UT Austin offers an undergraduate program already, but they have just , a combination of business and engineering in a five-year joint BS/MS degree program. This offers a lot of unique advantages that undergraduate majors don’t, but isn’t going to be the right choice for every student. In this article, we’re going to look at what this program offers, how to join it, and whether it may be a good option for you to pursue. 

What is UT Austin’s New BS/MS Engineering and Business Program?

The creatively named is a new honors program hosted jointly by UT Austin’s colleges of engineering and business. Currently, this program only encompasses two engineering specializations, mechanical engineering, and petroleum engineering. Students earn a BS in engineering, then earn an MS in business directly after, all as part of a single unified program. 

The program follows a set pathway, with different experiences each year, planned out to lead students along their journey. Here are the highlights for each year of the program: 

• Year 1: Students join the program and immediately begin intensive studies in engineering, while also completing core coursework at UT Austin.
• Year 2: All students take part in an engineering internship.
• Year 3: Students who are progressing adequately through the program are admitted into the MS program, and begin business coursework in the summer after their third year.
• Year 4: Students formally complete their undergraduate degree, all while taking some courses already at the graduate level. Students take part in a career-focused summer internship sponsored by McCombs.
• Year 5: Students graduate from the masters program.
  

Just as the engineering program offers two major tracks, students may choose from four different specializations within the business master’s program: 

• Business Analytics and AI
• Business Technology and AI
• Finance
• Marketing
  

The goal of this program is for students to graduate ready to take on careers in engineering companies or startups, with a full understanding of the technical side of engineering and development, and with the business acumen needed to succeed in a corporate environment. The program has a focus on experiential learning, with students participating in multiple internships through the program directly. 

This is designed to be a small and selective program, with a cohort of just ten to twenty students each year. As part of this, it offers significant merit-based aid to all participants in the program. While the program begins with engineering and moves into business, there is an integration of the two topics, so that students get to fully understand the intersection of these fields. 

How to Apply to UT’s Business/Engineering BS/MS Program

This is an honors program at UT Austin, and applications to it are handled like those for any other honors program at UT Austin. In order to apply, you must first complete your application to UT Austin through the Common App. In this, you must indicate your interest in the program; this will give you access to the additional essay question the program asks. 

If you wish, you can also apply to the program individually once you have completed and submitted the Common App, through the MyStatus portal which is available to students who have submitted UT Austin applications. In general, we recommend submitting applications through the Common App; it’s just easier to keep track of requirements and deadlines if everything’s in the same place. 

For this program, you must list either mechanical engineering or petroleum engineering as your first choice major in the Common App. Currently, only incoming freshmen may apply to this major; transfer students and current UT students cannot apply to join. 

The BS/MS Application Essay

The only additional requirement the program has for applicants to complete is a short essay response. Here is the prompt you must answer: 

• The Cockrell-McCombs BS/MS Honors Program is a unique program that integrates engineering and business education from the start. The program provides the fundamentals of engineering and business to develop the leaders needed to ensure economic growth and national security. Why do you see this as a combination of skills that would help you achieve your career goals? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

This prompt is somewhat opaque in its wording, but that is often an inevitability for college essay prompts, especially for honors colleges. What they are really asking, what they want to know, is why you want to study the combination of business and engineering, and how this will contribute to your future goals. 

With five hundred words to work with, you should work to answer both questions. Note that this isn’t, and shouldn’t be, a repeat of your Why Major essay. UT Austin already asks for one of those, and this program will be able to see that. That essay should focus on the undergraduate major you have selected, either mechanical or petroleum engineering. 

You should first discuss your interest in the intersection of business and engineering; ideally pointing to past experiences you have had. If you have any experience in an internship at a startup or business doing engineering work, especially related to mechanical or petroleum engineering, this is ideal to speak about. 

You should then speak about your goals in this field, and how this program specifically will help you accomplish them. You do not need to have fully set-out plans for your future, but you should be able to discuss why you like this merger, and what sort of industries you’d like to work in.

You should tie your interests to specific aspects of the program; and show how the program will help you accomplish your goals. You don’t have to devote the full essay to this, but it should be clear why this program specifically will help you, rather than just an engineering major alone. Your response should end up close to 500 words, though it doesn’t need to get there exactly. 

Should You Apply to UT Austin’s BS/MS Engineering Program?

This depends on your specific goals and interests; this program isn’t for everyone, and there are some other programs at UT Austin which may actually suit your goals better. The main comparison, and competition, is UT Austin’s . 

That program is another integration of business and technology for students who want to pursue careers in industry and have a solid grounding in both fields when they do. It has a similar focus on internships and career networking, and a desire to give students hands-on experience. The biggest difference, and the deciding factor on which you should apply to, is what fields of tech each program is focused on.

There are only two engineering fields available currently in the BS/MS program, mechanical and petroleum. Petroleum engineering especially is limited in terms of the kinds of industries and careers you can pursue. There are plenty of careers available, but it is far less flexible. Mechanical engineering is much broader in terms of potential applications. 

Students interested in working as engineers alone will not benefit as much from this program, and should look instead at engineering honors. The inclusion of business does make this a year longer, and more expensive than a standard degree at UT Austin, but the merit scholarships offset that. While only some students will truly benefit from all this program offers, if you are interested in the intersection of engineering and business, we strongly recommend this program, as UT Austin is excellent for both.

Final Thoughts

There are myriad college programs out there, designed to meet the needs and interests of all kinds of students. It can feel overwhelming to sort through them all, and to find the ones which best meet your needs. We hope that this article has let you better understand this new program offered by UT Austin, and whether or not it’s a good fit for your career goals.

While this program is quite new, we expect it to be quite competitive, as is the case with all the honors programs at UT Austin. These programs want the very brightest students, the ones who will make the best use of the offered resources. If you’re looking for advice on applying to one of these programs, or help perfecting your own application essays, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our mentors are experts at every aspect of the application process; schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you. 

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The Steven A Denning Technology & Management Program

As with most special college programs, this is named after someone who gave Georgia Tech a whole bunch of money so they could found this particular program. This particular program is hosted by Tech’s , and is a two-year non-major interdisciplinary program. Let’s break down each of those components and what it means: 

• The program lasts two full years, with students applying, and then joining a cohort within the program.
• The program is not a major. Students earn a minor over the course of the program while pursuing their original course of study. The minor students earn depends on their home college, though students take similar courses as part of the program.
• The program is interdisciplinary, focusing on the intersection between business and technology. Most students come from business or engineering, but other students at Tech may partake as well (more on that later).
  

This is in contrast to many special interdisciplinary programs of this sort, which instead serve as your major. The benefit of that is that many companies look solely at your major when making hiring decisions. The benefit of this approach is that this particular course of study can be appended to far more fields, allowing greater flexibility for students in what they’re learning and how they’re applying it. 

The program also partners with a number of corporations for internship opportunities for students. These are not a given part of the program, but these companies do offer recruiting pipelines for students in this program specifically. These tend to be companies in the tech sector, those in Silicon Valley who sit at the intersection of technological advancement and business. 

Denning Course Offerings

There are within the program; these are based on your school of origin, and the minor you will therefore be part of. There is a shared core curriculum; all students take courses in business and technology, but where you focus depends on where you’re coming from. Students in the business school take more technology courses, though in the College of Engineering take more business courses, and students in the liberal arts take a mix of both. 

Students in all tracks take part in an integrated capstone project. In these, interdisciplinary teams take on a problem posed by one of the program’s corporate partners, trying to address a significant managerial or technical issue with real-world implications. 

How to Apply to the Denning Program

Unlike many of these special programs, this isn’t something you apply to when you apply to Georgia Tech. As it is more akin to a minor than a major, you may only apply to join the Denning program as a current Tech student. Students in any undergraduate college within Georgia Tech may apply to join this program, though those who are already majoring in business or engineering are the most common applicants. 

The application process is competitive; this isn’t like declaring a major or minor, but involves a full application process. The application cycle is open each year for the full month of October, applications to the program must be submitted in this window. There is an information session for interested students in September. 

Once applications are submitted, interviews for applicants are held between December and February, with admissions decisions made and released by the end of February. Orientation for the program then takes place in March. As this is a two year program, only freshmen and sophomores may apply, as Georgia Tech wants to be sure all students graduate in four years. 

The application itself is only available during the application period, but they have a available on their website. Much of this is standard demographic information, making sure of who you are and where you are in your studies. The important part of the application are the essay questions; we’ll go over each of these, and some thoughts on how best you should approach and answer them.

What are your most important goals following graduation from Georgia Tech and how do you believe the Denning T&M Program will help you with those goals? (Maximum 2,000 characters)

They don’t expect you to have your whole life planned out, but you should have some kind of plan, and a clear reasoning for how this program specifically will help you attain it. As this is an interdisciplinary program in business and technology, so too should your proximate and long term goals feature the intersection of those fields. 

Your focus on the program should be on what it can help you learn, and how specifically it will prepare you for the path you have chosen. Point to specific classes you will be able to take, and how the lessons the program will impart directly correlate to your future plans. 

