Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Boston Leadership Institute? 

The Boston Leadership Institute is a top-tier summer STEM program for academically advanced, high achieving, gifted high school and pre-high school students. Our programs are hands-on and engaging, and are designed to introduce students to a variety of careers in the STEM and business fields. We offer both day and residential programs in Boston and its surrounding areas. 

Where are you located? 

The Boston Leadership Institute operates out of three campuses in Boston and the greater Boston area. The locations include Olin College in Greater Wellesley, Gann Academy/Bentley University in Waltham, and Longwood Medical Area in Boston.  Residential students enrolled in our programs at Gann will dorm at Bentley University and residential students enrolled in our programs at Longwood will dorm at Emmanuel College or Simmons University.  Please note that the residential program at our Longwood location is only available to students who are entering grades 10-12.  

What kind of programs do you offer? 

We offer a many types of programs: 

• Three-Week Programs: These are our most in depth and immersive programs for students entering grades 8-12 at all locations. 3 week programs are competitive and require students to submit an application. Topics include Biological Research, Astrophysics, Forensic Science, Emergency Medicine and more!  See a full list of our 3 week programs here! 
• One-Week Programs: One week programs provide an introduction to a range of STEM topics. Students are welcome to take multiple one week programs in a row.  No application is required.
• Pre-High School Programs: These day only one-week programs are offered at our Gann and Greater Wellesley locations. Designed for students entering grades 6-8, students can elect to learn about a whole range of topics, from Mini Med School to Chemistry Science Fair.
• EDGE Programs: These one-week programs give students a head start on material they’ll see in their Fall classes. Learn more about EDGE programs here. 
• Remote Programs: Can’t make it to our in person programs? We also offer remote courses. These are available throughout the summer and fall!

When do your programs run? 

Our programs take place over 8 weeks in the summer. The programs run from 9AM-3:30PM Monday-Friday. There is a one hour break for lunch and free time in the middle of the day. We offer an extended day program until 5:00 free of charge.   

How is COVID-19 affecting your programs?

At the Boston Leadership Institute, the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We will be operating in person classes in accordance with CDC and Massachusetts state guidelines. This includes masks, social distancing and daily health attestations. Field trips may also be impacted due to transportation and destination availability and rules.

BLI is bound by rules of our host institutes. It appears, so far, that students in both day and residential programs at our Longwood campuses must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for taking programs at this site.

Students attending BLI programs must meet requirements of the host site surrounding mask wearing, COVID testing, vaccination, social distancing, and any other condition imposed by that educational institution. No refunds will be issued to students who fail to meet site-imposed COVID-19 requirements.

What is the application process for your programs?

One-week programs do not require an application. They are open to students who perform at grade level or above.

Three-week programs are competitive admissions and require students to fill out an application. We accept students on a rolling admissions basis and review applications once per week. Both the parent and the student will receive an email informing the family of our decision within approximately 7-10 days’ time. When a program is close to selling out, an alert will be placed on its web page. There is no deadline for getting your application in, but the earlier you get your application in the more likely there are to be seats available.

What is the application deadline for competitive programs?

There is no deadline for getting your application in. There is, however, a benefit to getting your application in early if you are interested in a popular program as these can fill up quickly.  

Can you accommodate students with special dietary needs?

Vegetarian entrees are available at every meal. We may need to work with families on our own to accommodate vegan diets. We also collect information on every child’s allergies and work with campus dining staff to ensure that every allergy is accounted for and every child has safe meals to eat.

Payments

How do I enroll in a program?

You can secure your seat with a deposit. The deposit for one-week programs is $200. The deposit for three-week is $500. Remote program seats are secured with a full payment. Before May 15th, deposits are refundable for one week after the payment has been made. After May 15th, deposits are refundable for 72 hours. After the 72 hour period, they are non-refundable. Deposits are transferable to any program of the same or greater value if the desired program has seats available.

What is the cost of your programs? 

