Bank of America Student Leaders Program: How to Get In

If you’re aiming to secure a spot in this highly competitive program (around 5% acceptance), this guide gives you a strategy to take your application to the next level.

The Bank of America Student Leaders Program recognizes and develops leadership potential in high school juniors and seniors across the U.S.

What is Bank of America Student Leaders?

The program gives exceptional high school students a chance to serve their communities through a paid eight-week internship with nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity. Students also see how nonprofits, governments, and businesses work together to meet local needs at the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. Many use their new skills to create more change and improve more lives.

• Leadership training: attend a week-long leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
• Professional network: connect with peers and mentors who are leaders in their fields.

Key Components of the Application

1. Application Form

A. Personal information, academic details, and extracurriculars

List the significant community and volunteer activities you’ve taken part in over the last two years, with your leadership role and the estimated hours for each.

Example: Habitat for Humanity, volunteer, 7 hours total (1-day event); Church Youth Group, president, 100 hours total (2 hrs/week/year); Elementary School Tutor, 12 hours total (1 hr/week/summer program); Student Council, 100 hours total (2 hrs/week/year).

Focusing on one or two of these activities, share:

• The name of the organization and your leadership role
• How the organization positively impacts the community
• What inspired you to participate
• What you learned from the experience
• How your participation contributed to the organization’s impact

B. Essay questions

Like the Common App, the essays are the most important part of the application. They show who you are and what you care about.

The questions:

• Have you participated in any other leadership training programs (e.g., Outward Bound, National Youth Leadership Forum, National Student Leadership Conference)?
• What challenges do you see in your community, and how do you see yourself addressing them now and in the future?
• Describe a leadership challenge you’ve faced, how you addressed it, and the personal growth that came from it.
• Who has inspired you as a leader, and what did you learn about leadership from them?
• As you consider the qualities of a successful leader, where do you see your opportunities for personal growth?
• Why do you want to be a Bank of America Student Leader, and why should you be chosen?

Tip: give specific examples that show your accomplishments and commitment to community service and leadership.

C. Recommendation letter

One letter of recommendation is required. It must be:

• From an administrator, teacher, guidance counselor, or coach at your current school
• On school letterhead
• Signed by the recommender

Any application missing the required letter is disqualified. Get a recommendation from someone who can speak to your leadership skills and character.

D. Resume

A resume is optional, not required. If you include one, upload it as a PDF (no images), limited to two pages.

E. Transcript

Provide your high school transcript showing your academic achievements.

Bank of America Student Leaders Eligibility

Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements before applying:

1. Be a current junior or senior in high school.
2. Be legally authorized to work without sponsorship.
3. Be able to work 35 hours a week for 8 weeks.
4. Be able to attend the Student Leaders Summit at the end of the program.
5. Be in good standing at your high school.
6. Not have participated in the program before.
7. Not be an immediate family member of a Bank of America employee.

Bank of America Student Leaders Acceptance Rate

The program’s corporate prestige draws a lot of interest and applications each year. Historically, it has had an acceptance rate of around 5%.

Crafting a Winning Application

Crafting a winning application is no joke, and that’s where Rishab Jain can help. In this video, he shares the tips he personally used to secure top Ivy League research opportunities.

1. Start early

Giving yourself ample time shows in the quality of your application. For competitive programs like this, start your essays and short responses weeks before the deadline so you can reread and revise.

Starting early also gives your recommender enough time to prepare. The rule of thumb is to ask for letters of recommendation at least two weeks in advance.

A typical application timeline looks like this (confirm the exact dates on the program’s site):

1. Fall: applications open.
2. Mid-January: application deadline.
3. April: admission decisions.

2. Showcase your leadership experience

Strong applications highlight significant leadership experiences. Focus on:

• Initiative: describe times you led a project or took on a significant role.
• Impact: highlight the results of your leadership and how they benefited others.

Personalize your essays as much as you can to convey who you are and why you deserve a spot. Your extracurriculars matter as much as the character you show in your essays. The program emphasizes nonprofit work and leadership, so think about what you’ve done to better your community and how you’d use your skills more broadly.

3. General tips for a strong application

• Seek feedback: get input from teachers, mentors, and peers to refine your application.
• Be genuine: authenticity is key. Present your true self.
• Demonstrate growth and learning.
• Showcase your collaboration skills.
• Be clear and concise in your essays.
• Prepare well for the interview.
• Show enthusiasm and passion.

Bonus tip: join the Rishab Academy community

To support your application journey, join our Skool community. With over 5,000 driven students, it offers resources, advice, and support from peers who share your motivation.

Join our Skool community here.

Final Thoughts

The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership skills, engage in community service, and connect with influential professionals.

And don’t worry if summer programs don’t work out. They’re just one way to spend the summer. Watch the video below on how to land independent internships that can be just as valuable.