In what type of position/company/organization do you see yourself working after graduating from Georgia Tech? (Maximum 2,000 characters)

This one relates to the former; in the first, however, you want to focus specifically on how the program will help you, while in this you can elaborate on your plans for the future in more detail. You don’t have to have a specific company in mind (though if you do, one the program partners with is a good choice). Instead, you should focus on the sorts of roles you have in mind for yourself, and what you want to accomplish through your work.

The program is looking for students with clear ambitions, ones who will be meaningfully helped in their journeys by what the program offers. Your answer to this question should showcase how what the program offers will help you, even if you don’t state it explicitly (that is, your goals should end up somewhere in the intersection of technology and business). 

Describe your work experience. (Maximum 2,000 characters)

This is straightforward enough of a question. You should describe what jobs you have had, what responsibilities you had in them, and anything important you learned. Both internships and real professional work and more sedate jobs like waiting tables are acceptable to talk about; indeed, retail and other low-level work can be a great training exercise for something like this program.

If you worked for a family business, even if it was unpaid, you can put that in here as well. You should recount all of the jobs you’ve had; the more there are, the less room there is to discuss each. If you have no work experience, simply say so. Don’t give excuses or explanations, this isn’t the place for that. 

Please describe your leadership experience on Georgia Tech’s campus, from your high school, or from other volunteer organizations. (Maximum 2,000 characters)

The prioritization in this question is clear from how it is asked; you should ideally speak about what you have done thus far on Tech’s campus, and only turn to other examples after. You want to detail what you did in a leadership position, and what impact you had through it.

Not that you can talk about both regular leadership positions (such as president of a club or student council) and irregular leadership positions, where you stepped up and assumed responsibility despite not actually being in charge. The program is looking for students who will be future leaders in industry, and so they are looking to admit students who have already demonstrated admirable leadership qualities. 

Tell us about one of your experiences working on a team. Describe your efforts and how you believe those efforts made the team successful. (Maximum 2,000 characters)

Just as the program is looking for leaders, so too are they looking for students who are able to collaborate and coordinate with their peers. After all, businesses are joint ventures, and so they want students who will contribute meaningfully, and who will be able to work collaboratively if they’re part of a team. The best evidence that you are capable of this is how you’ve done so before.

This team can be in any setting, but we do recommend prioritizing recent examples. You want to showcase what you were able to do with the team, and how you contributed to the overall goals and results. This experience does not need to relate directly to business, and we recommend using a different experience than the one you used when you discussed leadership if possible.

Please describe your foreign language skills and proficiency. (Maximum 1,000 characters)

This one isn’t so much an essay as a chance to describe your proficiencies. Do not over or under-state your abilities with any of the languages you know. There is no requirement that you be fluent in other languages, but it is of course an advantage. Note that taking AP courses in a language, even if you scored a 5, does not mean you are fluent in that language. 

Is the Denning Program a Good Choice for You?

This is something you have time to consider, as unlike other special joint programs, you can only apply to join the Denning Program once you are already enrolled at Georgia Tech, so you don’t need to figure out all of the tradeoffs before you apply. The most important consideration is whether or not you are interested in both technology and business, and in investigating the intersection between them. 

For students interested in a career in big tech, or in joining a growing startup, this program offers a lot of opportunities.Georgia Tech has quite strong programs in both business and technology, and the Denning Program allows you to draw from both these pools. The fact the program is in addition to your major, and adapted to it, is also beneficial, far more flexible than many of these programs.

That said, this program is less extensive and in-depth than some similar ones offered at other colleges. It is a minor, something done in addition to your major of choice, rather than a full major and program of study in itself. While this is more flexible, it cannot cover as much as a more dedicated program. 

This program is also competitive, and you are not guaranteed admission. While this is true of all such programs, the fact you must already be a student at Georgia Tech when you apply means you have more limited options if you aren’t accepted. Georgia Tech is a great school, but we recommend not applying if the only thing you care about is this specific program.

Final Thoughts

As Silicon Valley and big tech continue to boom, it’s no surprise that many students are quite interested in the intersection between them. The Denning Program isn’t the only way you can investigate this, but it is a remarkable one, and one which we think many students might like to take advantage of. We hope that this article has given you actionable insight into this particular program, and let you decide if it’s a good option for you to pursue.

If you are looking for advice on which college programs will best meet your needs, or help on applying once you have found the right fit, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can make your life easier. Our mentors are experts at every aspect of the admissions process, and can help you find exactly the right program to meet your needs. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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What TYE Is

This is a program with two main bases in Kerala and Seattle, but with local branches and chapters in . Not every city in the US has one, but many major cities do. Each branch offers coursework, a curriculum designed to introduce students to entrepreneurship, and mentorship opportunities. 

The main thrust of the program is a competition, where teams of students work together to ideate and pitch their own dream of a startup, under the mentorship of TYE alumni and community partners. This begins with the ; you sign up for this through your local branch of the program. The curriculum culminates in the global competition; we’ll describe this in more detail in the next section. 

The program focuses on professional development of the participants, building the soft and hard skills they need to understand how businesses operate, and guiding them through getting started, everything from setting up a LinkedIn profile to the steps to actually build a professional network. 

The program has been in operation for eighteen years at this point, and is still growing, with over 35,000 total participants over its tenure. It is free for students to participate in this program, though local branches may have their own policies. TYE is run off of charitable donations from business and community partners.

The TYE Program Competition

The culmination of the TYE Program, and the main draw for students, is the competition. This is the final part of the curriculum; once you have learned practical lessons about business and entrepreneurship, you get the chance to enact them by beginning your own company.

Note that, technically, you do not need to participate in their curriculum to sign up for the contest, or have any prior experience with business. These are the only eligibility requirements for the competition:

• You must be a high school student
• You must be currently aged 14-19
• You must take part in a team of 2-5 fellow high school students

Note that while you do not need to complete the curriculum, those teams that have are often prioritized. The exact deadlines and requirements to compete are set by your local competition; we’ll be using as an example, since we’re based in Houston ourselves. 

The competition has two phases, students competing in their local round first, with the winners from that round invited to the national round, which is held in Seattle this year. The exact format varies slightly by location, but the competition follows a fairly standard approach across venues. 

The competition has a single round, where teams have ten minutes to present a pitch-deck, followed by a five minute Q&A session. For the Houston competition, this is entirely done via Zoom. Your pitch deck needs to cover the following for your product or business:

• Problem: what the company is trying to address
• Solution: how you are trying to address the problem you have identified
• Target customer: Who is your solution aimed at
• Customer Validation: Evidence that you have spoken to potential customers and that this problem and potential solution are relevant to them
• Product or prototype: Validation that this is a thing which can exist in the world, rather than a mere pipedream
• Market opportunity: Some evidence there is a space in the market for your business or product to flourish
• Business model: How your business itself will be organized and run
• Team and roles: What each team member contributes to the business and plan as a whole, the overlapping and complementing skills you bring to the table
• Your ask: As with all pitch decks, you are asking viewers to invest in your business; what you need and what purpose it serves should be clearly presented

Competition Judging

The competition judges each presentation on eight areas, each of which is scored from one to nine, and which are given equal weight. These areas are related to, but distinct from what you need to cover in your pitch deck. In general, you are judged on the implementation of these, and how effective they are. Specifically, they score on the following categories: 

• Customer Validation: They want evidence that you spoke to actual potential customers, and can show through data the insights you gained from doing so, and that this impacted your business plan
• Execution: Demonstration: That your product or service is tied to a real customer pain point, with clear value it can give them
• Execution: Iteration: Clear evidence that you have taken consumer feedback into account, and iterated your business based on it
• Product-Market Fit: Your customer segments are matched to value propositions with evidence that these exist
• Business Model: Evidence that you have examined potential costs and revenues, your overall plan for your business, and that you understand the potential size of your market
• Teamwork: That your team has clearly defined roles that make the best use of skills, and that you have invested in gaining any needed skills for the business model
• Presentation Skills: The actual quality of your presentation itself; that it flows logically, tells a story, is persuasive, and has strong and relevant visuals
• Q&A: That you answer all questions clearly and directly, and that all team members have a clear role and participate in answering questions

The strongest talks are the ones which have talked with real customers, and support the points they make with evidence. They want to see that you have actively sought feedback from potential customers, and iterated and changed your product to meet the needs as they exist in the world, rather than merely the theory of them. 

Prizes

The overall prize of the competition is $3,000 for the winning team at the global event. Winners from local competitions advance to the global event. Six different teams are recognized overall, for excellence in various aspects of their pitch and presentation.

The prizes here are smaller than some competitions, the real benefit being the experience of formatting and pitching a business proposal, and the recognition given for doing so. Yes, “the real prize was what you learned along the way” feels like a copout, but students do learn a lot from this competition.

Is TYE a Good Fit for You?

Now that we have a good understanding of what the TYE program is, the important question remains: is this a good opportunity for you to pursue? This depends, so we’ll look at what recommends this program, and which students it is best suited for.

