Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University - Our Honest Review
If you're a high school student planning to study business in college and have an entrepreneurial mindset, a pre-college program can help you further develop these interests.
Pre-collegiate programs are a great way to dive deep and learn more about a subject, providing hands-on experience in a structured environment. You can use such opportunities to network with a diverse cohort, sample college life, and curriculum, and learn from university professors. Additionally, participating in these programs highlights your passion for your chosen field and strengthens your academic profile.
For the more business-minded, a program worth considering is the Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University. We will review the Academy in this blog, providing information on its structure, faculty, curriculum, eligibility, cost, and prestige, ending with some pros and cons and our review of the program!
What is the Entrepreneurship Academy all about?
The Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University is a two-week program for high school students interested in learning the ins and outs of running a business. Here, you can learn about the different phases of starting a business or social innovation project — market research, prototype testing, expansion, and more. The program includes lectures by Georgetown faculty, seminars by visiting industry leaders, a capstone project where you create a business plan, and sessions to help you build necessary communication, networking, and team-building skills.
What does a typical day at the Entrepreneurship Academy look like?
The academic day at the Academy runs between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Typically, you begin the day with lectures. site visits, or business lab activities in the morning, followed by lunch. Post-lunch, you will again attend more lectures or go on an off-site visit, ending the day with an hour assigned to group discussions where you talk about what you learned during the day, or spend the time on your team capstone project.
What does the Entrepreneurship Academy curriculum include?
During the two weeks you spend at Georgetown, you will attend lectures, go on field trips, attend seminars, and participate in group projects. Your capstone project includes developing a business plan and pitching it. The Academy places special emphasis on developing important soft skills like public speaking, presentation, pitching, networking, and building team morale.
The program’s subject areas include:
Personal and professional development
Leadership, teamwork, and management
Networking skills and personal branding
Ethical business
Communication skills
Global entrepreneurship
Diversity in entrepreneurship
Risk management and finance
Research and prototyping
Entrepreneurship ecosystems and networks
Who teaches at the Entrepreneurship Academy?
The program’s main facilitator is Sowmya Pelluru, the Chief Brand and Communications Officer at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF). She is an academic director at Georgetown University who teaches a course on entrepreneurship. She previously founded Manakii, a social-impact undergarment company.
As a student, you could also have an opportunity to interact with Georgetown’s entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs). These are industry professionals working in finance, marketing, and other fields, who lend their expertise to mentor and guide Georgetown students and alumni.
What does the program cost?
Residential students pay $5,775, which includes tuition, housing, and meals.
The commuter student tuition is $4,025.
There is also a non-refundable $50 application fee that can be waived if you apply before January 31, 2025.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available which you can apply for by filling out the scholarship application form. The scholarship application for the 2025 session will open in January 2025 and is typically due by late March.
What are the important dates?
The program is typically held in the last two weeks of June. The 2024 program ran from June 16 to June 28, so you can expect the 2025 program dates to be similar.
Applications for the 2025 session will open in late fall. The application fee will be waived if you apply before January 31, 2025, while the final deadline is May 15, 2025.
Who can apply for the program?
To be eligible for the Entrepreneurship Academy, you must meet the following criteria:
Be a rising high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior
Have a minimum GPA of 2.0
International students can apply. They do not need to show their TOEFL scores or any other English-language certificate.
How can I apply to the Entrepreneurship Academy?
To apply, you submit a 300- to 500-word personal statement detailing your motivation for joining the program. You also need to submit a School Official Reviewer Form, which details your academic abilities and verifies your GPA. A school counselor, teacher, or principal can fill this in.
International students have to fill in separate forms. You can find more information for international applicants here.
Is the Entrepreneurship Academy prestigious?
The Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University is a moderately prestigious program with limited selectivity. As of 2024, Georgetown University is ranked #22 out of 439 National Universities in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 12% for its undergraduate admissions. This ranking contributes to the academic value of its summer sessions.
Information on the cohort size and acceptance rate is unavailable, though the program is paid and fairly expensive (up to $5,775). Financial aid is available, though limited.
Eligibility criteria are low (2.0 GPA), and high-achieving students might look elsewhere for more intensive and academically demanding programs.
What are the pros and cons of attending the Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University?
Here are some reasons to consider the program, and a few that might make another program a better fit for you!
Pros:
1. You can study at a prestigious university
Georgetown is among the premier colleges in the U.S., ranking #22 nationally. Its business school regularly ranks among the top 25 nationally, making it one of the best places to study in the U.S. Attending a pre-college program here would add some value to your student profile!
2. You study under Georgetown’s business school faculty
The program’s lead instructor is Sowmya Pelluru, an entrepreneur and business professional who also teaches an entrepreneurship course to the university’s full-time students. Studying here can give you insights into how businesses operate and how to navigate the entrepreneurship environment.
3. You learn important soft skills
The Entrepreneur Academy emphasizes students learn skills like public speaking and communication, pitching, networking, and more, which are helpful not only in the realm of business but in all walks of life, developing you into a well-rounded individual.
4. You get to develop a business plan
You will ideate with your group members and develop and pitch a business as part of the program’s capstone project. This experience can help you gain team-building skills, and learn how to network and communicate effectively.
5. You can apply as an international student
The program accepts applications worldwide, letting international students experience life at one of the U.S.’ top colleges.
Cons:
1. You do not earn a college credit
The program does not offer any college credit, which can make it less appealing for highly motivated students looking to build their student profile further and study college-level curriculum.
2. You won’t attend a highly prestigious program
While Georgetown University is a prestigious institution, the program isn’t very selective and most students with an average academic record would qualify, limiting the academic value of attending this program.
3. The program is quite expensive
You will pay either $4,025 or $5,775 as a commuter or residential student. This is a significant amount to spend on a program with limited prestige and selectivity. Financial aid, while available, is limited.
Our Review — What do we think of the program?
The Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University is a sound option if you’re interested in starting a business and starting your own company. You will get to learn the theory behind growing a business and pick up important soft skills to help you in this endeavor. The program is open to international students, making it more accessible. On the flip side, the program has limited prestige and ambitious high school students might benefit from other opportunities that are academically intensive and offer college credit.
Bonus - 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!
One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Kieran Lobo is a freelance writer from India.
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