The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy will be conducted in five sessions:
Session | Start Date | End Date | Applications |
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SESSION A | Saturday, June 8th | Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 | Now Open |
SESSION B | Saturday, June 15th | Saturday, June 29th, 2019 | Now Open |
SESSION C | Saturday, July 6th | Saturday, July 20th, 2019 | Now Open |
SESSION D | Saturday, July 13th | Saturday, July 27th, 2019 | Now Open |
SESSION E | Saturday, July 20th | Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 | Now Open |
Organized by Knowledge@Wharton High School (KWHS), the Global Young Leaders Academy (GYLA) is an intensive two-week summer program for a select group of domestic (USA) and international high school students. Students must be at least 15 years of age (upon start date of the program) and in high school. The program introduces students to entrepreneurship and other business concepts, and provides cultural immersion. It features Wharton faculty presentations, in-depth learning from high school teachers in the KWHS network, residential activities, field trips, community service and relationship building with other teens. GYLA draws its content from hundreds of engaging KWHS lesson plans and online business journal articles.
Knowledge@Wharton High School (KWHS)
The mission of KWHS, a member of the Knowledge@Wharton global network, is to promote global financial literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership among high school students and educators by providing innovative educational content. KWHS publishes a free global online business journal for high school students interested in exploring all the ways that business touches their lives. In addition, KWHS creates opportunities for students and educators to explore their business-related interests both inside and outside of the classroom through lesson plans, summer programs and educational challenges.
The Wharton School
Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates economic and social value around the world. The school has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and a powerful alumni network of 93,000 graduates.
Knowledge@Wharton
Knowledge@Wharton is the online business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The site, which is free, captures relevant knowledge generated at Wharton and beyond by offering articles and videos based on research, conferences, speakers, books and interviews with faculty and other experts on global business topics.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania was established in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin. It is one of the eight most prestigious Ivy League schools. With a consistent Top 10 ranking in the USA, Penn's acceptance rate is as low as 9.9%. Penn has four undergraduate schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Nursing and the Wharton School.
BRAINGAIN MAGAZINE
BrainGain Magazine is the event collaborator of KWHS on the Global Young Leaders Academy. BrainGain Magazine provides administrative support and KWHS is wholly responsible for reviewing applications and providing all academic content for the GYLA program. BrainGain Magazine is the leading study abroad magazine for students, their parents, and mid-career professionals in South Asia. We are the definitive source of information for anyone interested in exploring and learning about study abroad opportunities outside South Asia. We provide content to guide students and their parents through the decision-making process when exploring options to study abroad. The topics covered help readers understand fields of study, admissions, financing, specific countries, regions or cities, student life, scholarships, job prospects for chosen field, socio-cultural environments, safety and visa issues. Told through lively interviews, photos, videos and podcasts, we provide an interactive platform that helps students realize their dreams.
The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy challenges you with rigorous classroom and extracurricular activities, providing you with a multidimensional experience in learning and leadership. More than 510 students from 46 countries have already attended the program.
Financial Literacy and Business Classes
Campus and American Culture Experience
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Interpersonal Skills for the 21st Century
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Field Trips and Excursions
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The fee for the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is US $5,115 plus a refundable security deposit of US $500. The fee excludes airfare, visa costs and international travel insurance. It includes:
"The program far exceeded my expectations. You don't know what you're applying to, you just know it's Wharton. But the experiences I had, the people I met, the lectures, the feeling of being taught by Ivy League professors -- that's what created a whole new experience. I don't think I've spent a summer more productively, a summer with such amazing people from different cultures, a summer so different. That's what made this a truly amazing experience. If I could, I would surely come back."
"It's been a blast! With my personal dedication to finance and interest in the business world, it was good to understand finally how the whole world is running after one piece of green paper and how that comes in to play. It was fun learning the behavioral analyzing side of business, which I thought was interesting. It's not always about the money and the statements, but about the people."
