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    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership, Management, Marketing
    In-person Program

    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership, Management, Marketing

    by Northwestern College Prep

    A business summer seminar combining leadership, management, and marketing through group projects, presentations, and individual instructor feedback.

    Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Rising sophomores, juniors, 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
    Business & EconomicsEntrepreneurship
    Accommodation: University residence halls; commuter option
    Meals: Residential dining; commuter meals for purchase
    Certificate / Outcome: Northwestern transcript and certificate
    Campus experience: Lakefront campus and college-preparation workshops
    Sessions / cadence: 10 x 3-hour classes, Monday-Friday
    Tutors / faculty: Candy Lee, PhD
    Feedback: One-to-one instructor comments

    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing summary

    Northwestern's seminar connects leadership and management with practical marketing decisions. Students explore how organizations grow and how individuals develop as leaders.

    Group business plans, product marketing projects, presentations, and management role plays turn the concepts into practice. Ongoing individual instructor comments help students improve.

    It suits students who want to test their interest in business through collaboration and public speaking, rather than relying only on lectures.

    What is So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership, Management, Marketing?

    This is a Northwestern University IN FOCUS seminar about leadership, management, and marketing. It combines college-style discussion and study with practical work on business planning, innovation, communication, and organizational growth.

    Students work on business-plan slides, a grocery-product marketing plan, presentations, and management role plays. Medill professor Candy Lee provides ongoing one-to-one comments, making the experience useful for testing ideas and improving how you communicate them.

    Why Succeed highlights So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing

    • Separate business-plan and marketing-plan projects let students practice both organizational thinking and product positioning.

    • Ongoing one-to-one instructor comments provide a clear mechanism for improving work during the seminar.

    • Candy Lee brings Medill teaching experience and senior business and marketing leadership experience to the classroom.

    • The transcript and certificate depend on attendance, participation, and completed assignments, giving the recognition a defined completion standard.

    Who is So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing for?

    Best for

    Students who want to explore business leadership while practicing teamwork, branding, decision-making, and presentations.

    Not ideal if

    You prefer mostly independent study or want to avoid group projects, discussion, and speaking in front of classmates.

    Is So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing worth it?

    The strongest value is the chance to practice business decisions and communication with direct instructor feedback. For a student still exploring business, the varied projects offer several ways to discover which aspects feel engaging.

    The commuter and residential options represent a substantial family expense, so compare the learning experience with less costly ways to practice similar skills. Participation alone does not guarantee admission to Northwestern, and its application value depends on what you learn and can explain afterward.

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    Founder, Succeed

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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 tuition and program fee, Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops, Official Northwestern transcript and certificate after successful completion, Room and board with the residential option.

    Accommodation

    University residence halls; commuter option

    Meals

    Residential dining; commuter meals for purchase

    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 the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high.

    Best started

    Begin six to eight weeks before a future application deadline to prepare documents and plan housing or international travel.

    Main challenge

    Coordinate group work while explaining and defending business decisions.

    Typical preparation

    • Reflect on a rewarding academic experience and what you hope to learn from this specific seminar.

    • Request the required English-language transcripts and organize your activities list.

    • Practice explaining a product's audience, price, and positioning in a short presentation.

    Useful if

    You want to improve communication and discover how leadership connects with marketing.

    What do students do on So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing?

    You connect leadership and marketing concepts with practical decisions through collaborative projects, role plays, and presentations. Readings and discussion-board responses support the work, while individual instructor comments guide improvement.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Explore leadership, management, communication, and organizational growth through theory and class activities.

    2. 2

      Respond to readings with observations or relevant stories on discussion boards.

    3. 3

      Collaborate on an innovative business concept and slides showing its business plan.

    4. 4

      Develop a grocery-product marketing plan covering branding, promotion, distribution, sales, and pricing.

    5. 5

      Practice management through role play and strengthen communication through an oral presentation.

    6. 6

      Use instructor comments to improve your work and complete the seminar assignments.

    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing 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

    College Prep application deadline for the verified cycle.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    19-31 July 2026

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

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

    • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

    • US and international students may apply.

    • Provide English proficiency scores when primary language or schooling requires them.

    • Off-campus students must live with a responsible adult over 18.

    How much does So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing cost?

    Application fee

    $60 — Non-refundable; former CPP students may qualify for a waiver.

