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    So You Want to Be a Business Executive: Jump Start Your Journey to Leadership
    In-person Program

    So You Want to Be a Business Executive: Jump Start Your Journey to Leadership

    by Northwestern College Prep

    Northwestern's business seminar builds leadership through executive coaching, team exercises, and a personal capstone focused on self-development and communication.

    Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    So You Want to Be a Business Executive at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Rising sophomores–seniors; GPA 3.0+

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 15-18

    Location / Region

    Evanston, Illinois, United States

    Cost

    $3,625; $5,235

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    Accommodation: University residence halls or commuting
    Meals: Residential board; commuter meals purchasable
    Certificate / Outcome: Northwestern transcript and certificate
    Campus experience: 240-acre lakefront university campus
    Tutor: Joseph Patton, MBA
    Sessions / cadence: 10 × 3-hour weekday mornings, plus homework
    Assessment: Participation, homework, and capstone
    College preparation: Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series

    So You Want to Be a Business Executive summary

    This Northwestern IN FOCUS seminar explores leadership through professional self-development, communication, project management, and team engagement.

    You practice through coached individual and group exercises, discuss readings, complete homework, and bring your personal takeaways together in a capstone.

    It suits students who want to test how they communicate and lead, especially those willing to reflect honestly and use feedback.

    What is So You Want to Be a Business Executive: Jump Start Your Journey to Leadership?

    So You Want to Be a Business Executive: Jump Start Your Journey to Leadership is a Northwestern University IN FOCUS seminar taught by executive coach Joseph Patton. Its academic focus combines professional self-development with practical communication, project management, and team engagement.

    The experience follows a college-seminar model with interactive lectures, assigned readings, discussions, and homework. Students receive coaching during individual and small-group exercises, exchange feedback, and complete a capstone that connects the learning to their own development.

    Why Succeed highlights So You Want to Be a Business Executive

    • Joseph Patton brings executive-coaching experience and Kellogg teaching and career-advising expertise to the classroom.

    • Live exercises and feedback give students practical ways to test communication and teamwork.

    • The personal capstone encourages students to identify useful takeaways rather than collect disconnected business terminology.

    • Successful completion produces an official Northwestern transcript and certificate.

    Who is So You Want to Be a Business Executive for?

    Best for

    Students who want to develop leadership, communication, and teamwork through coaching, reflection, and active participation.

    Not ideal if

    You primarily want technical finance training or a lecture-only experience with little personal feedback.

    Is So You Want to Be a Business Executive worth it?

    The strongest value is the chance to practice leadership with an experienced executive coach and receive feedback while doing it. Students who connect those exercises to school projects, clubs, or future work may find the personal capstone especially useful.

    The financial commitment deserves comparison with other business programs and opportunities to lead locally. Participation does not guarantee admission to Northwestern, so the decision should rest on the learning experience and personal goals.

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    20 minutes · No obligation to enrol

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $3,625; $5,235; includes Seminar classes and guided leadership exercises., Individual and group coaching during class., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Official transcript and certificate upon successful completion., Residence-hall accommodation and board with the residential option..

    Accommodation

    University residence halls or commuting

    Meals

    Residential board; commuter meals purchasable

    Provider details

    Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    2 weeks; Evanston, Illinois, United States.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does So You Want to Be a Business Executive need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high, with active participation and homework.

    Best started

    Allow four to six weeks before a future application deadline for writing and transcripts, with extra time for international travel planning.

    Main challenge

    Turning honest self-assessment and feedback into specific changes.

    Typical preparation

    • Identify one recent team experience and consider what you would handle differently.

    • Draft examples of your academic interests and extracurricular responsibilities for the application.

    • Plan time outside class for readings, homework, and capstone development.

    Useful if

    You want to apply leadership skills to school teams, projects, or clubs.

    What do students do on So You Want to Be a Business Executive?

    You explore your strengths and practice business leadership through discussion, coaching, and individual and small-group exercises. Homework and a personal capstone help you apply the tools beyond the classroom.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Attend interactive lectures and discuss assigned readings.

    2. 2

      Practice communication, self-assessment, and team engagement in guided exercises.

    3. 3

      Give and receive feedback while testing leadership tools.

    4. 4

      Complete homework applying the daily subject matter.

    5. 5

      Create a capstone focused on your individual key takeaways.

    So You Want to Be a Business Executive dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    1 April 2026

    2026 on-campus College Prep application deadline.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    5-17 July 2026

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Completed freshman, sophomore, or junior year of high school.

    • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

    • Domestic and international students may apply.

    • English proficiency testing required when language or schooling conditions apply.

    • Commuters must live with a responsible adult over 18.

    How much does So You Want to Be a Business Executive cost?

    Application fee

    $60 — Nonrefundable.

