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The Best Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Entrepreneurs 

If you’re a college-bound young entrepreneur, what better way to prepare for life after high school than with a summer program on a college campus? Many colleges offer summer programs that can give you: 

  • Real-world experience 
  • On-campus college experience (dorm life!) 
  • Networking 
  • Finding mentors 
  • Meeting like-minded young entrepreneurs from around the country 
  • Expert guidance and teaching 
  • A little boost on your college and scholarship applications 

As you consider whether a summer program might be right for you, make sure to click on the links and double-check: 

  • application deadlines 
  • current prices 
  • session dates 
  • admissions criteria 
  • financial aid opportunities 
  • location 
  • other factors so you don’t waste your time 

Also, note that when we say, “High school students,” that means all rising 9th-12th graders. 
Now, let’s see what’s out there! 

BABSON SUMMER STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 
Where: Online 
What: A 4-week online program that teaches Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience 
Who: Rising juniors and seniors 
Bonus: Earn 4 college credits from one of the top-ranked business schools in the country! 

TUFTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION BOOTCAMP 
Where: Medford, Massachusetts 
What: A 2-week intensive workshop that teaches students how to build a business from the ground up 
Who: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors 
Bonus: Develop real world marketing plans, financial plans, and business pitches 

ATHENA SUMMER INNOVATION INSTITUTE AT BARNARD COLLEGE 
Where: New York, New York 
What: A 10-day bootcamp that teaches young women practical business skills 
Who: Female-identifying high school students aged 14 and up 
Bonus: Develop your presentation skills at an end-of-program “pitchfest” 

BERKELEY BUSINESS ACADEMY FOR YOUTH (B-BAY)
Where: Berkeley, California 
What: A 2-week program at the UC Berkeley campus that offers an immersion business-prep program 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: Only 50 students are admitted each year to B-Bay, making this an ultra-elite program 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SUMMER SESSION (BOSS) AT PENN STATE 
Where: University Park, Pennsylvania 
What: A 2-week on-campus immersive program for high school students intending to pursue a business degree 
Who: Rising seniors 
Bonus: A chance to experience college life, including living in dorms 

YALE YOUNG GLOBAL SCHOLARS 
Where: Online 
What: 2-week sessions offering interdisciplinary college-level programs, including science, law, and economics 
Who: Students aged 16 and older 
Bonus: Several online summer sessions to choose from. Also: Yale

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY
Where: Washington, D.C. 
What: A 2-week program that develops entrepreneurial skills such as communication, personal development, risk management, and teamwork 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: Immerse yourself in entrepreneurial studies while in our nation’s capitol! 

LAUNCHX SUMMER PROGRAM AT M.I.T. 
Where: Online 
What: A 5-week “idea to execution” program that concludes with students launching a real-world start-up company 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: M.I.T. Need we say more? 

EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY 
Where: New York, NY 
What: A 1-week intensive program that teaches entrepreneurial skills from financing to launching your business 
Who: Rising juniors and seniors
Bonus: Includes a field trip to a real-world startup incubator 

BRUIN LEADERSHIP & ENTREPRENEURSHIP TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY @ UCLA 
Where: Los Angeles, California
What: A 2-week summer enrichment program for young entrepreneurs interested in business leadership 
Who: High school students
Bonus: A wide range of summer dates are available 

YOUNG WOMEN’S INSTITUTE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY 
Where: Bloomington, Indiana 
What: A 1-week intensive program focused on the college experience and business opportunities 
Who: Female-identifying rising seniors 
Bonus: Participate in workshops and prepare a real-world business plan 

CAMINOS AL FUTURO AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 
Where: Washington, D.C.
What: A 3-week intensive program focusing on social, economic, and political issues within the Hispanic/Latinx communities
Who: Rising seniors 
Bonus: During the project, students will complete their own project to bring home to their communities 

COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL ONLINE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Where: Online 
What: A series of online programs offered by Columbia Business School 
Who: Anyone interested in learning about business
Bonus: These courses can be taken at any time of the year, not just summer, and offer both live and asynchronous options 

HOW TO THINK LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR WITH WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY 
Where: Online 
What: 2- and 4-week courses focused on learning the entrepreneurial journey 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: A variety of courses are available all summer long 

WHARTON GLOBAL YOUTH’S ON-CAMPUS PROGRAMS 
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or San Francisco, California 
What: Choose from any one of 8 programs that run either 2- or 3-weeks long on a variety of business topics 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: Part of the University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League school), Wharton is one of the top business schools in America 

OLIN FLEISCHER SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 
Where: Online 
What: A week-long program for disadvantaged students to learn about entrepreneurship and business 
Who: Rising juniors and seniors who qualify as one of the following: first in their families to go to college, an underrepresented person of color, or from a low-income family 
Bonus: Tuition is FREE for eligible students 

PRE-UNIVERSITY SUMMER SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK 
Where: Warwick, England 
What: A 9-week program focused on economics and finance 
Who: Students aged 15-17 
Bonus: Study abroad! 

FOUNDERS BOOTCAMP AT SDSU 
Where: San Diego, California 
What: A 4-week, for-credit program designed especially for young entrepreneurs full of business ideas 
Who: Rising juniors and seniors 
Bonus: Focus on the digital media aspect of running a business 

BROWN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 
Where: Online or Providence, Rhode Island
What: A 2-week in-person program or a 4-week online program for socially active young entrepreneurs 
Who: High school students 
Bonus: An Ivy League program focused on social justice and global action 

BUSINESS BOOTCAMP: INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER 
Where: Rochester, New York 
What: An intensive 3-week general business program 
Who: Rising juniors and seniors 
Bonus: Test business ideas and compete against other students 

Please note that there are many more pre-college programs for young entrepreneurs out there. These are just a small sample of the kinds of courses you can take before you ever even apply to college! Participating in a summer pre-college program not only looks good on applications, but it will give you the real-world and college-life experience you need to succeed! 

Find out more about the Kantner Foundation’s commitment to young entrepreneurs, including our college scholarships for high school students, by clicking here.


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