If you’re an aspiring business or economics student, looking to use your summer productively, here are 10 solid summer programs you can look to use your summer productively and add a competitive edge to your college applications.
Program focus: Students can choose from 6 Major Programs:
Open to only rising seniors (Gr 11): Leadership in the Business World
Open to Gr 10 and Gr 11: Product Design Academy, Data Science Academy, Moneyball Academy
Open to Gr 9 to Gr 11: Essentials of Finance, Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Cost: Varies from $7500 to $9500
Eligibility: Varies from program to program (For LBW - 3.5 GPA and demonstrated leadership experience)
Location: University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School of Business (On Campus)
Dates: Programs typically last 2-3 weeks and run from June to August with 2-3 options in each
Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Priority Deadline), April 3, 2024 (Final Deadline)
Cohort: 1200 students across 7 programs - each session roughly has 60 students.
Program Focus: A dynamic entrepreneurship program that empowers students to explore the world of entrepreneurship, innovation, and business leadership. During the program, you will work on and learn about teamwork and leadership, marketing, finance, accounting, game theory, management, corporate social responsibility, and also participate in a public speaking and presentation workshop.
Cost: $80 application fee + $6,050 (for residents of California) | $7,050 (for those residing outside California).
Eligibility: Academically motivated, mature high school students may apply. English proficiency for International Students
Dates: July 6-20, 2024 (Session I) | July 20-August 3, 2024 (Session II)
Location: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Deadline: March 17, 2024
Cohort Size: 50 students.
Program Focus: LaunchX, with its MIT association, empowers you to create your own business, collaborating with fellow "Launchies" as co-founders. Engaging with LaunchX feels like a blend of an accelerator, a startup conference, and a summer internship. The program's efficacy is evident from self-reported statistics, with 70% of alumni actively involved in startups, and 15% of startups initiated during LaunchX still flourishing.
It partners with companies like Connect Space, Human Element, Ecovia, and Genomenon, featuring sessions led by CEOs, entrepreneurs, attorneys, inventors, innovators, and professors. Lgarners inherent prestige and has earned recognition from Inc. Magazine, CNBC, and the QS Reimagine Education Awards, making it a global platform.
Cost: $9,970 (In-person) | $4,750- $6,500 (Online & Innovation Program)
Eligibility: All high school students may apply.
Dates: 4 week program | 2024 dates - Ann Arbor, Michigan: June 30 – July 27, | Bay Area: July 7 – August 3
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan|Bay Area, California | Online
Deadline: Apr 24 2024 11:59 PM (EDT)
Cohort Size & Admission Rate: 10-20% admission rate | 80 for Bay Area, 80 for Ann Arbor.
4. Economics for Leaders (EFL)
Program Focus: Organized by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, EFL is supposed to explore the intersection of economics and public policy. 10 topics are taught, and the program uses the context of ‘5 Economic Reasoning Propositions (ERPs)’ to reach the application of these topics: Economic Growth and Scarcity, Opportunity Cost, Open Markets, Markets in Action, Labor Markets; Incentives, Innovation, and the Role of Institutions; Property Rights, Government, Money & Inflation, International Markets.
If you’ve done AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics OR IB Economics - not a good idea since the content is the same.
Cost: $2300
Eligibility: Students currently sophomores and juniors in high school are eligible to apply.
Dates: This 1-week program is hosted between June and July
Location: 21 options - on various college campuses across the country (Yale, Duke, Rice UC Berkeley, UCLA, UT Austin - to name a few).
Deadline: Rolling basis until May
Cohort Size & Admission Rate: Selective but not prestigious: acceptance rate of about 50% - Approximately 25-40 students are accepted at each site.
Program Focus: Students will learn the basics of starting a business, including prototype testing, business operations and market research.
Cost: $5,775
Eligibility: Be a current or rising 9-12 grader and have a GPA of at least 2.0. Some programs will have an age restriction.
Dates: 2 week program | 16th to 28th June
Location: Georgetown University - Washington, D.C.
Deadline: Early Bird Deadline Dates: January 31, Final Deadline: May 15
Cohort Size & Admission Rate:
Program Focus: The program aims to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip students with problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges effectively. During the program, you will delve into the world of entrepreneurship and deepen your understanding of the United Nations' Global Goals. You will work both individually and collaboratively with peers from around the globe to develop essential competencies. One significant advantage of this program is the opportunity to earn college credits directly from Babson College.
Cost: $5,995 + non-refundable $95 application fee
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors interested in entrepreneurship.
Dates: 3-week summer program: July 7 - 28, 2024
Location: Online (live and asynchronous)
Deadline: March 15, 2024
Program Focus: The program teaches students the basics of business, including finance, management, accounting, the stock market and financial technology.
Cost: $950 (commuter session) and $2,000 (residential session)
Eligibility: None
Dates: July 9-14 (commuter session) and July 16-21 (residential session)
Location: In person at Drexel University
Deadline: May 1, 2024 - but accepted on a rolling basis
Program Focus: The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy gives rising high school seniors the opportunity to discover business from the inside out. Explore how companies run, understand how leaders solve problems, and experience what it’s like to be a business student at Michigan Ross. In the program, you will work closely with local companies on real-world business challenges – ending with a solution pitch, gaining practical experience. The program’s curriculum, which includes college-level classes and workshops, is designed to cover various aspects of business, from marketing to finance.
Cost: $5,000 + $50 application fee
Eligibility: Current rising high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can apply.
Dates: Two-week residential pre-college program - June 14 - 28, 2024
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Deadline: January 16, 2024
Cohort Size: 60 students
9. Women’s Leadership Institute at Kelley School of Business
Program Focus: Introduces young women to the college experience and business career opportunities. The Kelley Women's Leadership Institute is a selective program and seats are limited. In-person events consist of a one-day program, while virtual events are spread over a few days.
Cost: Funded by the Kelley School of Business Undergraduate Program and corporate partners. For in-person sessions, participants need to cover transportation to and from Bloomington along with their housing and personal expenses. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the program and there are no registration fees.
Eligibility: A minimum GPA of a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is required, and factors such as cumulative GPA and application essays will influence selection decisions.
Dates: April 13, June 7, June 28, July 26, October 18
Location: Indiana University - Kelley School of Business
Deadline: 1 month before the date
Cohort Size & Admission Rate: 35 students on each date
10. Yale Young Global Scholars - Politics, Law & Economics (PLE) Track
Program Focus: Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) is a session aimed at students with an interest in understanding diverse economic theories, the values and practices of government, and legal frameworks in historical and comparative perspectives. Students learn key ideas in topics such as public policy, human rights, market regulation, governance structures, international policy, and conflict and cooperation across borders.
Cost: $6500
Eligibility: 16-18 years old by July 21, be a current high school sophomore or junior (or international equivalent), be able to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum conducted in English
Dates: Session I (June 23 - July 5), Session II (July 7 - July 19), Session III (July 21 - Aug 2)
Location: Yale University
Deadline: 1st November for Early Action, 10th January for Regular Decision
Cohort Size & Admission Rate: 200 students per session and 12:1 student-to-teacher
ratio - 50 per track
To understand which of these programs is ideal for you, speak to your mentors at OnCourse who will be able to make the most effective recommendations keeping in mind your interests, your current academic standing and your resume. If you are not enrolled with OnCourse, reach out to set up a consultation meeting to understand more about our mentoring programs for students from Grade 8 to Grade 12.
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