    Funding or discounts

    • Commuter program: $3,625 — 2026 tuition and program fee.
    • Residential program: $5,235 — 2026 tuition, program fee, and room and board.
    • Program deposit: $1,000 — Nonrefundable; credited toward the program total.
    • Tuition scholarships: Need-based support — Domestic US rising seniors with strong academic and extracurricular achievement.
    • Application fee waiver: Former CPP students — A completed waiver form is required.
    • Conditional health insurance: $134 — Two-week charge for international students without US-based medical coverage.
    • Optional capstone award: $100 — Leader of the Year award through the optional capstone competition.

    What's included

    Seminar classes and guided leadership exercises., Individual and group coaching during class., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Official transcript and certificate upon successful completion., Residence-hall accommodation and board with the residential option.

    How to apply to So You Want to Be a Business Executive

    1. 1

      Use Northwestern's on-campus College Prep admissions process for IN FOCUS seminars.

    2. 2

      Write approximately 500 words answering the academic-experience and program-interest questions.

    3. 3

      List extracurricular activities with dates, descriptions, and your role.

    4. 4

      Submit English-language transcripts and any required English proficiency score.

    5. 5

      Pay the $60 application fee or submit an applicable fee-waiver form.

    6. 6

      After admission, submit the $1,000 deposit within three weeks of acceptance.

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    What does So You Want to Be a Business Executive cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Professional self-development

    Use self-assessment and introspection to understand strengths and guide development.

    Interpersonal communication

    Practice pitching, positioning yourself, and persuading others.

    Teams and projects

    Develop effective team participation, project management, and leadership.

    Executive-coaching tools

    Test coaching techniques through exercises, feedback, and personal reflection.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on So You Want to Be a Business Executive?

    A typical day during the program.

    Seminar classes

    Monday-Friday, 9:15 AM-12:15 PM Central Time, totaling 15 class hours per week.

    Independent coursework

    Assigned readings, homework, and capstone work extend the learning beyond scheduled classes.

    Who teaches on So You Want to Be a Business Executive?

    Joseph Patton, MBA, is an executive coach and Kellogg Executive Education lecturer who also serves as Senior Associate Director of Career Advising and Education at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. His background includes a vice presidency at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and an MBA in Analytical Finance from Kellogg.

    Students receive coaching during live individual and group exercises and practice giving and receiving feedback.

    Where do students stay on So You Want to Be a Business Executive?

    Residential plan

    • University residence halls: Students live on campus with common areas and quiet study rooms.
    • Dining hall and board: Room and board includes dining-hall access, with vegan choices and dietician support.
    • Residential support: Resident Directors and trained Residential Advisors support academic and social adjustment.
    • Campus resources: Libraries, computer labs, beaches, and athletic facilities are accessible; gymnasium access is for ages 16+.

    Non-residential plan

    • Commuter attendance: Students commute from home or nearby relatives while attending on-campus classes.
    • Activities and excursions: Commuters can join the Get Ready Series, excursions, and program social activities.
    • Meal purchases: Commuters may purchase meals at the Norris University Center.

    Residential students may explore independently under checkout and return check-in rules; commuters must live with a responsible adult over 18.

    What happens after So You Want to Be a Business Executive?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Earn an official Northwestern transcript and certificate upon successful completion.

    Complete a capstone connecting course tools to personal development.

    Apply stronger communication skills to academic and professional settings.

    Build capabilities for leading teams and managing projects.

    Participation does not guarantee admission to Northwestern University.

    Where does So You Want to Be a Business Executive take place?

    The program takes place on Northwestern University's lakefront campus in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago. Residential students live on campus, while commuters travel from home or nearby relatives.

    Commuters using cars must purchase their own parking passes and may not transport other CPP participants.

    So You Want to Be a Business Executive FAQs

    It combines professional self-development with interpersonal communication, project management, and effective team engagement. Students practice applying executive-coaching tools to their own leadership development.

    Joseph Patton, MBA, teaches the seminar. He is an executive coach, a Kellogg Executive Education lecturer, and Senior Associate Director of Career Advising and Education at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.

    Students discuss assigned readings, complete homework, and participate in guided individual and small-group exercises. A capstone assignment brings together their personal takeaways.

    IN FOCUS students earn a Satisfactory grade by attending and participating in all classes and completing all assignments. Successful completion earns an official Northwestern University transcript and certificate.

    Yes. Commuters attend classes and can participate in program activities, but students living off campus must stay with a responsible adult over 18. Commuters can purchase meals at the Norris University Center.

    Resident Directors and trained Residential Advisors support students in the residence halls. Students may explore independently, but must follow residence-hall checkout and return check-in requirements.

    Tuition scholarships are available to domestic US students entering senior year who demonstrate financial need and strong academic and extracurricular achievement. Applicants must submit a scholarship application and a complete program application, including transcripts.

    No. Participation can be one part of a college application profile, but it does not guarantee acceptance to Northwestern University.

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Campus Life, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Northwestern Pre-College Online Program
    • FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • IN FOCUS Seminar Series | Northwestern SPS: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)

    • Seminar identity confirmed

    • Application requirements reviewed

    • Published deadline checked

    • Residential and commuter totals checked

    • Scholarship eligibility reviewed

    • Schedule and completion criteria checked

    • Campus and welfare guidance reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.