well as professionals from different industries.

    • Service with local nonprofit organizations gives students a practical setting for leadership and community contribution.

    • The residential experience combines structured daytime programming with supervised evening activities.

    Who is Leadership Institute for?

    Best for

    Students who want to strengthen communication, self-awareness, teamwork, resilience, and practical leadership through an intensive campus experience.

    Not ideal if

    You want academic credit, a non-residential option, or a subject-specialist course with formal graded assessment.

    Is Leadership Institute worth it?

    It can be worthwhile for a student who will actively participate in workshops, peer challenges, service, and reflection. The combination of practical leadership activities, professional perspectives, campus life, and a recognized completion certificate creates a focused personal-development experience.

    The main limitation is that this is a short, non-credit enrichment program rather than formal academic study. Its required residential format and substantial fee also make it a better fit for families that value intensive campus immersion.

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    Founder, Succeed

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    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $3,500; includes All meals during the campus stay, Transportation to and from off-site field trips, Official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.

    Accommodation

    Required campus residence hall

    Meals

    All meals provided

    Supervision or safety information

    Program staff supervise students during academic, recreational, and evening activities. Professional staff live in the residence hall, staff rotate on call around the clock, and campus police are available 24/7.

    Provider details

    Review the Wake Forest University provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    1 week; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Leadership Institute need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high during the residential week.

    Best started

    Four to six weeks before the annual November application opening.

    Main challenge

    Writing thoughtful essays and arranging a suitable school recommendation.

    Typical preparation

    • Ask a teacher, counselor, or administrator for a recommendation early.

    • Draft and revise both application essays before opening the portal.

    • Gather GPA information and discuss tuition, travel, and residential arrangements as a family.

    Useful if

    You can describe a genuine interest in leadership and personal growth.

    What do students do on Leadership Institute?

    Students explore leadership through a sequence of workshops, professional perspectives, team activities, service, and reflection while living on campus.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Examine relationship development, self-awareness, social awareness, and team dynamics.

    2. 2

      Practice personal branding, communication, resilience, and leadership-style articulation.

    3. 3

      Take part in team-building and conflict-management exercises with peers.

    4. 4

      Learn practical leadership lessons from Wake Forest staff and industry professionals.

    5. 5

      Serve with local nonprofit organizations and connect leadership with community impact.

    6. 6

      Develop a resume, identify personal strengths, and reflect on future goals.

    Leadership Institute dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Applications

    Rolling admissions

    Reference date

    7-12 June 2026 session

    7-12 June 2026

    Reference date

    21-26 June 2026 session

    21-26 June 2026

    Reference date

    Applications open

    1 November 2026

    Opening date for the summer 2027 application cycle.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Current students in US Grades 9-12

    • Good academic standing

    • No school suspensions or disciplinary record

    • Fluent English participation

    • Home-schooled students may apply

    • International students may apply

    How much does Leadership Institute cost?

    Program tuition

    $3,500

    Funding or discounts

    • Application fee: $60 — Non-refundable and due with the application.
    • Enrollment deposit: $550 — Non-refundable after securing a seat.
    • Need-based scholarships: Limited funding — Requested through the general application.

    What's included

    All meals during the campus stay, Transportation to and from off-site field trips, Official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion

    How to apply to Leadership Institute

    1. 1

      Create an account in the Wake Forest Pre-College application portal.

    2. 2

      Complete the online application with two essays and a self-reported GPA.

    3. 3

      List an eligible teacher, counselor, or administrator to provide the recommendation.

    4. 4

      Submit the application and pay the $60 non-refundable application fee.

    5. 5

      Complete the scholarship section and upload prior-year W-2 information if seeking need-based support.

    6. 6

      After admission, select an institute and week through the registration form and submit the $550 deposit.

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    What does Leadership Institute cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Relationships and teams

    Explore relationship development, self-awareness, social awareness, and team dynamics.

    Communication and personal brand

    Practice communicating a personal brand and articulating an individual leadership style.

