Consulting is one of the most practical areas of business, focused on helping organizations identify problems and find solutions that work. If you are interested in learning how companies make decisions or how teams solve real-world challenges, joining a fall consulting program in high school can be a solid way to start learning early.
As a participant, you will work in small groups on case studies or real projects, analyze business problems, design solutions, and share your recommendations, just like a professional consultant would. These programs give you a closer look at how consultants research, plan, and present strategies to clients across different industries.
Unlike summer programs that usually run full-time over a few weeks, fall programs take place during the school year, typically from September to November or December. They are designed to fit alongside your classes while still giving you a structured experience in consulting.
With that, here is a curated list of 13 fall consulting programs for high school students!
Note: If you’re looking for more opportunities in subjects like finance, check out our blog here and here.
1. Berkeley Business Academy Academic Year Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,450 (California Residents) | $6,450 (Out-of-State Residents) + $85 non-refundable application fee; limited needs-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: September 7 – November 22 (Fall Semester)
Application Deadline: June 15 – August 27
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and gap year students
The Berkeley Business Academy Academic Year Program teaches high school students core consulting skills through hands-on business training. Held online during the fall and spring, the program includes weekly sessions and pre-class work. Weekday cohorts meet twice a week; weekend cohorts meet once weekly. You’ll learn directly from UC Berkeley scholars, industry experts, and teaching assistants. In the fall, you study business fundamentals using the Business Model Canvas. You’ll also participate in a Business Model Canvas competition, practicing structured problem-solving, strategic thinking, and client communication, key consulting skills. At the end, you present your work at seasonal showcases and receive a Certificate of Participation with written evaluations.
2. UCSD Extended Studies – Business Management for High Schoolers Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $290 per course
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: 3–9 months; each course runs for 3 weeks during the summer quarter and 10 weeks during the fall, winter, and spring quarters
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
UCSD Extended Studies offers the Business Management for High Schoolers Program, an online course that will help you build practical business and leadership skills. You’ll learn how organizations make decisions, create policies, and allocate resources to meet their goals. The program consists of three courses, which are to be taken sequentially. Using case studies and real-world examples, you’ll dive into topics like organizational behavior, leadership, and marketing. You’ll learn how personality and motivation affect workplace behavior, apply leadership theories, and create marketing strategies for products and brands. Studying business management will give you a head start in consulting by helping you build a strong foundation in finance, marketing, and strategy.
3. NYU SPS High School Academy: Weekend Workshops – Leadership and Management Development
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, New York, NY
Cost: $850 per course
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: October 25 – November 22 (Saturdays Only)
Application Deadline: October 10; rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who are in good academic standing
The NYU School of Professional Studies High School Academy Weekend Workshops allow high school students to explore fields like leadership, management, financial technology, architecture, journalism, law, and more. You’ll experience college life, improve your academic skills, and explore careers that might interest you. If you’re interested in consulting, the Leadership and Management Development course is a solid pick. It will help you explore how future business, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial leaders can use creativity and strong leadership to tackle complex challenges. You will attend lectures, participate in group activities, and analyze case studies to learn leadership styles, management techniques, and core skills necessary for running an organization.
4. Northwestern University’s Pre-College Online Program – Business: Strategies, Innovation, and Success
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: Two- and four-week sessions run throughout the year, including fall; the next course starts on November 9
Application Deadline: Each session’s deadline is one week before it starts
Eligibility: Students aged 13 or older
Northwestern University’s Business: Strategies, Innovation, and Success Online Program introduces students to business basics like strategy, marketing, sales, and operations. The 20–30 hour online course includes videos, interactive tools, hands-on activities, and guidance from Northwestern faculty. You’ll learn how businesses are structured, what keeps them successful, and the skills needed to be an effective leader. For the final project, you’ll analyze a real company, examine its strengths, weaknesses, target audience, and marketing mix, and pitch a new product or service idea that aligns with its goals. You’ll earn a Certificate of Completion when you finish. If you’re interested in consulting, this course will give you hands-on experience in solving business challenges.
5. CaseCatalyst – Case Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: $350–$400, depending on the registration date
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 3–4 students per team
Dates: November 9 – December 5
Application Deadline: October 19 (Early Bird Deadline) | November 2 (Regular Deadline)
Eligibility: High school students
CaseCatalyst’s Case Competition is a four-week virtual program where high school students act as consultants to solve real startup challenges. You’ll work in teams of 3–4 to develop creative solutions for cases designed with partner startups. Selected teams present their ideas to startup decision-makers, and winners may get the chance to implement their solutions or intern with the startup. The program includes mentorship from students at top universities like Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and UChicago, along with guidance from professionals at firms such as Bain, McKinsey, and BCG. You’ll attend over five expert-led workshops and build a working prototype using an AI tool. Throughout the experience, you’ll strengthen skills in critical thinking, structured problem-solving, business writing, teamwork, and client communication.
6. Wharton Pre-Baccalaureate Program at the University of Pennsylvania
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,387 per course + $100 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: August 25 – October 6 (Fall 1) | October 20 – December 3 (Fall 2)
Application Deadline: July 23 (Fall 1) | September 10 (Fall 2)
Eligibility: High school students with at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA (or equivalent) who won’t graduate early or enroll at the University of Pennsylvania as freshmen before the program start date
The Wharton Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a selective online program for high school students interested in exploring advanced business topics with Wharton faculty. You’ll take two interactive, for-credit courses and participate in lectures, group projects, and real-world business challenges. If you’re interested in consulting, the Principles of Entrepreneurial Management course can help you build a foundation in entrepreneurship, covering the skills, mindset, and knowledge needed to start and grow a business. Topics include business planning, idea generation, financing, marketing, and management. You’ll learn through readings, discussions, and the analysis of case studies focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. Studying entrepreneurship will also help you develop practical consulting skills, including strategic thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.