The cost of our program depends on a few factors, including the length of the program and if your student is participating as a day only, or as a residential student.  

Day Program Fees:

One-Week tuition: $599

Three-Week tuition: $2200

Residential Fees: 

The residential fee is $699 per week. This is on top of the tuition fee. This covers housing, three meals per day, and supervision by our staff. Thus, the one-week program residential fee is $699 and the three-week residential fee is $2097.

We offer transportation to and from the airport. The fee for this is $49 one way, and $99 for a round trip.

We also offer linens for residential students. The cost to rent linens (which include a fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillow case and towel) is $25.  

Remote Program Fees: 

Introductory remote programs: $599

Competitive-admissions remote programs: $1200

When are payments due?

Tuition payment is due in full by May 15, 2023. For families registering after May 15th, the payment is due two weeks after the deposit is made and not later than the program’s start date. Housing payments are due in full by June 1, 2023. 

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

As mentioned above, deposits made on or before May 15th are fully refundable for one week after they are made. After 7 days, they are non-refundable. After May 15th, they are refundable for 72 hours after they are made. After this 72 hour period, deposits are non-refundable.

Tuition refunds, not including the deposit, are available in full before May 15th. You may request a refund regardless of when you made the payment. After May 15th, we cannot guarantee a full refund of your tuition payment. In the case of illness or injury, partial refunds may be considered on a case by case basis.

All refund requests must be made in writing to changes@bostonleadershipinstitute.com. If you call and speak to someone, we will still require you to send an email, as well.

Do you offer scholarships?

We offer selective scholarships to a very limited number of rising seniors whose families bring in a combined $60,000 or less per year. You can find the application here. 

What are some ways I can save on the cost of attending?

Some out of state families will join their children in Boston for the duration of the program and have their student stay with them rather than on campus. Boston has an abundance of Airbnb or VRBO options (no endorsement or guarantee implied). We also encourage parents who live within driving distance to make a road trip out of bringing their student to Boston – that way you can visit the city, too! You may also consider having your student stay with a loved one who lives in the area.

Day Program

What are the class hours for in person classes?

9:00 – 3:30

Extended day program from 3:30 – 5:00, free of charge

What is the drop off and pick up schedule for day students?

Day students should be dropped off or arrive on campus at 8:45 am each day, unless an earlier field trip has been scheduled. Pick up is at 3:30 pm. As mentioned above, we offer a free extended day program from 3:30-5:00 for students whose parents can’t arrive by 3:30 or whose public transportation leaves later.

Residential 

How do you select roommates for my student?

Typically, roommates are selected based on age. For example, freshmen will not room with seniors. If need be, students are welcome to request a single. There is an upcharge for single rooms. Students may also request to room with a friend who is attending a program at the same location. For these requests, please email info@bostonleadershipinstitute.com. Although we cannot guarantee these request, our staff does their best to accommodate them.  

What information do I need to know to book my student’s flights?

Boston Leadership Institute offers a ground transportation package, meaning we will pick your child up from Boston Logan Airport when they arrive and bring them back after the program ends. The roundtrip price is $99, or you can select to pay half for one way. 

Arrival: Students must arrive at Logan Airport between 1pm and 6pm on the Sunday before their programs. They will meet a BLI employee at the baggage claim area. Staff cannot meet students at the arrival/departure gate. Students cannot arrive later than 6pm on the Sunday prior to programs. Parents may allow students arriving before noon to await our staff member’s arrival at noon, but BLI cannot be responsible for the students’ care before noon.

Departure: Flights must leave no earlier than 7am on the final Saturday of the program. The last transportation service will be departing at 10 am. Students will depart in groups and will be dropped off at the airport, and are responsible for independently getting to the departure gate. 

Please keep in mind that Logan is a major airport and there is considerable distance from security check-points to some of the flight gates.  Moreover, our programs are around 35-45 minutes from the airport even with good traffic and no construction or weather delays. Hence, a 6am flight might mean leaving our program at 4am and waking at 3:30 am. The limousine company imposes a surcharge for early morning flights and we may be unable to arrange groups that early in the morning.

