If you’re a high schooler planning to apply to some of the country’s top colleges, then you can’t go wrong with considering a high school program offered by one of these colleges itself! A number of Ivy League colleges run pre-college programs designed to improve access to advanced, college-level education for high-achieving high school students. 

This blog focuses on the Harvard Ventures-TECH Summer Program or HVTSP, and how it can help you learn about tech entrepreneurship and simultaneously enhance your academic profile. Engaging in a program like this exposes you to, and allows you to build cutting-edge entrepreneurship ventures, making you a more attractive candidate to admission committees.

What is HVTSP?

The Harvard Ventures-TECH Summer Program is a six-week online internship program at a VC-backed startup offered by the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard. HVTSP provides you with a platform to dive into the startup ecosystem, interning you with founders and C-suite executives of startups that are backed by venture capitalists like Sequoia Capital, Y-Combinator, Google Ventures and more. You will be mentored directly by these top executives, offering you an unparalleled experience that is the perfect blend of hands-on learning and practical business theory. This program is designed to cater to high-achievers who are eager to build their skills in technology and entrepreneurship.

The core aim of HVTSP is to foster a hands-on learning environment where you can work on real-world entrepreneurship challenges, with the aid and direction of a senior mentor who’s already seen and done it all. It encourages a mindset of innovation and problem-solving in an intense environment. With mentorship from founders, investors, and Harvard faculty, the program aims to leave you with not only enhanced skills but also a sharper understanding of what drives successful ventures in the tech space.

How is HVTSP structured?

HVTSP runs entirely online, across the following two available sessions:

• Session I: June 10, 2024 - July 19, 2024.

• Session II: July 8, 2024 - August 16, 2024.

The program includes the following:

• Internships: The core of the program is the internship experience at a leading VC-backed startup, where you will be gaining first hand experience in a role aligned with your career ambitions.

• Educational workshops: The curriculum includes workshops led by industry luminaries covering topics like innovation management, business strategy, and technological advancements. This includes lectures from multiple Forbes 30 Under 30 business leaders, Harvard lecturers, VC partners, and researchers.

• Fireside chats and networking events: Regular sessions with founders and business leaders provide insights into the entrepreneurial journey and allow for valuable networking opportunities.

• One-on-One mentorship: Personalized guidance from experienced professionals, that can help you navigate potential career paths and academic aspirations.

Is it prestigious?

This program is not only prestigious due to its affiliation with Harvard but also because of its selectivity and the caliber of participants and mentors involved. While the site does not list detailed admission criteria, it does clearly state that the “process will be competitive and reflect a holistic representation of student ambition and motivation, desire to work at early-stage startups, and academic candidacy”.

Considering that HVTSP partners with organizations like Sequoia, Y-Combinator, Google, Goldman Sachs, and Andreessen Horowitz, you can expect admissions to be extremely demanding and selective. To add to this prestige, you will be working right alongside the C-suite at a top STEM startup, and interacting with the partner level at these notable VCs. All in all, we rate the HVTSP as a highly prestigious experience.

Who is eligible and how do you apply?

HVTSP only requires that you be currently enrolled in a high school, whether inside or outside the US.

The application process for HVTSP requires:

• Your general information.

• Three 300-word essays on the following prompts:

• Your fields of interest and what makes you passionate about them.

• What you hope to get out of your internship and the HVTSP program.

• A time you successfully 'hacked' a non-computer system.

• A $15 application fee.

The deadlines to keep in mind are as follows:

• March 14, 2024 – Admissions open

• April 15, 2024 – Priority admissions close

• May 12, 2024 – Regular admissions close

• April and May – Interviews conducted on rolling basis, along with pre-session networking opportunities and fireside chats

• May 10, 2024 – Decision release for early round applicants

• May 20, 2024 – Decision release for all applicants

How much does HVTSP cost?

The total cost of the program is $4250, but financial aid is available for those who qualify, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder talented students from participating.

Pros and cons of applying to HVTSP:

Pros:

1. Excellent learning experience: The blend of internships, workshops, and personal mentorship provides a holistic educational experience that is hard to find elsewhere. You will be working in an actual start-up, alongside C-suite executives and founders, essentially getting a crash-course in tech entrepreneurship.

2. Prestige of association: The program is run by Harvard, and includes the biggest names in venture capital as its partners. Being a part of this program makes your profile truly shine when it’s time to apply to college, or even if you’re trying to secure funding for your own business idea!

3. Great networking opportunities: You will have direct access to industry leaders and innovators through this program, all of them working at prestigious companies and institutes. This unparalleled networking opportunity can serve to be a powerful advantage for your academic and professional growth.

4. Strong career advancement: The practical experience and skills gained are highly beneficial for your future academic and career pursuits. On top of that, the networking opportunities can open doors for you that otherwise might not have existed.

Cons:

1. Cost: The program fee is substantial, although financial aid can partially mitigate this. Still, it’s important to consider the affordability factor.

2. Intensity: You’ll be working in fast-paced startups, with high-performing founders regularly clocking in 80 hour weeks, and you’ll be expected to contribute and keep the pace. Thus, the rigorous nature of the program may be challenging for some students.

3. Virtual format: While the experience is rich and intense, it’s still online-only. The lack of a physical campus experience might be a downside if you’re looking for traditional interaction.

Our review – is it worth it?

If you’re passionate about technology and entrepreneurship, HVTSP offers a rare glimpse into the world of startups with the backing of one of the world’s leading universities. The program is indeed demanding, both intellectually and in terms of time commitment, but the benefits—practical experience, mentorship, and an enhanced academic profile—are significant. If you are driven, curious, and ready to dive deep into the startup ecosystem, HVTSP could be the perfect summer endeavor to significantly shape your future.

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

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