If you are interested in business, and specifically in entrepreneurship, then this is an interesting opportunity. There are limited avenues for students to get involved in these fields generally, especially for younger students. Frequently, the best avenue is just starting your own business. Since that’s exactly what this program and competition is designed to help students do, the benefits are quite obvious. 

This competition is somewhat limited when compared to what’s available in the sciences, but that’s also understandable. Success in business comes once you have built a successful business; whereas the sciences are more nebulous, and require significantly more investment and oversight. There is also far more funding for science competitions, which is why they offer significantly more prizes. 

If you are interested in entrepreneurship specifically, and there is a branch of this program in a city near you, then we recommend checking it out. Even if you don’t end up competing, the courses they offer on entrepreneurship can be useful, a primer that high schools generally don’t cover. If you have your own ideas for a business venture, and want to put the plan into action while getting feedback on it, then this is a good option for you to do so.

This competition certainly isn’t a good fit for all students, but not all students want to pursue entrepreneurship. This is especially ideal for students at the younger end of high school, for whom more serious opportunities are not yet available, and who will benefit from learning the basics and foundations now, to be built upon going forward.

Final Thoughts

There are any number of ways to explore your interests in high school, but some fields are better represented than others. Despite business being one of the most popular majors and career paths, there are few resources for high school students interested in it, very few paths they can explore at this stage. TYE is not a unique program, but it is a great way for students to get a first taste of entrepreneurship, and what exactly starting a business from scratch entails. 

We hope that this article has helped you understand the TYE program, and assess whether or not it’s a good opportunity for you to pursue. It can be difficult to assess all the programs out there, or find the ones that speak to your goals or interests; that’s where łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our mentors are skilled at helping students find opportunities which resonate with them, and which set them up to stand out in their college admissions. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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In this article, we’re specifically going to look at some hot topics in economics, five fields (and their related subfields) where a lot of exciting new work is being done. These aren’t the only fields you can publish in, far from it. We want this to serve as an introduction, to let you sample what’s on offer, and what you might want to explore further. 

1. Artificial Intelligence and Labor Markets 

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is transforming labor markets and production  processes. Economists study how new technologies affect employment, wages, productivity, and  the distribution of economic gains across workers. Technological change has historically generated both job losses and new occupations. Current research examines whether AI represents a  continuation of this pattern or a more disruptive technological shift. 

1.1. Automation and Job Displacement 

Automation occurs when machines or software replace tasks previously performed by workers. Economists study which occupations are most vulnerable to automation and how technological  change affects employment across industries. There is evidence that automation tends to affect routine and middle-skill occupations, such as manufacturing or administrative work. However, recent developments in AI may increasingly affect higher-skill jobs that involve data  analysis or pattern recognition. 

1.2. Skill-Biased Technological Change 

Another important research area examines how technological progress affects wage inequality.  Economists refer to this as skill-biased technological change, meaning that technological progress increases demand for highly skilled workers relative to low-skill workers. AI tools often  complement highly educated workers such as engineers, analysts, and researchers. As a result,  wage gaps between workers with different skill levels may widen. 

1.3. Productivity and Firm-Level AI Adoption 

Researchers also study whether firms that adopt AI technologies experience productivity  improvements. Economists use firm-level data to analyze changes in hiring, output, and innovation  following AI adoption. Productivity gains often vary across firms depending on management  practices, data availability, and workforce skills. 

Possible research question: 

• Does AI adoption increase firm productivity more in technology-intensive industries?  
• Which occupations face the highest automation risk? 
• Does AI adoption increase wage dispersion within firms? 

2. Industrial Policy and Geopolitical Tensions 

Industrial policy has re-emerged as an important area of economic research due to rising  geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply chains. Industrial policy refers to  government efforts to promote specific industries through subsidies, regulation, or strategic  investments. Recent geopolitical competition, particularly between major economic powers, has  increased interest in strengthening domestic production in key industries such as semiconductors,  artificial intelligence, and clean energy. 

2.1. Strategic Industry Support 

Governments often support industries considered essential for national security or economic  competitiveness. Examples include semiconductor manufacturing, defense technologies, and  advanced computing. Economists study whether these policies increase innovation and  productivity or distort market competition. 

2.2. Supply Chain Resilience 

Recent global events including pandemics and geopolitical conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities  in global supply chains. Economists analyze how firms diversify suppliers and how governments  encourage domestic production. Policies aimed at supply chain resilience attempt to reduce  dependence on single suppliers or politically sensitive regions. 

2.3. Trade Restrictions and Technological Competition 

Governments increasingly use tariffs, export controls, and investment restrictions to protect  strategic industries and limit technology transfers. Economists analyze how these policies affect international trade and innovation. Geopolitical tensions also have led to restrictions on advanced  technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence components. 

Possible research question: 

• Do subsidies for semiconductor production increase domestic technological capacity? 
• How do geopolitical tensions such as wars affect global supply chain structures? 
• How do export controls affect global innovation and technological diffusion? 

3. Behavioral Economics and Financial Markets 

Behavioral economics integrates insights from psychology into economic analysis. Traditional economic models assume individuals behave rationally and make optimal decisions. Behavioral  research demonstrates that real-world decisions are often influenced by cognitive biases and  emotional responses. In financial markets, these behavioral biases can influence investor behavior  and lead to deviations from traditional models of market efficiency. 

3.1. Investor Overconfidence 

Investors often overestimate their ability to predict financial market movements. Overconfidence can lead to excessive trading and increased volatility in financial markets. Behavioral finance research shows that overconfident investors may underestimate risks and react too strongly to new information. 

3.2. Herd Behavior 

Herd behavior occurs when investors imitate the actions of others rather than relying on  independent information. This behavior can amplify market movements and contribute to speculative bubbles. Financial markets often exhibit herd behavior during periods of uncertainty or rapid price changes. 

3.3. Market Sentiment and Asset Price Bubbles 

Investor sentiment can influence financial markets even when underlying economic fundamentals  remain unchanged. Behavioral economists study how optimism or pessimism among investors can  drive asset prices away from their fundamental values. These dynamics can contribute to financial  bubbles and market crashes. 

Possible research question: 

• How does investor sentiment contribute to asset price bubbles? 
• Do retail investors exhibit stronger behavioral biases than institutional investors? 
• How does news sentiment affect short-term stock market volatility?

4. Climate Economics and Environmental Policy 

Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing modern economies. Economists analyze both the economic costs of environmental damage and the effectiveness of policies aimed  at reducing emissions. Environmental economics focuses on designing policies that balance  environmental sustainability with economic efficiency. 

4.1. Carbon Pricing Policies 

Carbon pricing policies place a cost on greenhouse gas emissions to encourage firms to reduce  pollution. Two common approaches are carbon taxes and emissions trading systems. These policies  create economic incentives for firms to adopt cleaner technologies. 

4.2. Climate Risk and Financial Markets 

Climate change introduces new risks to financial and insurance markets. These risks include  extreme weather events, financial stability, and shifts in energy demand. Economists study whether financial markets incorporate climate risks into asset prices. 

4.3. Green Innovation and Renewable Energy 

Government policies often encourage innovation in renewable energy technologies such as solar  and wind power. Lower costs of renewable energy technologies have been partly driven by policy  incentives and technological innovation. Economists study whether subsidies, research funding,  and regulations accelerate technological progress. 

Possible research question: 

• How do carbon markets affect emissions reductions across industries? 
• Do firms with high carbon emissions face higher borrowing costs? 
• How do government subsidies affect renewable energy adoption? 

5. Inequality and Wealth Distribution 

Income and wealth inequality have become central topics in modern economic research. Rising  inequality has implications for economic growth, political stability, and social mobility. Economists study how labor markets, education systems, taxation policies, and financial markets  influence the distribution of income and wealth. 

5.1. Income Inequality 

Income inequality refers to differences in wages and earnings across individuals and households.  Researchers analyze how globalization, technological change, and labor market institutions affect  wage distributions.

5.2. Wealth Inequality 

Wealth inequality focuses on the distribution of assets such as stocks, real estate, and business  ownership. Because wealth accumulates over time, it tends to be more concentrated than income. 

5.3. Intergenerational Mobility 

Intergenerational mobility research examines whether individuals can improve their economic  status relative to their parents. Economists analyze how education, geography, and labor market  opportunities influence economic mobility. 

Possible research question: 

• Does access to higher education reduce income inequality? 
• How does stock market participation affect wealth inequality? 
• How do regional labor market conditions affect wage inequality?

Final Thoughts

We have only scratched the surface in terms of what’s possible in economics in this article, but we hope you’ve gained some idea of the kinds of questions economists ask and try to answer when undertaking their research. Like all academic fields, there are vast reams of knowledge waiting to be uncovered, just waiting for some curious scholar to ask the right questions.

If you want help asking those questions, or undertaking your own research projects (in economics or otherwise), then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our research mentors are masters of their fields, all with a depth of scholarship and mentorship experience. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you begin exploring the wide seas of wisdom.