    Resilience and failure

    Examine failure tolerance and ways to build resilience as a leader.

    Culture, diversity, and equity

    Consider how cultural awareness, diversity, and equity shape effective leadership.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Leadership Institute?

    A typical day during the program.

    Arrival and check in

    Students check into their assigned residence hall during the afternoon.

    Academic programming

    Core programming runs through the day with workshops, speakers, panels, case studies, and team exercises.

    Campus activities

    Dinner, supervised activities, scheduled free time, and preparation for the next day follow programming.

    Checkout

    Students are dismissed at noon after the residential week.

    Who teaches on Leadership Institute?

    Students work with Wake Forest faculty and staff and learn from professionals across different industries. Academic Leader Marcus Sanderlin, MA, is Wake Forest University's Director of Leadership Engagement and brings extensive experience in leadership, career development, coaching, and student support.

    The program also uses Teaching Assistants, Student Engagement Interns, and professional staff to guide and support participants.

    Where do students stay on Leadership Institute?

    Residential plan

    • Campus residence hall: Every participant must stay overnight in an assigned residence hall for the institute week.
    • All meals provided: Students receive meals through campus dining or catering, with dietary restrictions collected after registration.
    • Overnight supervision: Professional staff live in the residence hall and participate in a 24-hour on-call rotation.
    • Evening campus life: Staff lead activities such as basketball, karaoke, Spikeball, volleyball, panels, and workshops.

    Roommates are normally assigned randomly; requests are considered but not guaranteed.

    What happens after Leadership Institute?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Receive an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.

    Develop a resume that records the experience and skills practiced.

    Identify personal strengths and articulate an individual leadership style.

    Apply communication, resilience, teamwork, and conflict-management skills in school or community settings.

    Use the experience to reflect on future study, careers, and community contribution.

    The program is non-credit and does not provide preferential treatment in Wake Forest admission.

    Where does Leadership Institute take place?

    The program takes place at Wake Forest University's Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Students live in campus residence halls, eat in university dining facilities, attend programming across campus, and join supervised evening activities.

    Airport shuttles may be reserved for an additional fee from Piedmont Triad International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

    Leadership Institute FAQs

    It is designed for current students in US Grades 9-12 who are in good academic standing and have a clean disciplinary record. Home-schooled and international students may apply.

    Topics include relationship development, self-awareness, team dynamics, personal branding, communication, resilience, cultural awareness, diversity, and equity.

    Students take part in team-building, leadership workshops, case studies, professional sessions, resume development, strength discovery, and service with local nonprofit organizations.

    Yes. All participants must stay in an assigned Wake Forest residence hall throughout the institute week.

    Yes. All meals are provided during the campus stay through university dining or catering, and families can submit dietary restrictions after registration.

    No. It carries neither secondary school nor college credit, but participants receive an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.

    Applicants submit two essays, a self-reported GPA, one recommendation from an eligible school professional, and a $60 non-refundable application fee. Transcripts and test scores are not required.

    Program staff supervise students during academic, recreational, and evening activities. Professional staff live in the residence hall, staff rotate on call around the clock, and campus police are available 24/7.

    Alternatives to Leadership Institute

    Compare these related leadership, management, and social-science summer programs by setting, subject emphasis, age range, and cost.

    Alternatives to Leadership Institute

    Leadership Summer Course

    Leadership-focused residential summer study in Oxford.

    Social Sciences
    Deadline: Not announced
    From £5495
    13-24
    Oxford
    In-person

    Best for

    Students seeking a broader age range and Oxford setting.

    View details

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Wake Forest Pre-College Programs Applications
    • Wake Forest Pre-College Campus
    • Summer Immersion Program Dates | Wake Forest Pre-College
    • FAQ | Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
    • Apply - Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
    • Wake Forest Leadership Institute | Pre-College Summer Program

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 9 Oct 2026)

    • Official program page checked

    • Application process reviewed

    • Eligibility requirements verified

    • Tuition and fees checked

    • Residential details reviewed

    • Schedule information checked

    • Scholarship terms reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.