7. Research Scholars at UC San Diego – Business Research
Location: Online, hybrid, or in person at the University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $1,500–$4,800, depending on the chosen program and format
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: Programs are offered year-round, with sessions in the summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: September 13 (Fall Session); rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are 15 or older and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Research Scholars program at UC San Diego provides high school students with hands-on experience on real-world research projects. You can choose from tracks like Bioengineering, Life Sciences, Medicine, Engineering in Medicine, Business Research, and Marine Science. In the Business Research track, you’ll study business innovation, design, venture financing, and growth strategies. You’ll also learn to create a business proposal and strengthen your economic knowledge. The program ends with a poster session where you will present your findings to industry professionals and local leaders. If you’re interested in consulting, engaging in business research can help you develop analytical thinking, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills. You’ll learn to break down complex issues, spot opportunities and risks, and make evidence-based recommendations, which are core skills for any consultant.
8. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies: Fall & Spring Study – Managing Talent
Location: Online or in person at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Tuition is $1,940 per credit hour + non-refundable fees for course materials or supplies
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 25 – December 20 (Fall Session) | January 20 – May 16 (Spring Session)
Application Deadline: August 20 (Fall session) | January 21 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: High school students can apply; you can check the additional prerequisites here
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education allows high school students to take commuter or online courses for college credit alongside undergrads and grads. You’ll have access to campus resources, libraries, and facilities, with 100+ course options in subjects like history, engineering, business, political science, and health. You’ll connect with Cornell faculty and earn an official transcript upon completion. If you’re interested in consulting, the Managing Talent course offers insights into how organizations recruit, train, and develop employees. You’ll explore trends, technologies, and best practices in talent management, hear from guest speakers, and connect with alumni to learn about HR careers. Studying HR management will help you build consulting experience by learning strategic planning, data analysis, and project management.
9. Kent State University High School Case Competition
Location: Kent State University, Kent, OH
Cost: Information about the cost is not provided
Cohort Size: 85–100 students
Dates: November 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: KENT, Ohio area high school students
Kent State University’s High School Accounting Case Competition introduces students to consulting through real-world accounting challenges and team-based analysis. Hosted by the Department of Accounting, this annual fall event invites high school teams to explore current issues in the accounting field. You’ll research topics like technology’s impact on accounting, workforce trends, and the shortage of accountants, then present your findings to a panel of judges that includes faculty and accounting professionals. These judges also share career insights, helping you understand the field beyond the classroom.
10. New York Institute of Technology’s High School Business Bootcamp
Location: Virtual or in person at New York Institute of Technology – New York City and Long Island Campus, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions run between July 25 and December 17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
New York Tech’s Business Bootcamp is a free, virtual program designed to help high school students build college-level business and consulting skills. You can choose to attend one or all six workshops, each taught by faculty from the School of Management. The sessions cover topics like personal marketing through social media, strategic planning, conflict resolution in diverse workplaces, and financial literacy. You’ll also explore real estate and stock market investing, learning about mortgages, property values, stocks, bonds, and market fundamentals. The financial literacy workshop dives into practical topics such as budgeting, credit scores, loans, wages, renting, taxes, and insurance.
11. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program
Location: Various locations within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $16 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: 8-week sessions run in the spring, summer, and fall; October 6 – November 28 (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; August 8 (Fall Session)
Eligibility: College-bound high school seniors who live or attend school in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program gives you a paid opportunity to work full-time with businesses at the Navy Yard. You work 35 hours a week during an 8-week session in spring, summer, or fall. Placements include manufacturing companies, tech startups, consulting firms, and creative agencies. You can intern in fields like business administration, management, engineering, IT, communications, and marketing. Your tasks may include marketing, administrative support, inventory, or project coordination. You also take part in workplace readiness workshops, career mentoring, and networking events with local business leaders.
12. Dartmouth Pre-College Online Program – Entrepreneurship: Driving Change Through New Businesses
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: Sessions of varying lengths are offered year-round, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Each session’s deadline is one week before it starts
Eligibility: Students aged 13–19
Dartmouth’s Entrepreneurship: Driving Change Through New Businesses Online Program helps you build consulting skills by guiding you through the process of creating a real business solution. You’ll learn how to identify customer needs, develop a minimum viable product (MVP), and apply entrepreneurial thinking to solve real-world problems. The curriculum covers essential topics like customer discovery, value proposition, branding, and venture design. Throughout the program, you’ll build a complete business concept and finish with a capstone project, where you pitch your idea through a presentation or video.
13. Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend – Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,810 per session for a single course ($2,700 for each additional course) + $80 application fee + at least $50 for course materials
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: September 19 – December 7 (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: August 27 (Fall Session)
Eligibility: Domestic and international students enrolled in grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend allows high school students to take up to four virtual courses over ten weeks. Courses cover a range of subjects, including Business, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Creative Writing, Law, STEM, and more, taught by scholars and professionals. You can also join virtual clubs, mentoring groups, seminars, and workshops. If you’re interested in consulting, the Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation course will guide you through creating and developing new business or social ventures. You’ll work on business models, customer research, product validation, branding, financing, and team management. You’ll also develop skills in problem-solving, consulting, communication, project management, and leadership, culminating in a comprehensive venture plan, pitch, and website.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Columbia University