What are some good business summer programs? I am considering Columbia’s and Cornell’s? Any thoughts?
What field of business do you want to go into?
@Musktard I am not quite sure yet as a highschool student, I was hoping these summer programs could help me out. I am mostly wondering about the quality of these programs and whether or not they are beneficial because I had heard of some bad reviews about Columbia
My girlfriend did a summer program at Columbia (not sure it’s the one you’re talking about) and she said it was a waste of time.
The best summer program for business is the Wharton School’s Leadership in the Business World. I attended last year and it was an unparalleled experience. You’ll definitely get insight into lots of different aspects of business, learn a lot, and have a great time while doing it. Here’s the link: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/academics/lbw.cfm
@shivie101 yeah i have heard of that one, however, it is only offered to rising seniors. Do you know other good business programs for rising juniors?
Colleges prefer academic summer programs. Make sure the summer program is going to teach you knowledge and useful skills, not “leadership” or “teamwork.” Unfortunately, as impressive as many of these “out of the box” programs sound, they’re not academic at all.
And I realize that many will disagree with me. Just know that I recently heard this from an ex-Stanford admissions officer, who actually made decisions on acceptance, not just travelling around and answering questions.
@woandering Would you consider the Columbia and/or Cornell Business program as an educational program?
@seneca17 Yeah, I am considering applying to the MIT launch. However, due to how selective it is, I do want to apply to other ones as well. Would you recommend any other business summer programs? I was planning on applying to Columbia, however, i heard alot of bad reviews so…
@Musktard Was it a waste of time because all people did was party or were the professors not helpful?
The Columbia courses definitely do seem educational; however, business as a topic is not great. While I do want to go into business after college graduation, I believe that we must start from the basics: economic education (or another area, depending on what kind of business you want to do). This goes for the Cornell one too. Neither is prestigious (or selective?) though. You want to aim for selective and academic programs to boost your app ( as well as a good experience). Unfortunately, this is really hard for us business people.
I am currently looking for economics programs (which are super hard to find ugh) because they are more academic.
@ellevate
Yes, that’s what I used to think, and I agree the opinions are mixed. However, what differentiates MIT Launch from the other academic programs? Will someone who goes to Launch be any more creative than the guy who went to a similarly selective program for mathematics? Any more unique or special? Not really. On the other hand, what do you really do at Launch? I can’t speak from experience, but it sounds like you’re spending 4 weeks “solving a problem” with a group. If you’re a high school student, I’m pretty sure you know how group work usually goes for us. At (say) Ross (an intense mathematics program), you work hard every single day you’re there to solve math problems, showing 1) hard work (not present at Launch) 2) logic (vaguely present at Launch) and 3) skill (vaguely present at Launch).
Now, I’m not bashing Launch for the sake of bashing Launch. I already applied there, thinking it was an amazing program, and I will definitely go if I am not accepted elsewhere but accepted there. However, realistically, you’re not doing even regular school year level work. Then on the issue of entrepreneurship, the program forces a bunch of high school students with varying interests to come up with ONE problem and ONE solution to that problem, in the form of a business plan. I can tell you now that I won’t be passionate about whatever company I start if I didn’t really feel for the problem and solution (even if it were world hunger because there are other issues that I care more about), but one of the most essential parts of an entrepreneur is his/her passion.
The only positive aspect of Launch is allowing aspiring entrepreneurs to go through the process, so that they will have an easier time starting their own companies. Yet, even in this way, the program limits the students by providing investors who will sit in the audience, rather than requiring the students to seek investors on their own.
Overall, Launch is great. There are a few positive aspects I haven’t mentioned, such as the chance to network with other entrepreneurs. However, it just isn’t rigorous or academic, and I’m sure college admissions know that. If you compare Launch to taking a class at a non-selective institution, then Launch will win. Anyone can go to the local CC and take a class. But if you compare Launch to Ross or the many other selective and academic programs, Launch doesn’t reflect as many positive attributes, even if you were super smart, super logical, super creative, and super hard-working.
By the way, out of curiosity, does your family friend actually make admissions decisions or is s/he a regional admissions officer, a worker in the admissions office, or a travelling admissions presenter?
EDIT: You were most certainly right about the cookie cutter applications; the students have high GPAs, SATs, and go to programs like Summer@Brown or CTY. They aren’t selective, and they’re average classes most people can go to. Ross, PROMYS, RSI are all selective programs that require active work during the program. Launch definitely beats Summer@Brown, but IMO not Ross or PROMYS.
@ellevate
Yes, and just a few more points that you raised.
My problem with that hockey analogy is (and again, I used to think that way) you can’t leap forward without building a stronger base. We’re eager to get into the real world, but part of that real world in entrepreneurship is having the information and skills to do so. I believe the young computer scientists out there have good reason to go to Launch, but most others don’t have any useful skills.
Launch does not “force you to take initiative,” but those who do and really push their companies out into the real world win. So, I agree, it is what you make of it and what you put in, but that gets a little murky.
@Woandering yeah unfortunately selective economic programs are hard to get into especially for a rising junior who doesn’t have a SAT score yet. 
Out of the less selective ones, which ones look best on college apps (for business major) and are more educational?
FTE Economics for Leaders is a good one, and if you are planning to take AP Econ, this seminar will make the course easier. I didn’t attend because I had already taken AP Econ, but I’ve heard great things.
Foundation for Economic Education’s Young Thinkers seminars are not selective but educational. I warn you that they are very libertarian, and you must remind yourself that everything at the seminar is slightly biased. It was fun though; we teens “let ourselves go” for a bit. One girl was crazy lmao. But anyway, this one won’t impress anyone, but it’s a good place to get a different perspective, if you’re growing up in a liberal environment. I’ll definitely be mentioning this in my essays.
If you’re a rising junior, HOBY Leadership seminars are pretty good. You make good connections, but it’s not very economic based. You do have a business-like simulation for about an hour, which was very fun. You do need to be picked by your school though.
@Seneca17 I just heard about Lean Gap, it sounds cool!