I do not live in the United States, can I still come?

BLI welcomes international students every year. Please email info@bostonleadershipinstitute.com for VISA information. 

What is the drop off and pick up schedule for residential students?

Drop off: Sunday before the program begins between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

Pick up: Saturday after the program ends before 10:00 am. Parents may also pick students up after 4:00 on the Friday the program ends.

What are the Payment Terms & Conditions?

In consideration of my son/daughter becoming a participant in the Boston
Leadership Institute LLC program, I, the parent or guardian of the student
named on this registration form, hereby authorize the Boston Leadership
Institute or its representative to obtain emergency medical treatment on behalf
of my son/daughter in the event that, in the opinion of said Boston Leadership
Institute, my son/daughter is in need of any such medical treatment. I further
release the Boston Leadership Institute or its representatives for any damages
sustained by me or my child in connection with providing of emergency medical
treatment. The Boston Leadership Institute agrees to contact the parents or
guardian as soon as is reasonably practicable after the event which requires
said emergency medical treatment at the telephone number provided by the
parent/guardian. I further agree that I will be responsible for the payment of
any case of medical treatment of any nature which may arise in connection with
any sickness or accident which may occur during the period that my son/daughter
is at this program, whether such expense is incurred during or subsequent to
the time that my son/daughter attends the program and will identify and hold
harmless the Boston Leadership LLC for any claims for payment by providers of
said medical care.

