Bossgirls Summer Program for High School Students - A Complete Guide

Enrolling in business and leadership programs like the Bossgirls Summer Program can significantly enhance your college applications, and here’s how! 

These programs offer valuable opportunities to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership — qualities that college admissions committees highly value. Business and leadership programs in particular allow you to showcase your communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

In actively seeking out opportunities to learn in these areas, you can show your commitment to personal and professional growth, providing rich material for application essays, interviews, and recommendation letters. An example of a time when you were a leader, solved a problem, or worked as a team are common interview questions and exciting essay topics to expand upon!

What is the Bossgirls Summer Program?

The Bossgirls Summer Program, hosted by the Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York (CCNY), is an entrepreneurship boot camp specifically designed for high school girls and non-binary students in grades 9-12. Sponsored by Standard Chartered as part of its Futuremakers initiative, the program aims to introduce students to entrepreneurship as a viable career path and mindset. Over five weeks, participants are immersed in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, business, invention, and innovation. They learn how to identify problems, conduct market research, develop business plans, create prototypes, and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. 

How is the program structured?

The in-person program runs for five weeks during the summer, with sessions held Monday through Thursday from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The first three weeks focus on building a solid foundation in entrepreneurship, covering topics such as problem identification, customer research, financial literacy, market analysis, and marketing strategies. 

The remaining weeks are dedicated to applying these concepts to real-world problems. Participants will form teams to develop an innovative solution for an existing issue, supported by mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and industry experts. Teams must exercise their ability to research the market, scope out the competition, price and prototype their product, and create a brand around their idea. 

The program culminates in a pitch event where students present their projects to judges.  Last year, for example, students had ideas such as “CollegeVo,” a way to help low-income students apply to college, and “Health Yourself,” a way for customers to know whether a product is healthy for them. See more examples of student projects here. 

Each day is centered on learning and experimenting, and some days can even take place outside the classroom. 

How do you apply? 

The final deadline to apply for the 2024 program was March 31, 2024. One can expect similar application deadlines for future years. 

High school students who identify as female or non-binary are eligible to apply. The program is also fully sponsored, so there is no cost for participants, making it accessible to students from various backgrounds. 

Is it prestigious? 

Although the Bossgirls program is not widely known, it is highly competitive. In 2023, only 26 high school students were given a place in the program. The program’s connection to major corporations like Standard Chartered and its focus on empowering young women in traditionally male-dominated fields adds to its prestige.

Pros and Cons

When considering whether or not to apply for the Bossgirls program, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. We’ve listed a few for you to consider: 

Pros:

1. This is an inclusive program: The program focuses on empowering young women by providing them with the tools to succeed in male-dominated fields like business and entrepreneurship. Last year, the program invited three female founders to share their stories and took field trips to female-owned businesses. The program is specifically designed to provide a supportive environment for young women in business, surrounding them with inspiring female role models and pillars for growth.  

2. You will receive valuable mentorship: Students receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders, offering guidance and networking opportunities that can be beneficial for future careers in business and entrepreneurship. 

3. You will focus on skill development: The program equips participants with essential entrepreneurial skills such as business planning, marketing, finance, communication, and leadership. These skills are valuable for any future career path, but also in everyday life — improving your leadership and presentation skills means that even the way you carry yourself, speak to professionals, and talk in front of a class can improve! 

Cons: 

1. There are high costs associated with the program: While the program comes with no tuition cost, students might need to travel or relocate to New York temporarily, which can be challenging and costly. The intensive nature of the program also requires a significant time commitment. The admissions process is also competitive—students might spend time and money on their application, only to be rejected. 

2. The program requires you to devote a lot of time: The program requires a significant time commitment, which may conflict with other summer activities or responsibilities. Additionally, the competitive admissions process means that some students may invest time in the application without being accepted.

Our review - Should you Apply?

The Bossgirls Summer Program offers a unique and valuable opportunity for high school students passionate about entrepreneurship and leadership. The chance to work on real-world problems, coupled with the mentorship and support provided, makes it an exceptional experience. If you are eligible and committed to exploring entrepreneurship, applying to the Bossgirls program could be a pivotal step in your academic and professional journey.

One other option - Young Founders Lab

If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab! 

The Young Founders Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. 

You can access the application link here!

Amelia is a current senior at Harvard College studying art history with a minor in economics. She’s enthusiastic about music, movies, and writing, and is excited to help Veritas AIs students as much as she can!