Columbia University Pre-College Programs Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Early Design

In person, class meets Monday to Friday from 9:10 to 11:00 a.m. and again from 1:10 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a two-hour midday break for lunch and campus activities. During that break and in the early evening, Columbia runs lectures by program instructors, college-preparation workshops, career sessions and leadership activities, but commuter students have to leave campus by 6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and they can stay for Friday evening community events only with a parent's permission. Commuters can't buy a meal plan, although they can buy meals at the campus dining halls, which offer vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal options.

Online, class runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET. Columbia's online events, including college-application lectures and College Life activities hosted by current undergraduates, take place outside class hours.

The online section is taught live on Zoom in Eastern Time, so you need to be free for both class blocks on all five days, which is worth checking against your own time zone if you live far from New York. Besides the instructor, each online class has a course facilitator who sorts out technical problems quietly so class isn't interrupted. Homework, discussions and messages to your instructor go through CourseWorks, Columbia's learning platform.

Columbia requires a webcam and a microphone and asks for a wired Ethernet connection, because weak Wi-Fi causes dropouts. Discussions, group work and presentations are a regular part of online classes, so expect to be on camera and speaking every day.

You leave with your own project work, from customer surveys to an early product you've tested, and if you complete the course, an official Columbia University Certification of Participation and a written evaluation letter from your instructor. Both are usually issued by mid-October and uploaded to your Slate account rather than mailed. The letter covers your effort, participation, assignments, progress and potential in the field, and Columbia says you can ask your school counselor to add both documents to their recommendation.

The course carries no college credit and no grade, and Columbia states that taking part has no influence on admission to Columbia College. Attendance is strict. Missing more than one class in a one-week session costs you the certificate, and because class meets twice a day, Columbia counts one missed session as a missed day.

Students from rising 9th grade through current 12th grade can apply from anywhere in the world, and seniors can take part in the summer just after they graduate. The in-person sections also accept students entering their first year of college. There's no minimum GPA and Columbia doesn't ask for SAT or ACT scores, but it calls admission selective, publishes no acceptance rate, and its decisions are final with no appeal.

The application asks for an unofficial transcript, answers to two short-response questions and a recommendation from a current teacher in a subject close to the course you want. In-person applicants also need a recommendation from a school counselor or administrator. Non-native English speakers don't have to submit test scores, but Columbia expects English at the level of at least 90 on the internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or 6.5 on IELTS, because classes depend on fast discussion.

Columbia charges $2,883 for an in-person section and $2,868 for the online one, so with the $95 application fee you'll pay $2,978 or $2,963. Each price covers the $2,700 course cost plus activities, health services and technology fees, and Columbia calls these Summer 2027 totals estimates that still need its Board of Trustees' approval. Budget about $50 more for materials, and if you attend in person, meals and transit are extra.

Once you're accepted, a $1,000 deposit holds your place. It counts toward the total but is never refunded, and the balance is due by 11 June 2027. There's no payment plan, and paying by card adds 2.85%, or 4.25% for international cards. If you withdraw by 17 June 2027 for either June section, or by 29 July 2027 for the August one, you get the program cost back minus the deposit. After that, you owe the full amount.

Need-based awards equal 25% to 50% of the $2,700 course cost, or about $675 to $1,350, and don't cover the fees. They're open to US citizens and permanent residents living in the US or its five major territories. You have to say you're applying for aid before you submit the main application, and the aid paperwork, including your parents' tax returns and W-2 forms, is due by 10 February 2027. Funds are limited and handed out on a rolling basis.

You apply through Columbia's summer application portal, and because courses often fill before the deadline and an offer of admission doesn't guarantee a seat in this one, applying early pays off.

1. 1

   Decide between in-person Session AA (21 to 25 June 2027), in-person Session C (2 to 6 August 2027) and online Session AA (21 to 25 June 2027), since you apply to the NYC Commuter Summer or Online Summer program rather than to the course itself.

2. 2

   Get your unofficial transcript and give your teacher recommender notice, plus a counselor or administrator if you're applying in person.

3. 3

   Create your account, list this course among your top two choices and submit by 1 February 2027 for early registration or by 1 April 2027 at the latest, ticking the financial aid option before you submit if you need it.

4. 4

   Expect a decision by email three to five weeks after your application is complete.

5. 5

   Pay the $1,000 deposit and send in the enrollment forms, including immunization records for in-person students.

6. 6

   Register for the course on your registration date, which is 3 March 2027 (early) or 17 March 2027 (general) for in-person sections and 10 March or 24 March 2027 for online.