"My experience has been absolutely amazing! I have met some of the best and brightest students around the world here. The Wharton professors are amazing -- they're so charismatic and very nice. One key learning that I'm taking back from here is when one of the professors told us that, "Ideas are cheap. The ones who implement these ideas are the ones that make it." I feel like this "do it and don't just think about it" philosophy is something I really want to implement in my life."
"I chose this program because I wanted to learn more about business. But this program taught me much more than business. I recommend this program to high school students to meet new people, learn about economics, finance and entrepreneurship. Here, I learnt skills for life."
"Living 12,000 km away from home gave me the ability and confidence to live by myself. My favorite class was the Start Up Game. I loved the chaotic atmosphere present in the room, working with people and finding the best deals. GYLA was a great insight into college life and how it feels to belong to an Ivy-League institution."
"It's been great. You're placed in a friendly environment with people who have similar goals and are as motivated as you are; the experience truly becomes better."
"This program was truly eye-opening and has changed my perspective about a lot of things. I learned a great deal not only about the taught subjects, but about life skills as well. But more importantly, I learnt how to be a leader, how to be tolerant and work with different kinds of people. I learnt that hard work is the only way to success and whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!"
"I feel the program enlightened me to the smaller principles of business and helped me to expand the horizons of my knowledge. The classes were enriching, and being taught by the faculty of Wharton was a lifetime experience"
"I had the best time of my life, meeting people from different countries and attending amazing classes. I cannot thank Wharton enough for this experience. I learnt to really value friendship, and the importance of being together with people."
"My experience has been truly amazing. I made a lot of friends from different parts of the world. The campus was mesmerizing. Learning public speaking, teamwork and social responsibility, and personal advice by the faculty at Wharton will really help in future. It doesn't matter if you're interested in business or not, this program will give you an insight into college life at USA."
"As I always was fascinated by the idea of studying business in college, I chose this program. It's been great here. I had fears of being able to adjust and interact with new people, but I met great people from all parts of the world who were so kind to me. Even though we all belonged to different cultures, we found so many similarities. I learnt to get out of my comfort zone and made friends for life."
Two weeks that changed my life completely - Parthsarthi Suri, Emirates International School - Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE
How a summer program made me fall in love with a university - Megan Zhu - Victoria Park Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Canada
Advice from a girl who worked hard and got to choose between an Ivy League offer and a full scholarship - Marina Rauter - St. Paul's School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Two Unforgettable Weeks at the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy! - Diotima Roy - West Windsor Plainsboro High School North , USA
A Program close to my Heart - Ana-Elena Karlova (17 years old, student at American College of Sofia, Bulgaria)
The Great Wharton Adventure - Ezgi Okutan (16 years old, student at Robert College, Istanbul)
KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy - An Incredible Experience, Aniketh Khutia, DPS Ruby Park, Kolkata
Knowledge@Wharton High School – KWHS for short – is on a mission to provide high school students and educators around the world with a deeper understanding of business and personal finance and to equip them with the skills to excel in the global marketplace. KWHS is not a high school! KWHS operates an online learning library (kwhs.wharton.upenn.edu) that features hundreds of free business journal articles, videos and lesson plans, a comprehensive business glossary and other content to help introduce high school students to business concepts, personal finance and college and career preparation. KWHS also engages students through an investment competition and the Global Young Leaders Academy. KWHS is part of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a world leader in business education.
Organized by Knowledge@Wharton High School (KWHS), the Global Young Leaders Academy (GYLA) is an intensive two-week summer program for a select group of international high school students. The program, held on the Philadelphia campus of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, explores entrepreneurship and other business concepts, and allows students time to become immersed in the U.S. culture.
Braingain Magazine collaborates with KWHS to organize the Global Young Leaders Academy. Braingain Magazine provides administrative support and KWHS is wholly responsible for reviewing applications and providing all academic content for the GYLA program.
The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is a program for both domestic (USA) and international high school students who have minimum prior knowledge in business. Students must be in high school and be at least 15 years of age upon the start date of the program.