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A Brief Note on Internship Locations

Banking internships are generally in person, and take place at physical branches of these banks. Now, where these are located varies, but it is generally going to be easier for students living in cities to have access to at least one of these internships. This is not universally true; not every city has every bank or internship on offer, but cities as a whole offer more of these than more rural areas.

Because these internships are in-person and do not provide housing, you may find your ability to participate limited by geography. Many of these internships will only accept students who are local, or those who can demonstrate that they will have a place to stay during the summer and can positively commit to the entire period of the internship, taking responsibility for their presence and performance.

If you are located in an area without these internships, and do not have the ability to travel, then you may need to look into alternate ways to spend your summer. We have some great articles on that as well. Note that while these internships are great opportunities, they are not required to get a career in finance. They are a great addition, not a pre-requisite.

Fidelity Summer Internships for Students

Fidelity offers a selection of for students. While many of these are aimed primarily at students who are already in college, some are intended specifically for high school students. Notable among these is their program. This offers internship and shadowing opportunities specifically to female high school students.

These are summer internships, and last up to five weeks. Note that these are location dependent, and are hosted by Fidelity branches across the country; you are in charge of your own housing and transportation during these programs. Internships can last for up to five weeks, though some of these are shorter programs. The goal is to give students a sample of what a career at Fidelity is like, and to increase access to and interest in the field of finance. 

There are not currently high school internships widely available at Fidelity, but we do recommend students who are eligible take advantage of these offerings. While the high school programs are not as in-depth as what college students experience, they are still a great introduction to the field of finance.

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen, never actually called all that, and the no spaces is intentional) offers a summer internship program specifically for high school students, designed to give them hands-on experience with accountancy, and to inspire them to pursue accounting careers in the future. As one of the largest global accounting firms, they are well positioned to do this.

These internships are organized centrally, but are offered and administered by separate CLA branches, and you must apply to the specific branch you wish to intern at. Not every CLA branch offers these internships, but there are opportunities across the US. As with all of these internships, they do not provide housing; for this reason, students generally only apply to internships which are geographically close to them. 

The internship lasts for four weeks in the summer, and interns work a full shift, from 9 am to 4:30 pm. You must be at least 16 to apply, and most internships require you to be under 18; this is an ideal internship for the summer before your senior year. You must be able to commit to the full program, and you must be eligible to work in the US without requiring a visa.

KPMG High School Internship Programs

KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, which nobody uses (seriously, try saying that five times fast)) is one of the Big Four accounting firms. It’s technically a British multinational, but it has a major presence in the US. It is interesting as it has offered high school internships in the past, and may again, but it has currently discontinued them in the US.

In Canada, however, KPMG offers a pair of for high school students interested in finance and accountancy. The SPARK event is a short engagement, where students attend a brief lecture and workshop on careers in accounting, and get to assess what these offer, and whether this field is something that really interests them.

They have also collaborated with a number of partners in Canada to offer coursework and scholarships to students. Their primary internship through this is a six-week summer program specifically for black students in Canada with an interest in finance and accountancy. This provides both an internship experience, and a college scholarship to participating students.

1435 Capital Management Internships

Run by a smaller and more local (but no less interesting) firm, offers a summer internship to high school students interested in the fields of venture capital and finance. This is a hybrid internship based in Princeton, New Jersey; students are expected to be able to commit to both the virtual and in-person portions of the experience.

This internship is aimed at students currently in their junior or senior year of high school; you must be aged 16-18 in order to apply. Applications are processed on a rolling basis. Technically, this internship is open to US students regardless of origin, but due to its nature as a hybrid internship, is generally only suitable for students local to that area. If you live in New Jersey and have an interest in venture capital, then this is a good opportunity for you to consider. This is a paid, ten week opportunity, and you will be working full time for the duration of the internship; this is quite valuable for the length and intensity, which most internships lack.

This is a program in Chicago, and is only open to Chicago students. It is fully funded by the local business community in Chicago; students who apply are partnered with a mentor from that community, all of whom volunteer to work with the program. These are paid opportunities, and exist to give students in Chicago an entryway into the world of business, particularly (though not solely) finance. 

The application is online, and is open from February 1 to March 31. The program has strict eligibility requirements, more so than many of these internship programs. These are: 

• You must be a resident of the city of Chicago
• You must be a current sophomore or junior, and have a GPA of at least 3.0 unweighted
• You must have a family or household income of $80,000 annually or less

The application itself requires a high school transcript, a resume, an essay response, and two letters of recommendation. They are looking for students with the drive and capacity to excel if admitted into this program. You must be able to commit to the full duration of the program. 

During your internship, you will both work directly with your mentor, and attend learning experiences with other interns; workshop, seminars, and other events where you will hear from business leaders and professionals. The goal is to give students a full introduction to the business landscape in Chicago.

Boston Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve Bank in Boston runs in partnership with Boston’s Private Industry Council. This program is specifically for Boston-Area students, and begins with a summer work experience, followed by the option for a full-year internship program. Depending on student and program, these can last up to three years. 

This program is only available to students who attend public schools in Boston, and is specifically intended to increase the access of low-income students to careers in business and finance. You must be a current sophomore to apply for this program, and able to commit to the full duration of it. 

This is a paid internship program, intended to be an option for students from low income backgrounds who may otherwise need to work during the summer. Who you end up working with and what exactly you are doing depends on the corporate partner you are placed with, though all students have shared mentorship and group experiences as part of the program. This is a very good program for Boston students, and we recommend applying if you live in the area. 

Final Thoughts

Getting involved in finance and business is difficult for high school students, but difficult is not the same thing as impossible. All of these are competitive programs, and require a lot of work once you are admitted, but that’s a large part of what makes them so valuable. Colleges want students who are unafraid of hard work, and who are eager to actively pursue their goals; these programs are a great way for you to demonstrate these traits. 

If you’re having trouble finding summer programs that match your own interests, or want advice on applying to one of these rather competitive programs, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our mentors are masters of helping students find and develop their passions, and in helping them get into the best programs for them. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.

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Why did this happen? What changed? And what does this mean for you, and your plans for summer? In this article we’re going to explore what this program was, and what changed with it recently. Finally, we’re going to explore some alternative ways you can spend your summer gainfully. Let’s jump right in!

Why Did Bank of America Student Leaders End?

This is a difficult question to answer, especially because if you go to the , it indicates that the program is ongoing, speaking in the present tense. Once you actually begin your application, however, you are greeted by this message: 

• We are looking for the next generation of community leaders. If you are a freshman (rising sophomore) enrolled at an accredited post-secondary educational institution with a passion for improving your community, we want to help you turn that passion into action.

College freshman and high school students are generally mutually exclusive categories, a fact driven home by the list of eligibility requirements the program provides on the application itself (though not one the website): 

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
• Have achieved your high school diploma or equivalent within the last 2 years (24 months)
• Have earned at least 25 hours and no more than 60 credit hours of post-secondary credit

This has been reported, but primarily by . While this is not always the most reliable news source, they have it right this time, and are clear in their consternation and frustration. This is unsurprising; this was done without any advance warning, and many students who were planning on participating in the program have now been left to find alternatives to apply to instead.

But Why is it Ending?

This is the question we have been unable to answer, and Bank of America has been mum on the subject, even when called for comment. We can make guesses, but these will be no more than speculation. This was a clear pivot, even if the program itself hasn’t made any announcements on it. 

Our best guess is that the program, for one reason or another, no longer served the purpose that Bank of America had for it. This may have come from reports from partner organizations, or from changing internal priorities. 

What Can You Do Instead?

This is the problem many students are facing right now, since in many ways the Bank of America program presented a somewhat unique suite of opportunities. There are many chances to volunteer in your local community, but these sorts of paid structured internships are much harder to come across, especially with the added leadership opportunities the Student Leaders program afforded.

This is especially true given how opportunities differ across different fields of interest. There are far more structured research internships in STEM fields, for instance, than in business, and for a long while the Student Leaders program has been the premier opportunity for students who are interested in pursuing a business major.

There are other programs of course, but few structured ones which provide the same kinds of hands-on opportunities that Student Leaders afforded. These opportunities are far more valuable than the ones that offer coursework alone. Learning is good, colleges know that, but learning paired with doing is more impactful, even for theory-focused schools like UChicago.

To that end, here are some options which can provide a similar sort of opportunity, though they may take more work to arrange on your part. Part of the appeal of Student Leaders was the structured nature of the program, though the flexibility of other approaches can have advantages, if you work for them.

Individualized Internships

°Â±đ’v±đ written about finding internships before, and these can very much take the place of Student Leaders, as that is itself an internship program. You can find your own internships, (as we outline in the article) while this does take some doing, these often allow for more work down the road, and don’t necessarily end when summer does. This is an approach we often recommend for students interested in business, as the task of finding an internship is in itself good preparation for what you’ll be doing in the future. 

