The Data Science Academy at the Wharton Global Youth Program is a program that aims to stimulate curiosity in machine learning through a rigorous yet approachable curriculum. The program covers a wide range of topics, including data wrangling and cleaning, data visualization, statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, natural language processing and ethics in data science.

The program also offers opportunities to learn how these techniques can be used to solve real-world problems– such as predicting customer behavior, detecting fraud, and identifying diseases. The program is held on the Wharton campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It runs for two weeks during the summer.

How is the Data Science Academy at Wharton Global Youth Program structured?

The program is usually held between June and August– dates are usually announced later in the preceding year. The program lasts 2 to 3 weeks with each day typically structured as such (there is some flexibility in structure) :

- 9:00-9:45am – Discussion on current events

- 9:45-10:00am – Mid-morning break

- 10:00- 11:30pm – Morning topics lecture

- 11:30-1:30pm – Lunch

- 1:30-3:00pm – Topics lecture or guest speaker

- 3:00-3:15pm – Afternoon break

- 3:15-4:30pm – Recitations/group work

There is room in the evening for extra-curricular activities. The program is structured for participants to work together in groups, creating group projects that are expected to be completed at the end of the program. 

What are the eligibility requirements?

The short answer is that high school students currently enrolled in grades 10-11 can apply.

However, it’s important to note that the program prefers students with a strong background in math and coding, especially those with an interest in data analytics along with a previous understanding of statistics.

Is the Data Science Academy at Wharton Global Youth Program Prestigious?

The program is highly selective and accepts only 75 students per cohort. There is an application process where you have to write essays expressing why you are interested in the program, along with letters of recommendation.

Furthermore, with the stringent eligibility criteria that calls for a keen demonstrated interest, as well as the academically rigorous nature of the program – it is safe to say that the Data Science Academy at Wharton Global Youth Program is well reputed and value adding.

Application and Other Timelines

The priority application deadline is usually January 25th, and the regular application deadline is usually April 5th. You can find access to the application page and portal here. 

For the scholarship application – you’ll have to apply by the priority deadline (i.e., January 25th), and submit your scholarship application by February 1st. Scholarship decisions are released within 48 hours of admissions decisions. You can find the scholarship application here.

What else should I know before applying to the Data Science Academy at Wharton Global Youth Program?

1. You will be participating in a rather rigorous program over the summer: In terms of the difficulty of the program, you should expect it to be fairly rigorous and at the same level as Wharton’s undergraduate courses. Some subjects/topics include data wrangling and cleaning, data visualization, and building your proficiency in R-language. 

2. You will be shelling out a significant amount of money: The Data Science Academy program costs $9,099 and the Application fee is a non-refundable $100. There are limited scholarships available.The cost of the program covers the full academic and term fees, use of UPenn academic facilities, on-campus housing, two meals a day (Monday-Friday), two meals on Sunday (no meals Saturday due to excursions/activities), extracurricular activities and trips, and student supervision.

The fee does not cover travel to/from campus, airport transfers, gym access (may be available for additional fee), linens, class materials, meals eaten off campus, medical expenses, laundry, and personal spending money. This means that you could be looking at something upwards of $12,000, so we’d recommend you really think through the takeaways from this program.

If you are okay with missing out on the experience of being on campus and learning alongside like minded peers, you can always opt to learn data science and machine learning on your own! Here’s our guide to some ways in which you can learn data science in high school. This has a bunch of free and economical options for you. Here’s another guide on machine learning.

3. You can expect to build a network through this program: joining the program can open up doors to internships and jobs. The website indicates that the program is taught by industry experts and the TAs are undergraduate and graduate students. Professors from Wharton lead the instructional team.

If you are attending the program, one big take away you should aim for is building strong relationships. If you perform well and participate actively, you should see if you can assist the undergraduate and graduate students with any projects they are working on. This means that you can continue to be more involved beyond the program.

4. You shouldn’t expect to get admission into UPenn because you attended this program: This is a big one! At best, this program will signal interest in UPenn and data science. However, what it will not do is impress admissions officers enough to guarantee admission. So, think carefully about how you want to weave this experience into your larger narrative, or whether this enhances your narrative and profile in any way.

Our Review

When it comes to summer camps and summer programs, it’s important to hold some skepticism when evaluating whether they add to your profile. Often, if it is a paid program, that can reflect as not being as prestigious as it would otherwise be. Additionally, it may not demonstrate what makes you a strong candidate. If the curriculum isn’t rigorous enough or doesn’t really challenge you – then there really is no net benefit to you trying the program. Ultimately, what defines a good program is whether it can supplement and encourage your personal growth.  The real question is what you can take away from the program. 

In lieu of those metrics, the Data Science Academy at the Wharton Global Youth Program is one that we’d recommend only if you can afford it, and you believe that there is a value add to your life. If you’re someone who’s very keen on having some exposure to the going-ons at the UPenn campus, and in the Wharton School – then this might be worth a shot. It is a great opportunity to network and meet undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty. The curriculum and schedule is designed to challenge you. But this is not by any means the only meaningful way to spend your summer, or build your skills and interest in data science!

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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