The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy will be conducted in five 2-week sessions:
Session A - Saturday, June 08th | Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 |
Session B - Saturday, June 15th | Saturday, June 29th, 2019 |
Session C - Saturday, July 06th | Saturday, July 20th, 2019 |
Session D - Saturday, July 13th | Saturday, July 27th, 2019 |
Session E - Saturday, July 20th | Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 |
The fee for the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is US $5,115 plus a refundable security deposit of US $500. The fee excludes airfare, visa costs and international travel insurance. It includes:
The refundable security deposit covers the cost of damages to university property caused by the participant during his/her stay at the program (for example: lost Penn Card, lost room key, damaged shower heads) and for any charges (transactional charges, if any) deducted by the bank when you make the payment (Approx. 3% for credit cards and $25 for wire transfer). Additionally, fees sometimes vary for the university-provided medical insurance (typically US $115), and the adjusted costs will, if necessary, be deducted from the refundable security deposit. The deposit is refunded 90 days after the end of the program, as the program runs through the summer and we receive a complete report from the University of Pennsylvania after all programs end.
A certificate of participation will be awarded to all students who complete the program. This is contingent on students attending and participating in all required program activities and maintaining good behavior throughout the two weeks. KWHS reserves the right to withhold certificates if program rules are violated.
The admission process for the program is completely independent from that of Penn or Wharton. Participation in the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy does NOT guarantee admission into Penn or Wharton. However, the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is a unique opportunity for high school students to experience life and education on an Ivy League campus. The program includes a session on U.S. college admissions to help students understand the nuances of applying to American colleges and universities.
Not at this point, but we anticipate the availability of scholarships in the future.
We typically welcome about 50-60 students per session. The GYLA accepts students from all countries. We have had students participating thus far from more than 30 countries.
No. Due to the intensive nature of the GYLA, we require students to commit to and participate in the full two weeks.
No. The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is a non-credit program.
No. Although standardized test scores are often very useful in gauging an applicant's academic achievement and potential, we understand that some students will not have standardized test scores available by the time of application. We do, however, expect applicants who have received standardized test scores to report those scores to us.
Tentative agenda/schedule details are typically shared two weeks prior to the program start date.
Yes. We will help you connect to other participants through social media groups and WhatsApp closer to the program start date.
If you have a question or query about the program, feel free to reach out to us at wharton@braingainmag.com or +91 9999613734.
Students apply to the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy online. Applicants will need the following to be considered for the program:
We have a rolling admission, and admissions are on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying earlier will increase your chances of acceptance.
The teacher recommendation form must be from a teacher in an academic subject or from a school counselor. We hope the recommendation will give us insight into the applicant's abilities and why he or she is a strong candidate for the GYLA. Please keep in mind that we will follow up with the teacher/counselor, if needed.
We review applications as we receive them. You will be notified of the status of your application within 10-14 working days of the submission of the application.
You can change your session subject to availability.
Applicants can check the status of all application requirements in real time by logging in to their online accounts. Please regularly check the "Alerts" tab on the top right-hand screen of your portal for updates about your application.
If you hold a passport from a country in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you do not need a visa to attend the program. In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S.-bound air or sea carrier.
The KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy is a short-term, non-credit program, so international students can come on a B-2 Business Visitor visa for educational travel (a student visa is not required as B-2 permits enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree), which will allow them to participate in the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy, as well as tourist-related activities that are part of the program. It is each student's responsibility to obtain the necessary visas and meet the requirements.
If required, we will provide each selected candidate with a visa invitation letter, which can be used to apply for the B-2 visa. The visa invitation letter will be issued starting January 2019 after receiving your payment and signed forms, but the letter does NOT guarantee successful visa application.
Students have to plan their own travel. Students can either travel to the U.S. on their own or choose to travel with our GYLA group. If traveling on their own, they can meet us at the arrival airport or campus. We will provide shuttle service from Philadelphia airport to and from the campus. Detailed information will be provided post acceptance.