Please note that we cannot guarantee teachers. Illness or family emergencies
may arise. If a particular teacher cannot teach, we will seek another qualified
teacher, but students will not be issued refunds. If a class does not fill due
to low enrollment, we reserve the right to cancel the class and return
deposits/payments in full. We would expect to have this information before May
15 and possibly well before then. (Specific calendar dates [i.e., month/day] in
this form are for Summer- Mid-June to August- live and remote programs. For
programs run September-Mid-June, payments are due in full at the time of
registration and are refundable for 72 hours; thereafter, payments are
non-refundable but may be transferable as outlined below.) Before May 15, 2023,
all deposits are fully refundable for 7 days after they are received. After 7
days, deposits are not refundable. After May 15, and up until the program start
date, deposits are refundable for 72 hours, and become non-refundable
thereafter; and in any event, payments are not refundable after the program
start date. Within the specified time periods above, notice of cancellation
must be sent via email to: changes@bostonleadershipinstitute.com Deposits/tuition
may be transferred to other BLI programs, of similar or greater length, for
which your student is eligible as long as the program is open. Deposits/tuition
may also be transferred to siblings enrolling in BLI programs during the 2023
session. If a friend who has not yet sent in a deposit is found to replace the
student, deposits/tuition may also be transferred to the friend. In no event
may a competitive-admissions program deposit /tuition be transferred to an
Enrichment or Edge program (that are priced at $599). Requests for transfers
must be sent via email to: changes@bostonleadershipinstitute.com Payment is due
in full by May 15, 2023. For families registering after May 15, 2023, payment
is due two weeks after the deposit is made. Parents registering less than two
weeks before the program start date must pay in full within one week and in no
case later than the Monday before the program start date. If tuition balance
payment deadlines are missed, students will lose their place in the program and
the deposit will be forfeited. For students staying in the dorms, the
residential fee is due on June 1, 2023: For families placing a deposit after
May 15, the residential fee is due within two weeks of placing the tuition
deposit (and in no case later than the Monday before the program start date).
Students who have not paid the residential fee in full by these deadlines are
not guaranteed housing. Please understand that we must reserve and pay for
costs such as private tours, deposits and so on, as well as make plans and
payments based on student enrollment, well in advance of the program start
date. Tuition balance payments and residential fees are not refundable in cases
of student cancellation after payment deadlines; partial tuition or residential
fee refunds may be possible on a case-by-case basis in the event of documented
student illness or injury, but deposits are not refundable in such cases.
Residential fees may be transferred to residential fees for a different week,
or to a sibling or friend who has not yet sent in deposits during the 2023
season who–subsequent to written notice via email–enrolls in a BLI program..
All notices of cancellations or requests for transfers must be sent via email
to: changes@bostonleadershipinstitute.com and the date of the email will
determine whether the request came within the deadline period. (Parents
concerned about homesickness or illness may look into outside insurers that
provide this type of coverage.) Parents who wish to pay in installments may
email about this option. Prices include all supplies, field trip
transportation, lunch, museum tickets, movie tickets, and private tours
applicable to the program. For the residential programs, the price includes
dorm room, breakfast and dinner (lunch is already included in day program
price), as well as weeknight and weekend activities. Snacks are not included.
The fee does not cover transportation to and from the airport. No day programs
will be held on July 4. In the event that snow days prevent teachers from starting
during the first few days of a program, activities will be rescheduled: No
refunds will be issued for adjustments resulting from snow days. No refunds
will be issued to participants who are sent home from the program because, in
the judgement of the Boston Leadership Institute LLC, they have broken a law;
or they have committed a serious disciplinary issue such as vandalism; or they
pose a danger to others or a danger to themselves (including from an
uncontrolled medical [or mental] condition that the Boston Leadership Institute
deems a threat to the student’s life or health such as uncontrolled conditions
causing loss of consciousness or suicidality). Parents are responsible for
damages due to vandalism. I understand and agree that if the Boston Leadership
Institute is forced to close a program based on a recommendation by the local
Health Services Department (in the case of a communicable disease outbreak,
etc) or due to another “force majeure” such as natural disaster or
act of war, I will not be entitled to a refund. Further, if after-effects of
the pandemic lead to a certain location not being available for Summer 2023, I
will not be entitled to a refund if the program is moved to an alternate
Boston-area location. In addition, for safety reasons, students lacking the
required medical release, medical information, and consent forms cannot join
the program until the forms are submitted. BLI reserves the right to require
proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival before
students can join the programs. (Other COVID-19-related prevention measures as
well as government prohibitions may apply and may be mandated as per
announcements, as well.) Students attending Boston Leadership Institute
programs must meet requirements of the host site surrounding mask wearing,
COVID testing, vaccination, social distancing, and/or any other condition
imposed by that educational institution: no refunds will be issued to students
who fail to meet site-imposed COVID-19 requirements. Room assignments are under
the sole discretion of the Boston Leadership Institute. (We will consider
requests for a specific, named roommate and requests for single rooms due to
religious or medical reasons are typically honored.) We can only release
students outside of normally scheduled departure times: a) in person, b) to an
older sibling or an adult age 21 or over, and c) with written advance
permission from a parent or guardian.

PROGRAM CODE OF CONDUCT TO BE SIGNED NOW BY PARENT OR GUARDIAN AND LATER BY
STUDENT I will treat each student and staff with respect. I will use
appropriate language and avoid bullying, teasing, or cursing during this
program. I will respect the personal property of students and staff. I will
respect the buildings, furnishings, and facilities that the program is using. I
will keep myself and others safe while in the program and avoid risky behavior.
I will not physically injure others. I will not engage in self-injurious
behavior. I will leave weapons of any kind, including a pocketknife, at home. I
will not use illegal drugs, caffeine pills, tobacco, or alcohol while at the
program nor will I bring them to the program. On field trips, I will remain
with my group at all times and only leave the group with an assigned buddy and
with permission from the counselor/teacher. I will remain on school and
residential grounds, abiding by the stipulated curfews and “lights-out”
policies, and will not venture off-campus unchaperoned. I agree to abide by the
internet and social networking, cell phone, and blogging policy. I will not
enter the private quarters of members of the opposite sex or engage in
inappropriate or compromising behavior with them. I understand that failure to
comply may result in one of the following courses of action: 1. Being prohibited
from participating in specific activities; 2. Requiring immediate pick up by
the parent/guardian; 3. Creating a behavior action plan with parent/guardian
during the evenings and weekend to compensate for lost time. In the rare event
that a student is sent home for a major rule infraction, no refunds will be
given nor will the Boston Leadership Institute be responsible for costs
associated with forfeited airline tickets.