High Level Volunteering

Certain volunteering opportunities just require you to show up and work. This is fine and helpful, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it requires hands to do it. Some volunteering, however, is more structured, and lets you use your talents at a higher level. Building a website for a non-profit. Helping a charity organize its data so it can evaluate its effectiveness. Creating a marketing campaign for a student outreach program.

By doing these things, you are able to work on and build real skills, and in so doing also advance the mission of the non-profit you are working with. Universities often look for students who actively seek to give back to their communities, and volunteering conscientiously in this manner is one of the best ways to do so, especially for students with an interest in business.

Final Thoughts

Programs like this are often somewhat inscrutable, even when they do communicate clearly, which Bank of America very much hasn’t in this case. We are disappointed that this program is ending; many students we’ve worked with in the past have benefited highly from it, as have the organizations they’ve partnered with. It’s not the only option for your summer of course, but it was a great one.

We hope this article has given you insight into how else you can spend your summer constructively, especially if you were one of the students who most stood to benefit from the Student Leaders program. Finding the best ways to spend your time is a constant challenge for high school students, but one you don’t need to deal with alone. At łÔąĎąŮÍř, our mentors are well experienced at helping students find the best ways to spend their summers, and to explore their passions fully, wherever they may lead. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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In this article, we’re going to explore one field of research in more depth: Economics (and also business, which is like economics, except when it isn’t). We’re going to cover some of the peculiarities of publishing in the field of economics, and then go over some professional economics journals that will accept submissions from high school students. We’re also going to cover best practices for publishing economics research. Let’s get started!

How Economics Publication Works

Publication has similarities between disciplines, but each has its own quirks as well. Each academic field is distinct, with its own quirks and traditions. This is because despite all being academia, fields tend to be remarkably self contained, and unconcerned with what’s happening in other fields. 

Economics specifically often has very long publication timelines, far more so than many other fields. This is of course journal or conference specific, but in general it takes much longer to publish in economics. Indeed, even tenured professors tend to only publish one article per year or so.

The research done by economists tends to analyze large sets of data; like all other social sciences, this data relates to human behavior and decision making. Economists try to divine why humans act the way they do, especially in regards to market behaviors. 

Literature reviews are also frequently done in economics, where a researcher goes over a significant number of papers on a single topic and synthesizes the results. These were especially popular during the pandemic however, creating a glut of literature reviews, and leaving fewer papers to synthesize. While you can still perform a literature review for your economics research, you must take care to make sure the same topic was not covered before. 

Economics Publication Options

Now we’re going to go through a number of journals which specialize in publishing papers in both Economics and Business. These are professional journals, but will accept papers from high school students if the work is of high enough quality. 

This is an international journal devoted to the science of business and management. While not aimed at high school students, they do accept submissions from them, and are one of the few locales to publish high school research on business and management. They accept both reviews and original research. Articles may be on any field or subfield within business.

All submitted articles must conform to their . All works cited must be referenced in the APA style. Articles which do not adhere to their publication guidelines will be rejected without review of scientific merit.

Articles which meet their guidelines will be reviewed by an editor, who will then send it to reviewers. Their review process is single-blind. The editor makes a publication decision based on the comments of the reviewers. Non-reviewed articles are returned within 10 days. Peer reviewed articles may be accepted immediately for publication, or may have revisions required. The peer review process takes four weeks.

There is a $299 submission fee, and articles are accepted on a rolling basis. They accept approximately 15% of submitted articles from high school students. Generally, accepted papers appear online within 3 weeks, and are published in hard copy at a later date.

This is, in spite of the name, an international journal dedicated to publishing research on business management, industrial engineering, information management, and related topics. This journal is not aimed at high school students, but accepts papers from all authors so long as they meet its publication criteria. A full list of topics accepted by the journal may be found .

AJIBM accepts research papers for publication. Reviews are published, but may only be submitted by invitation. All manuscripts must be submitted online, and must conform to their for formatting. AJIBM uses the APA style for citations. Manuscripts which do not follow their style guidelines will be returned to authors without review of their scientific merit.

Articles which meet their guidelines are then reviewed by an editor, who sends them to reviewers. All reviews are single-blind. The editor prepares a response letter to the author in response to the review comments. All decisions are made within four weeks. A paper may be accepted, rejected, or returned with comments for resubmission after revisions. Open access authors retain copyrights of their papers, all papers are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License. 

There is a processing charge for submitted papers of $499. As the journal does not charge for access to published papers, this goes to funding the operations of the journal and ensuring continued access to published materials. 

As the name suggests, this is an international journal dedicated to publishing research from all areas of the social sciences. While they are not specifically catered to submissions from high school students, they will accept them, so long as they are up to their scientific standards. IJSSER publishes monthly, and submissions are always open. 

All papers must be in English. They publish original research, case studies, review articles, and technical notes. All submissions are subject to double-blind review. All submitted papers must conform to their . All papers are reviewed by an editor first to ensure adherence to these guidelines; those that do are then submitted for peer review.

IJSSER accepts slightly over 50% of all submissions for publication. As IJSSER is an open access journal, they do not charge for access to the papers they publish. They charge publication fees to authors to recoup the costs of running the site and paying editors. The fee to publish is $80 if you are from a high income economy, else it is $70. This covers a submission of up to 30 pages, above 30 pages there is an additional charge of $5 per page.

Final Thoughts

Of course, you can also publish your research in journals meant for high school students, many of which will accept papers on economics. Our list here is meant to demonstrate that there are publication options beyond those just meant for students, and to encourage high schoolers doing advanced research to put it out there where it may be seen and reviewed by professionals in the field. The point of research is to contribute to the sum total of human knowledge, and we believe high school students are capable of doing so.

Of course, doing original research is hard, as is writing a proper research paper discussing it. This is not a skill often taught in high schools, leaving students uncertain how to even begin. Our research mentors equip students with the skills and guidance they need to carry out and publish original research, and to showcase this in their college applications. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help you with your own research goals.

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°Â±đ’v±đ written before about how to best spend your summer, and concluded that anything that lets you explore and grow in your passions and interests is a good use of your time. To that end, we’re exploring how students with certain interests can find opportunities that best suit them, and in this article we’re looking specifically at summer programs involving business and entrepreneurship. 

Business is rarely something students get to explore in high school, but it is one of the most popular, and competitive, college majors. This means getting any experience with business in high school is excellent, both to see if it’s something you’d like to spend your time on seriously, and to begin preparing for college admissions. In this article, we’re going to cover some programs that help you do just that. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but covers some programs we’ve found to be worth consideration. Let’s get started!

±«±Ę±đ˛Ô˛Ô’s Wharton school is consistently ranked as the best business program in the country. That does not mean that the high school programs it offers are inherently better or automatically the right choice for you, but they are interesting, and worth considering. These programs mostly consist of coursework at Wharton; these are good for an introduction to business, but are not as hands-on as some students enjoy. We’ll give a brief introduction to each of their specific programs.

All of these programs have both a priority application deadline, and a final application deadline. The priority deadline is in late January, and gives you a better chance of acceptance, the final deadline is in April. Finally, note that attending one of these programs has no impact on your chances of admission to Wharton. They may appreciate it on its merits, but it does not give you any kind of extra leg up in the admissions process.

This is a three-week program for rising juniors and seniors. Students will learn how to research and design a new product, and the entrepreneurial skills to create a business around that product. Total cost is $9,799.  This is one of the more hands-on options, and a good choice for students with an interest in the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship. 

and

These are both two-week programs where you take introductory courses on the chosen topic on Wharton’s campus. They cost $7,899 apiece. These are not bad programs, but you can find similar coursework at other schools for a longer duration or lower cost. 

This is a three week program which serves as a general introduction to business and leadership. It mixes coursework, guest lectures, group activities, and research. Total cost is $11,399. This is one of the more popular Wharton programs.

This is a three week program where students learn the fundamentals of data science from Wharton faculty, and how those principles apply to the field of finance. Total cost is $9,799. This is a reasonable option for students interested in data science, but there are better options in the same field. 

This is a three week program on sports analytics and statistics, done through a lens of sports. This is primarily a statistics introduction, but also covers some sports management principles. Total cost $9,799. This is a very good program for students interested in sports management and the business of sports, as few programs cover this.

This program is run by the Fisher Program in Management and Technology, and combines elements from Penn’s Wharton and Engineering schools. Students spend three weeks attending courses and building their own prototype for a high tech business venture. Total cost is $9,000. This is a good option for students interested in the intersection of business and tech, and wanting to explore both. 

This is a three week program run by Georgetown (as the name implies), where students take business courses on their campus and hear guest lectures from leaders in finance. This program specifically looks at international business and finance, and the importance of multinational organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF. 

You must apply to this program . You must be a current 8th-12th grade student to be eligible to apply; domestic and international applicants are welcome. The application requires a 300 word personal statement. TOEFL scores are not required for international students, but they caution that if you do not have a proficient grasp on English, you may not gain the full benefits of the program. The early deadline is by the end of January, the regular deadline is in April.