Yes, Braingain Magazine will send one chaperone per 15 students. KWHS will hire current Penn undergraduate students serving as GYLA Residential Advisors (RAs) for the duration of the program. Braingain chaperones will coordinate program logistics and provide administrative support while KWHS RAs will facilitate academic teamwork and organize residential activities.
Yes, you will be required to purchase a special medical insurance to cover you during your stay on campus. The US $ 115 that we have collected is the fee towards this medical insurance. Additionally, we strongly suggest that you also purchase international travel insurance from your home country to cover you during travel and off-campus stays.
No. We do not provide housing before or after the program dates. You can only arrive on campus on the program start date and leave the campus no later than the program's last day. The check-in time is 2 p.m. and the check-out time is 11 a.m.
All students participating in the KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy will be provided with accommodations on The University of Pennsylvania campus.
Yes. We recommend the Inn at Penn-Hilton and Sheraton University City. All bookings etc. will have to be done directly with the hotel. Other hotels are also available here.
Since our program is intensive and schedules are pretty full for the two weeks, we strongly recommend that parents limit their outings with students.
We suggest $55 per day for the meals. Other than that, spending money amounts are at your discretion. Please note, however, that students should not carry more than $5,000.
Yes, once the program ends you are free to travel as you like.
No, students cannot leave the campus after classes. If they must leave for some valid reasons, the participant needs to submit a "temporary leave" consent form signed by parents/legal guardians before he/she leaves the program and he or she has to be back by 10:00 p.m. the same day. The participant can only leave the program with an adult's company. We will NOT approve any "staying with friends" requests.
The program takes student safety and security very seriously. We provide 24/7 adult supervision. Students do have a nightly curfew and must be inside their rooms before 10:30 p.m. In order to maintain the safety of students at all times, we also designate a boundary that students may not move beyond without permission or staff escort. The boundary allows students access to most parts of the central Penn campus, as well as a number of shops and restaurants, including the Penn bookstore.
Yes. Students (above 16 years of age) can access the Pottruck Gym at Penn for $221 per person. This cost is optional for students. If they want to add this feature to their trip, the total fee will be $5,615 plus $221. The gym includes a swimming pool, a basketball court and a climbing wall. Outdoor tennis and squash courts require an additional fee. Students must have a signed waiver from their parents or guardians to be eligible for a gym membership.
Yes. University dining halls offer a buffet style of meals and can cater to personal dietary needs due to allergy restrictions or religious observances. The dining halls also offer a variety of vegetarian/vegan meal selections. We will be in touch with you regarding your dietary requirements once you have been selected into the program.
Yes. The program provides campus-wide wi-fi.
Yes. All participants are encouraged to have a U.S. mobile number or international roaming on their mobiles prior to reaching the U.S. You can also purchase a local sim card at the airport or on campus.
Portable technology (i.e. : a laptop or iPad) is required so you can complete the group project. However, using technology (a laptop, iPad, or cell phones) during classes is strictly prohibited, unless instructed otherwise by program faculty. A printing shop is available on campus, and you will need to pay for the service yourself.
A packing list will be shared with the students once they have secured a spot in the program.
You should carry any prescription medicines that you are required to take on a regular basis. You should also carry some over-the-counter medicines for colds, headaches, fever, minor pains, as well as band-aids, antiseptic, and the like.
Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited during the GYLA program. Any participant found possessing or consuming contraband substances, including cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and drugs, will be immediately expelled from the program at their own cost. No refund will be provided. The program will have the right to take legal action as they deem fit and as dictated by U.S. laws. Any related violations will be presented to the Admission Office of the University of Pennsylvania, which will greatly jeopardize future admissions to Penn.
KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy welcomes your support to help fund financially-challenged high school students around the world to attend our programs. If you would like to pay the program fee for a student you already know, please contact Braingain Magazine (wharton@braingainmag.com). If you are interested in giving a gift, please contact Knowledge@Wharton's Director of Business Operations Dominic Johnson (domjohns@wharton.upenn.edu).