I give the Boston Leadership Institute LLC permission to publish in print,
electronic, or video format likenesses or photographic images of (my child)/
(myself the student). I give the Boston Leadership Institute LLC permission to
publish in print, electronic, or video format written descriptions of student
achievements and evaluation comments of the program by (me or my child)/(myself
the student) collected at the end of the session with the understanding that
only our initials and town/state/country are used to identify us. Zoom sessions
may be recorded. Recordings may be provided to other students in that program
who miss the session due to a schedule conflict. Video images may be taken from
remote Zoom sessions, as well.

Please read carefully. This is a release and waiver of important legal
rights.

Although reasonable precautions are taken to provide proper organization,
instruction, and equipment for your Child’s participation in the Programs at
the Boston Leadership Institute, there can be no guarantee of absolute safety
against injury and accident. There are elements of risk in any lab activity,
sport, or program involving physical exertion and risk taking (individually, an
“Activity” and collectively, the “Activities”) and the use of any equipment in
connection with the Activities. I, on behalf of myself and my Child, understand
that my Child may be involved in Activities, including but not limited to,
handling glassware, using lab equipment, arts and crafts, basketball, soccer,
swimming, team-building initiatives, tennis, games, volleyball, and/or other
physical undertakings. I acknowledge that participation by my Child in any
Activities is voluntary and that my Child may decline to participate in any
Activities.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISKS: I recognize that there is inherent danger in any
Activities that involve laboratory research, physical exertion or risk taking;
that although the program may not be strenuous, injuries or medical
complications may occur; that certain foreseeable and unforeseeable events
unique to each Activity can contribute to the unpredictability of the Activity;
and that balance, physical coordination, and conditioning may affect the
occurrence of accidents, falls, and injuries. EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND
RESPONSIBILITY: In recognition of the inherent risks of the Activities in which
my Child will be engaged, both seen and unforeseen, I confirm that my Child is
capable of participating in the Activities and/ or using equipment in
connection therewith. I assume full responsibility for personal injury,
accidents or illnesses, including death to my Child. I also assume
responsibility for loss of or damage to my Child’s personal property. On behalf
of myself and my Child, I assume the risk(s) of personal injury, accidents,
and/or illnesses of all kinds and nature, including, but not limited to, cuts,
wounds, scrapes, abrasions, and/or contusions, sprains, and/or death. I have
read and agree to the terms and conditions above.

RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE:In consideration of my child’s
participation in the Activities, I do hereby for myself, my Child and our
respective administrators, executors, heirs, spouse, dependents, successors,
and assignees, knowingly and intentionally release, forever discharge and
covenant not to sue the Boston Leadership Institute LLC and its successors
assignees, owners, agents, employees and volunteers from and against any
claims, demands, expenses, actions and causes of action of every name, type,
and nature I or we now have or may ever have arising out of my child’s
participation in the activities during his/her dates of attendance and on any
subsequent dates during which he or she participates in the activities. In
signing this Agreement, I acknowledge and represent that I have fully reviewed
it and understand what it means, and that I sign this document as my free act and
deed. No oral representations, statements, or inducements, apart from the
foregoing written statement, have been made. I further agree that this
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. If any of its terms or provisions shall be held illegal,
unenforceable, or in conflict with any law, the validity of the remaining
portions shall not be affected thereby to the fullest extent permitted by law.
I further state that I agree that I, my child and our respective estates,
heirs, administrators, personal representatives, and assigns shall be bound by
the same.

Still have Questions? 

Email info@bostonleadershipinstitute.com, or call 781-431-2514. If you have questions about transferring into a different program, please email changes@bostonleadershipinstitute.com