Summer Discovery at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management - Is It Worth It?
Leadership, strategic planning, good organization, and project management are sound skills that can help you greatly. Not only do they make you a better and more capable worker, but they are also important skills recruiters at top companies look for in candidates.
If you’re a high school student looking to build a well-rounded set of skills that can be used across disciplines, you should consider a career in business management. Many colleges offer summer programs that let you dive deeper into a field and understand if it’s right for you. Not to mention, participating in a summer program is a great way to show demonstrated interest in a subject on your college application!
In this blog, we will review Summer Discovery’s program at the University of California - Los Angeles’ Anderson School of Management and help you decide if it’s a good fit!
What is Summer Discovery?
Summer Discovery partners with some of the world’s leading colleges to offer high school students summer programs. Partner universities include UC Berkeley, UCLA, Dartmouth, Georgetown, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cambridge University in the U.K. Discovery programs are open to all high school students, run for between two and six weeks, and cover STEAM, law, business, humanities, medicine, and other fields.
What does Summer Discovery offer at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management?
In partnership with the Anderson School, Summer Discovery offers students two- and three-week commuter and residential programs covering management in fields, including sports, media, entertainment, music, and digital marketing. Select courses include an end-of-program project, site visits, and guest lectures by industry experts. At the end of the program, students receive completion certificates from the Anderson School.
How much does the program cost?
Program fees vary depending on duration and lodging arrangements. Two-week commuter and residential courses cost $4,398 and $7,298 respectively. Similarly, three-week courses are priced at $4,998 and $9,498. International students pay an additional $239 or $379 (commuter or residential) registration fee covering medical insurance and airport transfers. Limited financial aid is available.
Is the program prestigious?
In general, Summer Discovery programs have limited prestige and are not selective. Programs are paid and can be expensive, with limited financial aid available. There is no selection criteria to register for their programs — you only have to upload your school transcripts.
What are the important dates?
No application deadline is listed, though Summer Discovery likely shuts applications once the cohort is full. Classes are small, with an average cohort size of 10:1.
The two-week courses have two sessions from July 7 to July 19 and July 21 to August 2. The three-week course runs from June 30 to July 19 and July 21 to August 9. These dates apply only to residential students; commuter students begin a day later and end one day earlier.
Who can apply for the program?
All high school students entering grades 9 to 12 are eligible to apply. There is no minimum GPA requirement. International students can apply for the program too!
What courses does the program offer?
Summer Discovery at the Anderson School offers students two two-week courses and two three-week courses. Courses offered can change year-on-year, and it’s best to check the program website for current offerings. The following courses are available for summer 2024:
Two-week courses:
Innovation in the Music Business Academy: Here, interested students can learn about how technology and business innovation have changed the music industry in the last 50 years, covering the rise and fall of the record and CD economy, music downloading through Napster and later iTunes, and finally see how streaming services and social media have changed the way consumers experience music. You will learn the fundamental business techniques implemented in successful music companies and can interact with artists and company executives to gain a holistic insight into the industry. At the end of the program, you must deliver a presentation on the music industry and showcase your understanding of fundamental management concepts.
Sports Business Academy: To understand why sports businesses are successful, you must first understand what makes sports fans and consumers tick. This course will explain how sports businesses function using fundamental finance, marketing, strategy, and economic concepts. You will also go on field trips to the LA Dodgers, Angels, and Galaxy stadiums.
Three-week courses:
Business of Entertainment, Media, & Sports Academy: Learn how different sports and entertainment companies gross billions of dollars in revenue and study business ethics and leadership in this three-week course. You will also delve into topics like corporate sponsorship, talent representation, college athletics, marketing, touring, and live event production, to name a few. Field visits include trips to UCLA’s Pauley Pavillion and to either the YouTube, Sony, and Paramount Studios or the Dodgers, SoFi, and the Crypto.com stadium. Guest speakers include senior executives from Panasonic USA, NBA Entertainment, ESPN, San Diego Padres, and other leading entertainment companies and sports teams. The course includes a final project presentation and you will receive a certificate of completion.
Digital Marketing & Social Media Academy: Deep dive into the evolution of brands on social media and the world of influencers and social media culture. This program will use case studies, readings, and lectures by experts to understand digital strategy, campaigns, and marketing. Learn how X, Instagram, and Facebook are used for businesses and the tools and software involved. Lecture topics include the impact of AI on digital marketing, search engine optimization, the influencer economy, and other related topics. Students will present a project at the end of the course.
What are the pros and cons of the Summer Discovery program at UCLA Anderson?
Pros:
You get to study at one of the U.S.’ leading colleges UCLA Anderson ranks among the top 20 best business schools in the U.S. and the Summer Discovery program lets you explore the campus, USE its facilities, and experience college life.
You go on field trips Depending on the course you opt for, you can visit sites that include video production studios like YouTube, Sony, Paramount, etc., tour professional sporting arenas and witness how professional matches are staged, and other relevant site visits.
You can apply even if you do not live in the U.S. International students are welcome to apply for Summer Discovery programs, subject to an additional registration fee ($239-$379).
You are guaranteed personalized attention Summer Discovery programs have a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:10, ensuring minimal distraction during lectures and teachers who can focus on each student’s progress during the course.
Cons:
The program is expensive Depending on whether you opt for a two or three-week commuter or residential course, you can pay between $4,398 and $9,498, not including airfare, spending money, off-campus meals, and other inevitable costs. It is a fair assumption that many families would be reluctant to pay nearly $10,000 for a program that does not offer credit and lacks prestige.
Prestige is limited The program is not selective, is expensive, has no admission criteria, and does not offer college credit, making it less appealing to ambitious high school students.
Our review — what do we think of the program?
Summer Discovery at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management offers students a sound introduction to business management. You get to investigate some of the most popular business trends, go on field visits, and complete projects as part of the curriculum. And, as an added benefit, you also get to experience campus life at UCLA! That being said, the program is expensive, lacks prestige, and may not boost your CV significantly. If you have limited funds and/or want an intensive program that offers college credit, you should consider looking elsewhere.
Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders 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.
You can access the application link here!
Bonus — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program!
If you’d like to participate in a rigorous research program in business open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by 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. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Kieran Lobo is a freelance writer from India, who currently teaches English in Spain.
Image Source: UCLA seal