We’d guess that, if you’re anything like us, you sometimes feel a bit torn or confused about how to spend your summers during high school, especially if you are lucky enough to have a lot of options. Summer internships? An independent research project? Maybe just relax and play and have fun before your youth passes by (not to be a downer, but you’ll likely spend a lot of summers in the future working)? We are all for spending your summer doing something that interests you and that enriches your intellectual life (as long as you also get some mental downtime), and there are amazing opportunities out there for you to get some experience with college-level courses and to zero in on a path you might take after high school. We want you to explore and learn cool stuff and meet awesome people! The Wharton Global Youth Program is one such opportunity for students with a particular interest in business.
But with everything, there are pros and cons. And if you’re thinking about devoting part of your summer break to a rigorous and challenging academic program, our best advice to you is to carefully consider what you’ll actually gain from this experience, and how it aligns with your goals and values.
Wharton’s Global Youth Program is highly regarded, selective, AND very expensive. The application process is also pretty involved, and these are all things to weigh as you think about whether or not applying to this program is worth it. Let’s jump in to help you navigate this decision!
What is the Wharton Global Youth Program?
Offered through the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania (yep, it’s pretty impressive), the Wharton Global Youth Program is a summer program for eligible students in 9th-12th grade with an interest in Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Management (to name just a few).
There are on-campus programs focusing on things like Product Design, Sports Analytics, Business Leadership, and Technology and Business. Students get to attend classes at UPenn geared toward their specific interests within the world of Business and to learn from Wharton faculty. It’s like being in Business School before you’re actually in Business School!
Wharton’s Global Youth Program also offers an online summer program for eligible students in 9th-12th grades that gives you access to the same courses and programs offered in the on-campus program, but you can attend from the comfort of your own home (maybe sitting on your couch in your comfy clothes, within easy reach of the Cheetos, Red Vines, and string cheese you need to get through the day… at least that’s what we sometimes need to get through the day).
But wait… there’s more! The Global Youth Program also offers “Location-Based” programs in San Francisco, CA (this one has a specific focus on “Innovation and Startup Culture”) and in Cambridge, England (with a focus on “Strategy and International Management).
And finally, Wharton’s Global Youth Program also offers a Pre-Baccalaureate Program. This is an intensive, college-level program open to juniors and seniors that gives students the chance to earn college credit prior to starting college. This program offers online courses (so you don’t have to be in Pennsylvania to participate), weekly synchronous meetings with instructors, and many opportunities to work at your own pace. Rather than a specific focus within Business, the Pre-Baccalaureate Program allows students to take classes across the Business School course offerings.
How hard is it to get into the Wharton Global Youth Program?
What is the acceptance rate for the Wharton Youth Program?
How many people get into the Wharton Global Youth Program?
That depends on what you’re applying for, but some of the programs are pretty selective.
Wharton typically considers students with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA as qualified for the Global Youth Program (or 3.5 unweighted for the Leadership in the Business World and Management and Technology Summer Institute programs).
In addition to submitting transcripts and a letter of recommendation (and maybe two letters, depending on the program you’re applying to), applicants must also complete 2-3 short essay responses (again, the number depends on the program you’re applying to) that demonstrate both their interest in the specific program they’re applying to as well their capabilities as a writer.
In addition to the essays, transcripts, and recommendation letters, Wharton also asks that you submit a 90-second video in which you discuss your application (or write an additional 500-word essay if you are unable to submit a video). This is a lot of work for a program that usually receives upwards of 700 applications and accepts roughly 17-20 % of students who apply.
There are also the application deadlines to consider. Wharton clearly states that once the open spots are filled, no additional applications will be considered. So there is some pressure to complete your application and get it in as early as possible (here is the info about application deadlines). So, even if you get your application submitted prior to the Priority Deadline in January or February, if a ton of other students have beat you to the punch, your application might not even get a glance.
Costs of the Wharton Summer Program
To be blunt, the Wharton Global Youth Program isn’t cheap (in fact, the cost could make it prohibitive for many students and their families).
To start with, there is a $100 non-refundable application fee to submit your application. This is relatively high for a summer program (for comparison, applying to college can typically run between $50-$100 per school, though at least with college, many students are eligible for fee waivers).
And then there is the cost of the program itself. The on-campus programs usually run from 2-3 weeks and cost anywhere from $7,300 to almost $10,000. While the online classes are less costly, they will still run you from $2,000 to $4,800. There are scholarships students can apply for based on financial need and demonstrated academic excellence, but these don’t necessarily cover all the costs associated with the program.
Bottom line: These programs are expensive, and while they might offer an amazing summer experience, we encourage you and your family to really weigh the cost vs. benefits since this is a significant amount of money to spend.
Are the Wharton Summer Programs worth it?
We really can’t give you a simple “yes” or “no” answer here, but here’s what we’ll say: If the specific areas of study in Wharton’s Global Youth Program really speak to your interests and values and to things you are truly excited to learn about, it may be a great option. There is no doubt that for students with a genuine wish to pursue Business in college or as a career, an experience at Wharton (a highly-respected Business school) will be enlightening and exciting. And the choices of programs are extensive and reflect Wharton’s understanding that the study of “Business” can mean many things. We love that about this program.
What we’ll also say is that this is definitely not a program to apply to if you’re just hoping to pad your college application. The application process is time-consuming and the program cost means that even if you’re highly qualified for the Global Youth Program, you simply might not be able to afford to attend (and we’d hate for you to go through the work of completing an application only for the cost to make this program a non-starter for you and your family). Finally, the pressure to get your application in first is probably not pressure you need to add to your already full plate.
There are so many summer programs out there for you and so many other ways you can spend those summer hours in meaningful ways (volunteering, writing that play you’ve been working on, coaching sports, just doing human stuff). And in the end, it’s the meaningful use of your time and energy that’s the important thing.
Special thanks to Jessica B. for writing this blog post
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, cozy sweaters, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