    Funding or discounts

    • Commuter program: $3,625 — Two-week tuition and program fee.
    • Residential program: $5,235 — Two-week tuition, program fee, and room and board.
    • Program deposit: $1,000 — Non-refundable; applied to the total, due three weeks after acceptance.
    • Tuition scholarship: Domestic rising seniors with financial need and strong achievement may apply.
    • International insurance: $134 — Two-week charge for international students without US-based medical insurance.

    What's included

    Seminar tuition and program fee, Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops, Official Northwestern transcript and certificate after successful completion, Room and board with the residential option

    How to apply to So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing

    1. 1

      Use Northwestern's College Prep admissions process for the IN FOCUS option.

    2. 2

      Write approximately 500 words answering the two personal-statement questions about academic experience and program interest.

    3. 3

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

    4. 4

      Submit English-language transcripts and any required TOEFL, IELTS, or DET score.

    5. 5

      Pay the $60 application fee or complete an eligible fee-waiver request.

    6. 6

      Monitor your application portal for missing materials and the admissions decision.

    7. 7

      If admitted, submit the $1,000 deposit within three weeks of acceptance to secure enrollment.

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    What does So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Leadership and management

    Explore leadership, teamwork, delegation, meetings, and how managers develop people.

    Business planning and innovation

    Create an innovative business concept and slides that communicate its business plan.

    Marketing and positioning

    Build a grocery-product marketing plan covering branding, promotion, distribution, sales, and pricing.

    Communication and presentation

    Practice oral presentation, effective questions, and communicating decisions with others.

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

    What is a typical day on So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing?

    A typical day during the program.

    Seminar classes

    Classes meet 9:15 AM-12:15 PM Central Time, totaling 30 scheduled class hours.

    Supporting coursework

    Canvas readings, discussion-board responses, and group projects support the class activities.

    Who teaches on So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing?

    Candy Lee, PhD, is a Medill professor teaching journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications, and received IMC's Teacher of the Year award in 2023. Her professional background includes vice president of marketing at The Washington Post and president of ULS Loyalty Services.

    The seminar includes ongoing one-to-one instructor comments to help each student improve.

    Where do students stay on So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing?

    Residential plan

    • University residence halls: Students live in Northwestern residence halls with common areas and quiet study rooms.
    • Dining and dietary support: University dining includes vegan dishes and a dietitian for special dietary requirements.
    • Residential staff: Resident Directors and trained Residential Advisors support academic and social adjustment.
    • Campus resources: Students can access libraries, computer labs, beaches, and athletic facilities, with gym access from age 16.

    Non-residential plan

    • Commuter living arrangements: Students commute from local homes or relatives' homes and must live with a responsible adult over 18.
    • Activities and workshops: Commuters can participate in the Get Ready Series, excursions, and planned social activities.
    • Commuter meal access: Meals are available to purchase in the Norris University Center.

    Residential students may explore on and off campus unaccompanied after checking out and must return by the specified check-in time.

    What happens after So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Earn an official Northwestern University transcript and certificate after successful completion.

    Develop business-plan slides and a grocery-product marketing plan.

    Strengthen oral communication, teamwork, and delegation.

    Build economic and financial literacy alongside branding and positioning skills.

    Use college-preparation workshops to explore the transition to university study.

    Participation alone does not guarantee admission to Northwestern University.

    Where does So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing take place?

    Northwestern's 240-acre campus is in Evanston, Illinois, the first suburb north of Chicago, on the shore of Lake Michigan. College Prep students can experience campus life through residential housing or commuting from nearby homes.

    Commuter students using a car must purchase their own parking pass and may not transport other College Prep participants.

    So You Want to Be the Boss? Leadership Management Marketing FAQs

    Typical coursework includes a group business-plan slide presentation, a separate grocery-product marketing plan, an oral presentation, and management role play.

    Candy Lee, PhD, a Medill professor teaching journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications, is the listed instructor. Her professional experience includes senior marketing and business leadership roles.

    Students receive an official Northwestern University transcript and certificate. A Satisfactory grade requires attending and participating in all classes and completing all assignments.

    Yes. The commuter option is available for on-campus programs, and students living off campus must stay with a responsible adult over 18 throughout the program.

    Resident Directors and trained Residential Advisors support students in university residence halls. Residential facilities include common areas and quiet study rooms, with university dining and dietary support.

    Participation can contribute to an application profile, but it alone does not guarantee admission to Northwestern University.

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    Students exploring several business functions

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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 & 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 checked

    • Session dates checked

    • Application deadline checked

    • Eligibility requirements reviewed

    • Commuter and residential totals checked

    • Scholarship criteria reviewed

    • Completion requirements checked

    • Housing 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.