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FUTURE LEADERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Training the Leaders of Tomorrow
A Conference at Harvard University for High School Students
WHAT IS FLIPS?
FLIPS is a 2-day conference on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts for high schoolers who aspire to be our nation’s future leaders in fields of public service, which encompass government, sustainability, education, justice reform, the nonprofit sector, and more.
High school students are placed in small groups, each led by a current Harvard College student, providing a unique opportunity for mentorship and leadership development. Attendees experience a glimpse of college life at a top university, hone personal goals, and cultivate skills to bring back to their communities and to utilize in their current and future roles as leaders focused on the public good.
BUILD SKILLS FOR TOMORROW
LEADERSHIP
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
PERSONAL GROWTH
INITIATIVE
At FLIPS, students will have the chance to meet students from across the country in a safe, inclusive environment. There will be countless growth opportunities, not just educationally, but socially as well. The last day of the conference will also include a college panel where high schoolers’ pressing college questions may be answered from college students themselves.
General Information
When and Where
The 2025 Future Leaders in Public Service conference will be held in April (specific date TBA) on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
The conference occurs when Harvard University is in its spring session, which enables attendees to enjoy the full vibrancy of campus life at one of the top universities in the world. Unfortunately, this means we are unable to provide on-campus housing.
We require a parent, guardian, or teacher to travel with the student and we recommend taking advantage of this opportunity to explore college opportunities in the Boston area, including not only Harvard, but also MIT, Tufts, Boston College, and Boston University.
One parent, guardian, or teacher may serve as the responsible party for a small group of students.
Application Process
We have two rounds of application review to attend Future Leaders in Public Service conference: early and regular.
The application is currently closed and will open in the fall of 2024. Early decision applications are due December 15, 2024 at 11:59pm with decisions being sent out by December 31, 2024. And Regular decision applications are due February 11, 2025 at 11:59pm, with decisions being sent out by February 25, 2025.
Who
All freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for this conference. Both domestic and international students are considered for the program.
*this can also include any home school/online student ages 14-18
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost of Future Leaders in Public Service is $210. The registration fee is due along with the registration form.
Partial and complete scholarships are available for accepted students with demonstrated financial need. The financial aid application covers the fee for the conference.
Student Safety
Students will participate in all activities in small groups, accompanied by a Mentor-Leader from Harvard. All activities end at designated times so that students can be released directly to their parent or guardian each evening.
Conference Capstone
The conference capstone is a multifaceted group project in which high schoolers will put together a pitch to tackle an important, current problem in society. Each group of 10-14 will be led by a Harvard student mentor to help craft a well thought out plan, which could even be brought home to students’ communities. The groups will have 2 days to prepare their design and will present in front of their peers on the final day of the conference. The goal of this capstone is to formulate leadership, solution-based learning, and teamwork.
"I know that everyone here said how inspired they were by all of you and how inspired they were to make a real difference in their communities because of this conference... Like many, my dream school is actually Harvard and one of the biggest things I would look forward to is continuing this FLIPS conference for other high school students!!!"
"I'm truly grateful to the Harvard students for their dedicated efforts in organizing this wonderful opportunity. Despite being students themselves, they went above and beyond to create a seamless and personalized experience for us. Everything was impeccably coordinated and thoughtfully prepared. The panels offered were both amazing choices, making it difficult to select just one. However, diving into discussions on Public Service helped me refine my passions and interests, guiding my decision-making process for the upcoming year."
"I didn’t really know what to expect coming in to the conference, but I left learning so much. I enjoyed this mix of workshops and panels, and how much you guys cared about us connecting with each other. I loved seeing Harvard and hearing about all of your experiences there. I also loved that you didn't just teach us techniques, but gave us something to take with us back to our communities. I left feeling extremely inspired to go back to New York and work my hardest to benefit my community."
Some of Our Service Experiences
FAQS
HOW DO WE REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE?
Registration for the conference will open for students after their application decisions are released. After prospective participants complete the initial written application, their submission will be evaluated by our application review committee. Those who are chosen to attend FLIPS will receive email confirmation of their acceptance and permission to either register to attend the conference or deny their spot.
WHAT SETS FLIPS APART FROM OTHER CONFERENCES?
FLIPS is entirely run by Harvard students with experience in public service. We will work closely with your students to not only encourage growth personally and professionally, but also to always harbor a commitment to service.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT FLIPS LOOK LIKE?
Daily programming includes keynote speakers, panels on various topics such as criminal justice reform, advocacy workshops, and social events.
WHAT WILL MY CHILD GAIN FROM ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE?
Your child will experience a once in a lifetime social and academic learning experience with their peers from across the country. FLIPS can be an amazing college and career resume builder and an opportunity to meet students at a top college.
HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO ATTEND FLIPS?
Depending on the strength of applications each year, FLIPS will host anywhere from 100 to 200 high school students.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE AT FLIPS LOOKING FOR?
The FLIPS application review committee is searching for high achieving students with a passion for helping others. The focus is not necessarily on achievements alone. The SWAN, as an organization, is very cognizant of the fact that some demographics have more opportunities than others. At the end of the day, the committee is looking for the next generation of kind-hearted, successful leaders.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM NOT ACCEPTED TO PARTICIPATE IN FLIPS THROUGH THE APPLICATION?
After our application reviews are over, a certain number of applicants who are not accepted will be invited to accept a spot on our waitlist. Waitlisted applicants may be invited to the conference if any spots open up. If an applicant is unable to attend, we highly encourage them to apply again the next cycle!
WHAT IF MY QUESTION IS NOT ANSWERED HERE?
Email us at conference@harvardswan.org