The cost of this program is $7,700 for residential students, or $5,800 for commuter students. This program is an excellent choice for younger students who may want an introduction to specific aspects of business, as the age requirements for this program are laxer than at many other schools. 

(HSSIP)

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has established this internship program to introduce students to the banking industry, banking regulation, and the role of the government in finance. This is a six week paid internship, and is only open to students in Washington DC and Prince George’s County Md. In addition, all applicants must attend a public or charter school. You must be a current high school junior or senior to apply. 

The eligibility requirements make this position more difficult to apply to, but it is an excellent opportunity for those students who qualify. Government internships will teach you a lot, and the fact that it’s a paid opportunity is excellent as well. It will give you a slightly different perspective on finance and banking however, and may not be as ideal for students interested in the industry. If you have an interest in economics or public policy, and are eligible for this internship, then we recommend applying. 

The application for this program is due at the end of February. In order to be eligible to apply, you must be nominated by a school counselor or administrator. We recommend reaching out to them about this in the fall; they should have plenty of warning. The application itself requires an online form; finalists are invited to interview with an OCC panel to check for their fit with the program. 

This is a series of one-week programs offered by Bentley University, with a goal of explaining the mechanics and strategies of stock trading to high school students. There are online, commuter, and residential options for these courses. Each of these is presented as a series of lectures, and is intended to convey about 20% of the material you would cover in an equivalent college course. 

There are multiple each summer, which offer different courses in different formats. The is done online. You must be a rising junior or senior to apply, and must be at least 16 by the start of the program to live on campus; younger students may attend as commuters or online. Applications open in January, and are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline in June. The cost of this program is $1,490 for online, $2,250 for commuters, and $3,180 for residential students. 

This is an interesting program, but does not offer the same depth that some other college coursework programs have, nor the hands-on applications some programs offer. It can be a good choice for an introductory program. 

Babson College is known for being a liberal arts style college with a sole focus on business and finance, and their summer programs reflect this. This is a three week course that lets students take the exact intro course that Babson students take; there are lectures each morning, and an expectation of an additional five hours of work each day (25 hours a week total of work outside the classroom is expected). 

This program is offered both virtually and in-person. The virtual cost is $6,295 for tuition. The in-person program has that same cost, plus an additional $6,500 charge for room and board. Applications are done online. You must be a rising junior or senior, and must be at least 16 by the start date of the program. International students are welcome to apply, but must submit test scores to certify English proficiency. The application opens in December; the early deadline is January 14, and the standard deadline March 14. 

We recommend this program for students who want a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. It does not offer the same hands-on experience as some other programs, but does offer a very in-depth discussion of the principles of the field. 

This is a two week residential program offered by UChicago, with the express goal of introducing students to what careers in business and finance are like. The school is one of the known feeders for these careers, and the program offers both lectures by UChicago faculty in the mornings, and excursions and career talks in the afternoons. 

This program costs $5,625, and is open to current 9th-11th graders. Applications must be done , and require a writing sample and a letter of recommendation. International students are eligible to apply, but they must submit a test score demonstrating English proficiency if English is not their primary language of instruction at high school. 

This program is good for younger students, especially 9th graders, in order to give them a taste of what these careers entail, and what finance looks like. Older students would do better in a program which gives a more thorough introduction to some of the academic components of these fields. 

(B-BAY)

This is a two week program run by µţ±đ°ů°ě±đ±ô±đ˛â’s Haas School of Business (as the name suggests). This program has students learn from Berkeley faculty and lecturers, then work in teams to create and present a business plan. The program is fully residential, with students living on µţ±đ°ů°ě±đ±ô±đ˛â’s campus and hearing from undergraduates about the school. 

The program accepts 50 students each year, and accepts both domestic and international students. The must be done online; it opens in December and closes in March, though applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The application requires the online form, one essay response, a transcript, and two letters of recommendation. You must be a current high school student to apply. The program costs $6,292 for California residents, and $7,332 for non-residents. 

This is a good program for students, especially younger ones, to get a sense of how business functions, and to begin gaining some practical experience in designing a business. While this is a relatively short program, it still manages to cover a good amount of ground. 

This is a two week program hosted by Indiana University (in Bloomington), with a focus on how business and communication work between the US and various regions around the globe. Students are taught by faculty from the Kelley School of Business, and receive brief introductions to some less commonly studied languages and regions, along with an overview of business fundamentals. 

The program is open to students who are rising sophomores to seniors. The application must be done online, and is due by April 14. This requires the online form and a letter of recommendation. The program costs $2,000 in total. 

This is a good program for younger students, who may have an interest in international business. If you are interested in a specific language or region, then there are better summer programs to explore these in depth; if you have a more general interest in globalized business however, this is a reasonable option. 

(BOSS)

This is a two week residential program run by Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. The goal of this program is to give students a chance to take both college prep and business fundamentals courses from Smeal faculty, while also experiencing what life at college is like. 

This program is only open to US residents and residents of Puerto Rico. This program is only open to rising seniors. The application must be done online; it opens October 1 and is due in March. The application requires the online form, a 1-2 page personal statement, a transcript, standardized test scores, and one letter of recommendation. The program fee is $250. 

The goal of the BOSS program is to increase diversity in business, and to give students who might not otherwise have a chance to explore some business fundamentals in high school. This is not considered when reviewing applications, but this program is best for students who have not had much of an introduction to business before, and who may be unable to afford one of its costlier counterparts. This is not the best business summer program, but is quite good at what it aims to do. 

This is a three week residential program run by George Washington University, and specifically overseen by their Cisernos Hispanic Leadership Institute. This program is only for rising seniors at US high schools with a history of both strong academic achievement and leadership and service in the Hispanic community. The program allows students to examine the economic and socio-political factors impacting the Hispanic community, and to learn about how policy impacts these. 

The application for this program opens in December, and is due by March 1. The application requires an online form, several short essays, and a letter of recommendation. This is a fully funded program, with no cost to participate to students; the program will also provide assistance for travel to campus.

This is a great program for students who are more interested in economic and governmental policy, especially those who are members of or otherwise active in the Hispanic community. Note that you do not need to be Hispanic to apply; applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged, but you must have shown a strong dedication to the Hispanic community. This is a more niche program, but quite good if it aligns with your interests. 

This is a two week residential program run by (as the name suggests) University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. This program allows students to experience what life is like at Ross, while taking courses and hearing lectures from faculty and researchers. There is no credit offered for this course. 

You must be a rising senior to apply to this program, and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher. International students are welcome to apply, but preference will be given to domestic applicants. The application must be completed online; this requires two short essays and a letter of recommendation. The application is due by January 21. The program costs $5,500 in total. 

This is an ok program for students interested in business, but its shorter duration means it isn’t able to go into the same depth as some other programs. It certainly isn’t bad, but some other programs offer better value for the cost. 

This is a four week program offered by USC, with the goal of introducing students to business principles, and giving them practical experience with what is required to start a business. Students take courses and attend lectures by USC faculty, then work in groups to plan out a business. The program also includes trips to businesses around Los Angeles, to learn from what business leaders are doing in the real world. 

This program is only open to students who have completed 10th grade or above by the program start date. The program is open to international students, but they must be able to demonstrate English proficiency. This is an in-person program, though students may participate as either residential or commuters. The total cost is $11,347 for residential students and $7,812 for commuter students. The application must be submitted , and requires the form be completed and a transcript be uploaded. The application is due by the start of May for domestic students and mid-March for international students.

This is a good program for students interested in business, as it is long enough to cover topics in some depth, while also including some practical components, giving students a chance to learn about business through doing. 

This is a three week program run by Barnard College, with the goal of giving students what they need to turn ideas into reality, especially in the context of beginning new groups or start-ups. You do not need an idea to apply; indeed, they prefer students arrive with a blank state. You do need to have a strong interest in developing such ideas and working in a group to make these a reality however. You will participate in workshops and attend lectures, and work in a group to create your own plan for a venture launch.

You must be a current high school student to apply, and at least 14 by the start date of the program. Note that Barnard is a women-only liberal arts college, and only accepts young women to their pre-college summer programs. The application itself requires the online form, a transcript, a letter of recommendation, and a 500 word personal statement. The application opens December 1, the priority deadline is in February, and applications are due by April 15. Note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and seats in the program are limited. The total cost of this program is $10,171 for residential students. 

This is a good program for students interested in entrepreneurship, especially younger ones. The eligibility requirements mean not everyone will be able to apply, but it is worth looking into if you are eligible. 

This is a two week long program run by Tufts University, which seeks to introduce students both to various concepts in entrepreneurship, and to Tufts itself. This is an in-person program, but is available to residential and commuter students. Students will attend a variety of workshops and lectures in the first week, and then spend the second week working in groups to design and develop a venture and business case. 

The application for this program must be done online. It opens in December, and is due by May 1. You must be a rising sophomore-senior to apply, and at least 15 to live in on-campus housing. International students are welcome to apply, but if English is not your first language, you will need to submit proof of English proficiency. The application requires an online form, and one letter of recommendation. The program costs $4,225 for commuter students and $5,750 for residential students.

