11 Business Programs for High School Students in NYC
If you're a high school student in New York and eager to begin your business education, we've compiled a list of 10 business programs for you in New York City (NYC).
These programs provide access to college-level courses, opportunities to connect with peers, faculty, and industry professionals, and unique experiences to enhance both your confidence and skill set. The advantages of participating in such programs extend beyond bolstering your college applications and admission essays; they also enrich your resume with hands-on experiences outside the classroom!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school, and having a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: The 2024 edition of the program starts on June 5th and spans over 4-weeks.
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose between:
Early Decision Deadline: March 17th, 2024
Regular Admission Deadline 1: April 14, 2024
Regular Admission Deadline 2: May 12th, 2023
You can access the application link here!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!
3. Horizon
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom at Fordham University is a dynamic one-week summer program for high school students passionate about finance. Led by industry experts and alumni, it delves into economic fundamentals, investment strategies, and personal finance essentials. Through interactive sessions and guest speakers, students gain practical insights into financial markets, asset management, and emerging trends like cryptocurrency. Ideal for future finance enthusiasts, the program offers a comprehensive overview of the field, preparing participants for college studies and empowering them with valuable financial knowledge.
Cost: $1,100
Location: Fordham University and online.
Application deadline: April 1 is the priority deadline—rolling after that
Program dates: Session 1: June 17 – 21, Session 2: July 22 – 26
Eligibility: High school students.
The Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) at Barnard College is a transformative two-week summer program that empowers high school girls to become leaders through a feminist lens. Hosted at the renowned women's college, the program embraces the relationship between gender and leadership. Participants explore leadership concepts, tackle real-world challenges, and design innovative solutions in small groups. Hands-on workshops and courses equip them with essential skills. Crucially, students also meet with accomplished women leaders in workplaces across New York City, gaining invaluable insights into navigating career paths. By the end of the program, attendees emerge with enhanced confidence, a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics, and a toolbox of leadership abilities to drive positive change in their communities. The YWLI at Barnard College is a unique opportunity for young women to cultivate their potential and redefine the landscape of leadership.
Cost: Commuter: $7,772
Residential: $9,687
Location: Barnard College
Application deadline: April 15th
Program dates: Session 1: June 30 – July 19, Session 2: July 22 – August 10
Eligibility: High school girls.
The Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering immerses high school students in a business-focused learning experience. Over 5 weeks, participants delve into design thinking, prototyping, and entrepreneurship to tackle real-world smart city challenges. Through team projects with allocated budgets, students develop essential business skills like resource management and public presentation. The program culminates in a showcase where students pitch their innovative solutions, honing their entrepreneurial acumen. ieSoSC offers a dynamic platform for aspiring young entrepreneurs to apply STEM knowledge in a business context and address urban issues creatively.
Cost: Free
Location: New York University (NYU)
Application deadline: April 14th
Program dates: July 1 – Aug 2, 2024
Eligibility: High school Students. .
The Business Leadership Academy at Mercy University offers a rigorous week-long program for high school juniors focused on business learning and leadership development. Participants engage in immersive experiences, including visits to Fortune 500 companies and interactions with executive faculty. The curriculum emphasizes practical business skills such as communication, teamwork, and career exploration. Students gain insights into various business sectors and enhance their leadership abilities through hands-on activities. This selective program is ideal for students with a keen interest in business, providing a valuable opportunity to expand their knowledge, network with industry professionals, and prepare for future success in the business world.
Cost: $595
Location: Mercy University
Application deadline: Rolling
Program dates: Session 1: June 23 – 29, Session 2: July 7 – 13, Session 3: July 21 – 27
Eligibility: High school girls.
The Bossgirls Summer Program at the City College of New York, sponsored by Standard Chartered, is a transformative 5-week entrepreneurship initiative for high school girls and nonbinary students. Participants engage in hands-on activities, market research, prototyping, and brand creation, culminating in a pitch presentation. The program fosters an entrepreneurial mindset, emphasizing problem-solving, innovation, and human-centered design. Students receive mentorship from industry experts and gain valuable insights into entrepreneurship as a career path. Bossgirls equips participants with essential business skills, confidence, and a unique perspective on creating change through entrepreneurship.
Cost: None
Location: The City College of New York (CCNY)
Application deadline: March 31
Program dates: July 1 – August 1
Eligibility: Grade 9 to 12th.
University of Rochester’s Simon Business School hosts Business Bootcamp, a pre-college summer business program for high school students. This intensive program encourages students to challenge their creative ideas and leadership skills through courses in marketing, team collaboration, discussions with instructors and peers, and trips to local businesses. Students will create their own business plans and practice pitching their ideas as they develop their best business strategies.
Cost: $4,600 (includes tuition and room & board)
Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: Upcoming Summer, exact date TBA, 3 weeks programs.
Eligibility: High School Students.
The Columbia University Summer Immersion program offers high school students a rigorous and engaging pre-college experience. Participants, aged 16 and above, can choose from residential or commuter options in New York City or online sessions. Eligible students in grades 9-12 explore diverse subjects like Architecture, Economics, Writing, and Technology. The program focuses on fostering critical thinking, creativity, and independence through interactive classes, discussions, and projects. Students receive a challenging academic environment, preparing them for future academic pursuits and leadership roles. With a supportive community and expert faculty, the program equips students with valuable skills and experiences for their educational journey.
Cost: $5,600 (commuter), $11,064 (residential)
Location: Columbia University, New York, New York
Application deadline:
NYC Residential Summer Session A/B: Application Closure - May 5, 2024
NYC Commuter Summer Session A/B: Application Closure - May 5, 2024, Financial Aid Deadline
Online Summer Session A/B/C: Application Closure - May 5, 2024
Program dates:
NYC Residential Summer Session A: June 24 - July 12, 2024
NYC Residential Summer Session B: July 16 - August 2, 2024
NYC Commuter Summer Session A: June 24 - July 12, 2024
NYC Commuter Summer Session B: July 16 - August 2, 2024
Online Summer Session A: July 1 - July 12, 2024
Online Summer Session B: July 15 - July 26, 2024
Online Summer Session C: August 5 - August 9, 2024
Eligibility: Grade 9 -12th, 16 years of age.
The Business World in New York City program at Cornell University offers students a comprehensive 3-week immersion in business fundamentals. Participants develop an understanding of key functional areas, including innovation, globalization, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurship. Through interactive classes, case studies, and a business simulation, students connect theory to practice and gain insights into managerial decision-making. The program features guest speakers from diverse industries, providing valuable real-world perspectives. Hosted at Cornell's ILR NYC Campus, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills to pursue fulfilling business careers. With a maximum enrollment of 25, the program provides an intimate, faculty-led learning experience to prepare the next generation of business leaders.
Cost: $6,310 (includes tuition, social activities, and room & board)
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Application deadline: May 13, 2024
Program dates: June 3 to June 21, 2024
Eligibility: High School Students.
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in doing university-level research in business or related fields, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Fordham University logo