Spend a Barnard summer in New York City! The Young Women's Leadership Institute embraces the complex relationship between gender and leadership as its focus. As an YWLI participant you should be curious, passionate, and ready to develop your skills as a leader.

Non-credit

Residential

Commuter

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Final project

Students are given the opportunity to take a course within one of our seven tracks, and work in small groups to design and execute a solution using the skills they’ve gained in their courses and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to meet with women in workplaces throughout the city to learn about the skills and tenacity needed to stand out in today’s workforce.
Explore the seven tracks we offer within this institute and find a track that is just right for you.

STEMinist Track
Designed for fearless and inquisitive young women, the STEMinist track is perfect for students looking to develop their STEM skills in both lecture and laboratory settings. No matter where you are in the world, you will be able to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in motion through virtual field trips and projects. In addition to your coursework, this program begins to address some of the inequalities that women face in the STEM field and how we can begin to rewrite the narrative with our presence.

Writing and Literature Track
Our Writing and Literature Track encourages writers to find their voice and share it with the world. Students will spend their mornings learning from Barnard instructors in courses such as The Art of the Essay, Writing New York, and playwriting, on the same campus where writers like Greta Gerwig, Zora Neale Hurson, Jhumpa Lahiri got their start. Afternoons will be spent in intensives focused on developing a writing portfolio, getting published, and careers for writers.

Political Science and Economics Track
Our Political Science and Economics track is perfect for students who want to learn more about the important role the economy plays in shaping politics and the government-- and vice versa. Students will also explore the role gender plays in shaping social and economic policy.

Urban Studies and Architecture Track
The Urban Studies and Architecture Track is designed to introduce students to the histories of cities and architecture. Students will learn about key issues in the history of the built environment and the logistics of urban development.

Art History Track
Want to learn about the history of art and self-expression while immersing yourself in New York City's art world? In our Art History Track, students learn how art has occurred through different mediums at various points in history. Students will also visit important museums, galleries and explore the thriving art world in New York City, while participating in projects ranging from traditional drawing to digital design.

Sociology and Gender Studies Track
In this track, students will explore gender and its relation to class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. Students will use these concepts to analyze the human experience throughout history in politics, culture and economics.

Dance track
This track offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration. Located in a world dance capital, students will explore what dance is in New York City.

Leadership in Action Series
During the Leadership in Action series, you will work alongside members of the Athena Center for Leadership team every Tuesday and Wednesday to deepen and expand your communication and collaboration skills and explore your own leadership identity and story. Connecting with your peers in small group sessions, you will gain a broader understanding of what leadership means to you and experiment with different ways of telling your story.

Classes take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30 AM- 12:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00- 4:30 PM EST.
Tuition includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays and brunch and dinner on weekends.
Barnard dining strives to accommodate a number of diets including Kosher, Hallal, vegan/vegetarian, gluten/nut/dairy-free, etc.. Please make sure to let us know about your diet via the disability disclosure form.

Session 1

Jun 25 - Jul 14

3 weeks

Residential

9058 USD

Session 1

Jun 25 - Jul 14

3 weeks

Commuter

7772 USD

Session 2

Jul 23 - Aug 11

3 weeks

Residential

9058 USD

Session 2

Jul 23 - Aug 11

3 weeks

Commuter

7772 USD

3-Week Young Women's Leadership Institute
Tuition (Residential) - $9,058
Tuition (Commuter) - $7,772
Our office requires a $800 deposit towards tuition at the time of registration but families are welcome to pay any amount over $800 at that time. Students and families will be able to access their registration portal 24/7 to pay tuition in as many or as few installments as they want up until the deadline for tuition to be paid in full.
Our registration portal accepts all major credit cards. Please note that if you pay via credit card, you will be charged a 4.5% processing fee by the website.
Families are also able to pay tuition via check. Once your check is received and processed, your balance will update in your registration portal.

Financial Aid

Each year our office is able to provide a limited amount of need-based financial aid to students. Our aid is need based ONLY. Our office does not provide merit based scholarships.
Financial Aid is only available for our Summer Programs.
Our office does not provide financial aid for international students.
To be considered for financial aid, students must submit the required financial aid application and documents along with their Pre-College Program Application. Financial aid applications, like program applications, are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they wish to apply for financial aid. After a student is accepted to the program, they will receive a follow up email letting them know whether or not we are able to award them aid. Students who receive aid will receive a voucher code to reduce their tuition at the time of registration.