This is a good program for younger students, ones who are looking for an introduction to what business is, and what it looks like to start one. It does not go as in-depth as some other programs, but does provide a good amount of practical experience. 

Final Thoughts

This is a significant number of programs, though it is by no means an exhaustive list. These programs offered by colleges are not your only option if you are interested in business however. What we have found to be far more valuable is undertaking internships or other ventures which give you practical experience with business. From starting a small business of your own to trying your hand at trading stocks, you will often gain more in the way of practical experience, and more to write about in potential essays, then you will from many of these programs. 

This is not to say these college programs are useless; there is something to be said for learning the theories which underlie business, entrepreneurship, and management, and seeing if these are the kinds of things you would enjoy majoring in. The point is instead that these aren’t your only option. 

If you are looking for help finding the right kind of program for you, or in applying to any of these summer programs (some of which can be quite competitive), łÔąĎąŮÍř is here to help. Our candidacy building program specializes in helping students develop their passions and interests, both when applying to existing programs, and on their own initiative. To learn more about this, and how we can help you, schedule a free consultation today. °Â±đ’v±đ worked with hundreds of students navigating the long days of summer, and are always happy to hear from you. 

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In this article then, we’re going to look at what options you have to study business at top 20 colleges in the US. We’ll look at majors, special programs, and other unique offerings some of these schools have. Each of these schools is unique, and we think this overview will help you understand which will best serve your interests. Let’s get started!

Business vs. Economics Majors

Before we discuss individual programs, we want to include a brief note on the differences between business and economics majors. This is because many of the colleges we will be discussing only offer an economics major, not a business one. This is because economics is seen as a science, and fits within the schema of a liberal arts education. Business degrees are career focused, and so many top colleges do not deign to offer them. 

In practice, economics is much more focused on understanding how an economy functions at both the macro and micro levels, with a deep focus on math and data, so as to model the behaviour of humans in aggregate. This often involves a significant amount of math, and can overlap with other fields in the social sciences. 

Business degrees are far more practical in their approach, and cover more of the specifics of actually undertaking some aspect of business or a related subfield. These programs cover less math, and are not as heavily based in theory and data gathering. They can be more or less specialized, and focus on different aspects of what you do in business. 

Both degree options can set you up for careers in finance, on Wall Street, or in other business contexts, but the experience you have in the programs will be very different. Which is better suited for you depends on your own strengths and interests. If you like the academic side more, then economics may be better suited, while if you are more practical minded then business may suit your aptitudes well. 

Finally, there are other degree options which can lead to specific business fields, especially Computer Science and applied math. This is specifically for students interested in quantitative finance or related fields, which make an extensive use of high level math concepts. We will not be focusing on the option to pursue these majors in this article, but we did want you to be aware of their existence.

Top 20 Colleges’ Business Options

We will be listing these colleges in alphabetical order for convenience. We will cover what majors they offer, and any special programs they have you should be aware of, including dual degree options. 

Brown

Brown does not offer a business major (or any majors, simply because of how they are organized as a school), but they do have an program, with a number of and an option for an . These do all fall more on the side of economics than business itself, as Brown has a very strong liberal arts bent to its curriculum. They do have a graduate business school which offers an MBA program, but undergraduates only have limited access to it. 

They do have a small number of , which are not quite full concentrations, but which do allow you to explore business to some extent. 

Caltech

Caltech offers the (BEM) Major. This is often paired with engineering or CS majors for students who want to begin careers in entrepreneurship; the students at Caltech tend to look more towards SIlicon Valley than Wall Street for inspiration, though plenty go to both post graduation. This program interfaces with the to give students the option to pursue research in these fields, and to take some graduate level coursework. 

Columbia

The primary way to study business at Columbia is to major in . They have a significant econ program, with many options for students to work with professors and to pursue research. There are a number of research fellowships and prizes available to students as well, though these are aimed more at students who want to pursue economics for academic reasons than those who are interested in it for the study of business. 

There is a available to undergraduates; this is not a major, but may be done in addition to your major. You must apply to this program specifically in your sophomore or junior year, and must have at least a 3.4 GPA to qualify. This allows you to take undergraduate business courses, and to network with faculty in Columbia’s graduate business school. This is a popular option to combine with other majors for students who want to enter business in a particular field. 

Cornell

Cornell offers students a path to study business directly through their . This offers a degree in , and is meant to prepare students to directly enter business after graduation. You may choose from among 11 to further focus your experience in the school.

If you are interested specifically in hospitality management, Cornell has an entire devoted to that, and students are encouraged to apply. While this is also a business degree, it is far more focused in scope, and may not be as useful for students who want to focus in other areas of business.

Dartmouth

There is no set major or minor in business at Dartmouth, instead interested students frequently major in . Students are able to take business at the graduate business school while undergraduates, but these do not form a cohesive major or minor. These may be taken in conjunction with the economics major, or in combination with other fields of study. 

Duke

There is no official business major at Duke, instead interested students generally major in , which also offers an option for a concentration in , of interest to students who are considering a career in finance. Duke does have a graduate business program, and there options there for undergraduates, notably the (COLE), which offers internship and networking opportunities to select undergraduates with an interest in business. Finally, Duke has a office to help guide students who are interested in a career in business. We recommend you reach out to them if you are matriculating at Duke, as they have the best grasp of the resources available on campus. 

Harvard

Harvard, as we noted in our introduction, does not offer a business major; students who are interested often study instead. Harvard has a notably strong economics program, one of the best nationally. For students who wish to pursue a career in business, they have an to help you with networking and to find opportunities which match your goals. 

Harvard undergraduates also have some opportunities to work with the graduate business school. These include a , where undergraduates spend their summer working closely with faculty; this program is open to all undergraduates, not just those at Harvard. is a program for Harvard students to give them a preview of the business school. Participating in these programs does not increase your chances of acceptance to the business school.

Johns Hopkins

Johns Hopkins has no business major, though their graduate school of business does offer an undergraduate . There is an , which some Hopkins students avail themselves of. For students interested in continuing their studies at the business school, they do offer some benefits to Hopkins alumni who . These include test waivers, scholarship eligibility, and a chance for direct admission. 

Finally, there is a dual-degree program offered by . This allows you to earn your BS in engineering and an MBA in just five years. You must apply to this program in your third year of study, and it is competitive. This program is especially recommended for students studying Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, both of which transition quite well to positions in finance and business. 

Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s offers six different majors in the field to undergraduates, allowing you to explore various facets of the field. The focus in the program is on , giving students the tools and experience of working in the field while still in undergrad. They also offer a pair of dual degree programs, which allow you to earn an MBA and an undergraduate degree in or in only five years. These programs are a great opportunity for students who want to directly enter business in one of these fields, but want a technical background while doing so.

Princeton

Princeton is exceptional amongst Ivy league schools; not only does it not have an undergraduate business major, it also does not have a graduate business school. They do have a very strong , which many students choose to major in. Their proximity to New York, and Wall Street specifically, does help students with networking and securing internships at firms. They offer a which is open to all majors, and which allows you to take some coursework in their graduate center for finance (which is akin to, but is not, a business school). You must apply for the minor by June 1 of your sophomore year. 

Rice

While Rice does have a business school, this is focused on graduate level education. That said, they do have a open to undergraduates, which draws from the same pool of faculty, and covers much of the same material. Undergraduates are also welcome to take the or ; which are meant to pair with other fields of study. 

There are a number of other majors students interested in business can avail themselves of, namely and ; these are both more theoretical than a pure business major, but provide a solid foundation in the same principles. 

Stanford

Stanford does not have an actual business major for undergraduates; instead interested undergraduates generally major in . They do have an for students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in business. 

UC Berkeley

µţ±đ°ů°ě±đ±ô±đ˛â’s offers an undergraduate business major which is highly competitive; you must apply directly to the major when you apply to Berkeley in order to land a spot. In addition, they have a number of specialized business programs as well, including the (MET) program, a dual degree for students interested in the intersection of technology and business. The offers a similar dual degree for students interested in business and biology. 

Haas also has its own options for business majors, including chances to intern abroad. Further, they have many to help you take the next steps after earning your degree in business. 

UCLA

UCLA’s business school is not itself open to undergraduates, but there is a available through the Economics Department. This gives students the chance to take courses in the graduate business school, but does not fully replicate a standard business school curriculum, instead focusing more on the principles of economics which underpin systems of business. Students may also major in itself.

There is a further concentration available through the Economics Department in , which offers undergraduates a special suite of courses to help them understand the principles of investing. 

UChicago

While UChicago has a highly rated graduate business school, they do not offer an undergraduate business major. Most students interested in business major in economics, which does offer a specialized . Undergraduates are also permitted to take select courses in the graduate business program. 

They do offer a joint BA/MS in , which is specifically aimed at students interested in pursuing jobs in quantitative finance. You may complete this program in four or five years, and apply for it while still an undergraduate. Completing this program requires working closely with your advisor and the program administrator to ensure you complete all the required components. 

