It is well-known that business is a "hot major" for US college applications every year. Statistics show that in 2023, about 20% of US college applicants chose business as their intended major, yet the acceptance rates for business programs at prestigious schools were generally as low as 5%-10%. Among the students who successfully receive offers from top US business schools each year, participating in summer programs at top business schools during high school and accumulating high-quality theoretical and practical business experience has become a significant advantage.

The 2023 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange highlights popular fields of study abroad. Typically, applications for summer programs open from November to December of the previous year, with a peak in applications from January to March of the following year. The application peak for popular summer programs in 2025 is expected to reach its height in mid-January, so students planning to apply should closely monitor application deadlines and prepare materials in advance.

Recently, Embark mentors have compiled a list of high-value summer programs in the humanities, social sciences, and leadership in the US. Today, we focus on the more competitive top business summer programs, hoping to provide comprehensive and practical guidance for students aspiring to study business in the future!

1. LaunchX

MIT LaunchX, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, later joined by Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan, is collectively known as LaunchX. It is a top-tier business entrepreneurship summer program in the US. Unlike simulated entrepreneurship competitions, students in this program create real companies in the actual business world with the help of professors and peers, putting their creative ideas into practice.

Suitable Age: Students currently in grades 9-12

Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2024

Regular Application Fee: $60

Late Application Deadline: March 3, 2025

Late Application Fee: $75

Program Dates:

In-person Courses:

• Entrepreneurship in the US: June 16, 2025 – July 12, 2025
• Bay Area Entrepreneurship: July 13, 2025 – August 9, 2025

Online Courses:

• Online Innovation: June 9, 2025 – June 27, 2025
• Online Entrepreneurship: June 30, 2025 – August 1, 2025
• Online Bootcamp: May 19, 2025 – June 6, 2025

Application Materials Required:

1. Personal Information
2. Recommendation Letter (optional)
3. School Information and Grades
4. Activity List
5. Video Submission
6. Creative Portfolio (optional)

The application materials may seem simple: no standardized test scores required, no mandatory recommendation letters, and no lengthy essays. However, those who have applied know that achieving the 18% acceptance rate (according to the official website) is not easy!

Optional Courses:
LaunchX offers a variety of summer programs that provide real business experiences in a diverse community—get ready to change the world. LaunchX offers both online and in-person summer entrepreneurship programs.

• Online Summer Entrepreneurship Program

• In-person Campus Entrepreneurship Summer Program

2. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth

The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is a high-value summer program offered by the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, specifically designed for outstanding high school students worldwide. This program helps students comprehensively master the core principles and skills of business operations through systematic learning and practice, and experience the complete process of planning, creating, and operating real business projects.

Students will be challenged to think innovatively, develop teamwork skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and a sense of social responsibility, laying a solid foundation for future development.

Suitable Grades: Students entering grades 10-12

Application Opens: Dates for this year TBD

Application Deadline: Dates for this year TBD

Tuition for California Residents: $6,050

Tuition for Non-residents (including international students): $7,050

Application Fee: $80 (non-refundable)

Program Dates: Dates for this year TBD

Application Materials Required:

1. Essay (Additionally, international students from non-English-speaking countries must include a description of their English education background and experience.)
2. Two Recommendation Letters
3. Transcripts
4. Interview (Applicants may be required to have an online interview with program admissions officers)

Course Content:

1.Teamwork and Leadership

In this course, students will learn different leadership styles and understand the core traits of effective leaders. Through practical activities, they will explore personal leadership potential, learn how to coordinate and cooperate within a team, and face challenges. They will experience the impact of leadership decisions through real-case scenarios.

2.Entrepreneurship

This course will comprehensively analyze the four core qualities of successful entrepreneurs, teaching how to identify market needs and design effective business models. Through simulated entrepreneurship scenarios, students will develop innovative thinking and problem-solving skills to aid in building entrepreneurial paths.

3.Marketing

Students will learn the core processes of marketing and the importance of consumer insights. They will learn how to use SWOT analysis to evaluate market opportunities and develop marketing strategies aimed at competitive advantage, mastering marketing methods for different product lifecycle stages.

4.Finance

Explore the basic principles of entrepreneurship funding sources and capital flow, mastering the logic of financial market operations and common terminology. Focus on analyzing financing models, pricing strategies, and the practical application of interest rates in business development.

5.Accounting

Learn how to prepare financial statements to provide effective information for investors and tax authorities. Key concepts include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow management, with real-case studies to enhance financial interpretation skills.

6.Game Theory and Negotiation

Master the practical application of game theory in business decision-making, analyzing how to gain advantages in negotiation, conflict, and cooperation. Through simulated negotiation scenarios, students will improve their sensitivity and skills in communicating with various stakeholders.

7.Organizational Management

Explore how to coordinate resources and teams in business management, optimizing organizational structure for efficient execution. Through case studies, gain a deep understanding of how modern enterprises maintain competitiveness in a rapidly changing environment.

8.Corporate Social Responsibility and Case Study Introduction

Based on real cases, analyze the practices and challenges of corporate social responsibility, understanding the balance between social value and business goals. The course will also guide students in learning frameworks and methods for case analysis.

9.Public Speaking Skills

Through practical training, learn how to confidently express ideas in public, mastering structured speaking techniques and persuasive language. The course combines personalized feedback to help students stand out in public speaking.

3.Babson Summer Study for High School Students

The Babson Summer Study for High School Students is an online experiential program lasting three weeks or more, designed for students in grades 11 and 12. It aims to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, helping students become future changemakers and leaders. By participating in this program, students will not only have the opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the world but also learn how to confidently tackle complex topics and embrace diverse perspectives and solutions.

The program provides students with practical skills and deep insights into the business world, helping them draw from these experiences to lay the foundation for future entrepreneurial success.

Suitable Grades: High school students in grades 10-11, and applicants must be 16 years old by July 8.

Application Opens: Dates for this year TBD

Application Deadline: Dates for this year TBD

Program Fee: $6,295

Application Fee: $95

Program Dates: Dates for this year TBD

Application Materials Required:

1. High School Transcript
2. Two essays of up to 250 words each
3. One fixed-topic essay of up to 150 words
4. One optional essay
5. International students must submit TOEFL or other English proficiency test scores.

Course Content:
In the three-week online course, there will be both live and non-live academic sessions every day. Live sessions will last about 3 hours. Additionally, students are expected to spend up to 5 hours daily (25 hours per week) on assignments, which include both independent work and team projects.

4.Embark Exploration Program

Application Deadline: Personalized research projects, please contact Embark for details

Location: online

Eligibility: Varies according to the requirements of different research projects, but basically requires students to have a certain subject knowledge background

Program dates: Determined by the nature of the research project

Cost: Determined by the personalized research project

Founded in 2016, Embark is an educational institution focused on providing customized research training for teenagers. The core team is composed of graduates from prestigious American universities, with more than 3,000 mentors from well-known schools such as Ivy League, MIT, Caltech, Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Embark provides personalized one-on-one research guidance and customizes research topics according to students' interests. Embark helps students systematically develop research skills, establish a solid research framework, connect research with practical applications, appreciate the value of research, and improve problem-solving skills, all of which help them apply for college.

For more information, please visit Embark Exploration Program.