UPenn

±«±Ę±đ˛Ô˛Ô’s is the best undergraduate business program in the country, and is consistently ranked as such. Beyond the simple major, they offer a significant number of , which allow you to focus in your studies on the subject within business which interests you the most. 

Wharton also offers specialized ; these are for students who wish to combine their study of business with another field. These are even more competitive than Wharton for admissions, and must be applied to directly. There are programs in , , , and . 

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt does not have a set business major, though they do have a for undergraduates. Students who wish to enter business either pursue the minor or major in . Students in the business minor do have the chance to take courses from the graduate business program. 

Students in the school of music have an opportunity to combine their undergraduate degree with an MBA in . This is a very selective program, and only open to students in teh school of music. 

Yale

While Yale does have a top-ranked business school, this is only open to graduate students. Undergraduates interested in business generally major in . You are encouraged, but not required, to complete a as part of this major; this is particularly aimed at students with a research focus. 

Final Thoughts

Business is an incredibly popular program of study for students, and we work with significant numbers of high school students each year who want to pursue business at a top college. We hope this article has given you a solid overview of what business options actually exist at these colleges, and how studying business can differ greatly depending on which school you go to. 

Of course, one thing all of these programs do have in common is how competitive they are for admissions. All of these schools have staggeringly low acceptance rates, and they get lower every year. If you want to maximize your chances of admission, or help deciding what kind of business program is right for you, schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience helping students get into top colleges, and are always happy to hear from you.

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To this end, some colleges offer deferred admission MBA programs. These are refereed to as 2+2 programs generally; as you spend two years working, then two years completing the program. In this article, we’re going to explore what these programs are, how they work, and whether they’re a good choice for your goals. Let’s jump right in!

What are 2+2 Deferred MBA Programs anyway?

MBAs are generally 1 or 2 year programs, depending on how much material they cover, and how intensive the instruction is. Most MBA programs work the same as college or other graduate programs; you apply and then immediately begin work in the program. Deferred 2+2 programs, however, work differently.

In college admissions, you have the option to defer your attendance for a year. This is a rare choice, but is often done by students who want to work for a year, or have a concrete project they are pursuing which would interfere with their time in college. These students apply as normal, but don’t begin attending the school until a year after they normally would. We explore more how this works for undergraduate programs in this article. 

For deferred 2+2 programs, however, this is structural, and a core component. After you apply and are admitted, there is a built-in two-year gap before you enter the MBA program at the university. This is meant for you to gain experience working, either in the private sector, for the government, or with nonprofits, then apply this experience to what you learn in the MBA program. 

This is generally two years, but can be extended to up to four, depending on the program. Harvard, , has a two year gap as the standard, but allows you to defer up to four years if the work you are doing requires it. 

The reason this exists is because many universities have found that having practical experience helps students succeed in MBA programs. Further, many students who plan on doing MBAs want to work for a spell after college anyway; both as a break from academics and to gain the sort of experience these programs like to see. 

These programs allow students to apply for an MBA while still in undergrad, then have a built-in break to pursue a career before beginning the next phase of their education. The actual work done in the MBA program is standard for these programs; the only real variance is in the structure of the program.

Who Offers 2+2 Programs?

MBA programs vary in quality, with those offered by top schools offering significantly more to students in terms of networking ability and job prospects than lower tier programs. We are therefore not going to list out every single 2+2 deferred MBA program, but give a sample of some of the ones offered by top universities. 

Top schools which offer deferred MBA programs include: 

• : 6-7% acceptance rate
• : 9-12% acceptance rate
• (UPenn): 14-20% acceptance rate
• : 20% acceptance rate
• : 12-20% acceptance rate
• : 14% acceptance rate
• : 18-22% acceptance rate
• : 5% acceptance rate
• : 26-35% acceptance rate
• : 13-20% acceptance rate

This is not an exhaustive list of these programs, but gives you a sense of the options available to you. There are subtle variations in what these programs offer, but that is the case for all MBA programs; the broad generalities are the same, while the specifics differ (much like colleges themselves). 

To give you a sense of these differences, we’re going to look at a few of these programs in more detail, so you get a more in-depth understanding of what they offer. 

This program is aimed at undergraduate students, and in its specifics is exactly the same as Harvard’s regular MBA program. The application is the same as well, though the due date is later. They have preferences for students who come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those who are first generation students, and those who are planning to enter underrepresented industries. 

The program is open to students in their final year of undergraduate study to apply to. If you are in a joint BA/MA program or another master’s program you are eligible to apply, so long as you have not had professional experience. Students enrolled in PhD or MD programs are not eligible to apply for this. 

A GMAT or GRE score is required to apply. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required if your primary language is not English, and you attended an international university where the primary language of instruction is not English. 

If you are accepted by the program, you must pay a $1,000 deposit to secure your spot, and withdraw from all of the other MBA programs (including deferred ones) you applied to. 

As with undergraduate colleges, similar programs at different universities have different names and descriptions, despite being quite similar otherwise. Thus Wharton’s deferred 2+2 MBA program has a different name, despite functioning nearly the same as Harvard’s program structurally. 

You apply for this program during the final year of your undergrad program, or during your graduate degree program. Unlike the Harvard program, you may still apply if you have already graduated from your undergraduate program, but it must be recent. A GMAT or GRE score is required to apply. 

You must pay a split deposit; $1,000 is required when you accept your place in the program; another $1,000 is required the year you would enroll. You must submit a yearly declaration of intent to enroll in the program. You must withdraw from other MBA programs you have applied to, including deferred ones.

This program allows you to apply to Stanford’s standard MBA program now, then enroll after one to four years of professional experience. A notable difference between this program and others of this type is the one year option; most of these deferred programs require at least two years and up to four, but Stanford allows you to defer for only a single year should you so choose. 

They are looking for either undergraduates in their senior year or graduate students in their final year to apply. Unlike some other programs, they will accept students who are currently pursuing PhDs, MDs, or law degrees, so long as you entered these programs directly out of undergrad, and you did not work full time before beginning your graduate program (this includes full-time internships). 

The application for the deferred program uses the exact same application as Stanford’s regular MBA program, with all of the same components. You request a certain amount of deferred time when you apply, but they may offer a different amount of time based on your application. A $1,000 deposit is due if you are accepted, with another $1,000 deposit due the year you are set to matriculate. Both are applied to your first year’s tuition for the program. 

UChicago’s deferred MBA program sets itself apart by not including the terms “deferred” or “MBA” in its title. The program accepts applicants who are in their final year of undergrad, including joint Bachelor’s/Master’s programs, but not students who have graduated or those in other graduate programs. If you transitioned directly from undergrad to a master’s program, you are still eligible to apply.

Unlike other deferred programs, you may defer from two to five years before beginning coursework at the Booth school. In all other ways, the coursework you end up taking is the same as that done by all other MBA students at the school. 

GMAT or GRE scores are required in order to apply. If you are an international student whose primary language of instruction in college was not English, you are required to submit scores from an English proficiency test. You must maintain full time employment during the period of deferral. You must submit a form each year of your deferral which updates the program on your employment. 

Is a Deferred MBA Program Right for You?

This depends entirely on your goals with your MBA. Certain careers and fields require one, especially to advance past a certain level within the corporate hierarchy. Some of these fields have additional requirements, and only look for candidates who have both real work experience and an MBA under their belt when they apply. 

This is true of many consulting firms, plus many management positions across a wide array of industries. You should consider what your own ambitions are in light of getting an MBA, and whether or not having career experience would help you attain your overall goals. If so, then a deferred program offers a number of benefits. 

First, and perhaps most importantly, it saves you the stress of applying again. Applying to graduate programs is stressful enough when you’re in undergrad, but when working full time (or more than full time, as is often the case in finance and consulting), finding the time to apply can be a dicey proposition. Having a spot ready and waiting for you already is a major stress reliever. 

Further, having a set time frame to do work then return to an MBA can help you reconfigure your career path, and open new avenues for advancement. There is often a set amount you can advance within one company; having a set deadline where you return to education provides a clean break, often on good terms, and allows you to either pivot the direction of your career, or reinvigorate it in the same setting.

Finally, having real world experience puts a lot of the things you encounter during an MBA into a new light. Having the practical experience with how a business runs, regardless of field, gives you new insights, and lets you take more away from many of the courses you will be taking. This makes the work you do in an MBA far more valuable overall. 

Final Thoughts

MBA programs are a key stepping stone for any number of careers in business and administration, and offer students a wealth of information and experiences. Deferred programs are an avenue of MBAs which many students are unaware of, but which offer a unique set of advantages, especially to students who are already thinking about their long term career goals. 

We hope that this article has given you a good sense of what a deferred MBA program can offer, and the kinds of variance you can find in top programs. If you are looking for help in applying to one of these programs, or advice on planning out just how an MBA can fit into your long term goals, schedule a free consultation with us today. We understand exactly what admissions officers are looking for, and are always happy to hear from you.

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