FAQ
Learn More About Ohio Business Week
When is it?
Ohio Business Week will be held June 18-23, 2023 at Bowling Green State University.
Where is it?
The 2023 program will be a residential program at Bowling Green State University. Students will stay in the Conklin Residence Halls, experiencing life as it would be as a first year college student. The majority of our programming will happen in the Mauer Center which is the home to the Schmidhorst College of Business.
How is OBW different from other camps?
Not only will you gain valuable skills in business, leadership, teamwork, and presentation, you will also have a real-life experience of developing a product and pitching it to a panel of judges.
Who attends OBW?
High school students who have an interest in business, entrepreneurship or who just want to explore different careers attend the camp.
How does OBW work?
Students are divided into small groups of 8-12 which we call a company. Each company is led by an adult business professional who will mentor the students throughout the week as students develop a unique service or product idea to solve a real-world business problem. Consultants and speakers from various businesses and industries will visit with the students, discussing important topics that will help them craft their business, financial, and marketing plans, which will bring their idea to market. The program culminates in a presentation to business executives at the end of the week, when students pitch their ideas to prospective investors.
What is a typical day like?
The day will start at 8:30 am after breakfast in the dining hall and wrap up mid evening. During each action packed day participants dive into the world of business by making "real life" decisions with their team, hear from current business leaders and participate in interactive projects with other teens from across the state. Students will gather with their small group at their company headquarters to much of the research and development of their product pitch. Several times each day, all companies will gather in one room to hear from speakers and presenters. All meals and snacks throughout the day are provided.
It's not all work, though! The week is packed with many opportunities to relax and have fun.
What do students learn?
Students learn foundational business skills in management, finance, and marketing. By working in a company, they learn how to exercise their independent judgment and leadership skills while honing collaborative skills in a diverse group environment that emphasizes teamwork.
How are students better prepared for college?
Students will live in residence halls, work in academic buildings, eat in the dining hall and walk the beautiful campus. Students will forge friendships with many other students from different backgrounds. And those students who are thinking about majoring in business will be able to explore what that would be like at OBW.
Your tag-line is “Prepare for Life, Achieve Success.” How are students better prepared for life to achieve success?
Students are immersed in foundational business learning during the week. They meet inspiring people that they wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet or get to know. They also get a preview of how it will be to work in a real-life, project-based team – from working with different personalities and work styles to learning leadership and entrepreneurship skills directly from business pros!
The very process of the program is unique in that the students see how their thoughts, ideas, and dreams can grow into something real and tangible—in one short week! For many, that is a very powerful and transformational experience. Many alumni say how OBW helped them gain an expanded sense of self and independence, a better sense of future goals, and a willingness and openness to explore new places, people, and ideas.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Current high school students
- C or higher grade point average
- Endorsement of high school administrator
How much does the camp cost?
The fee is only $599 which covers the full week of housing, meals, facilities and program materials. Some students bring extra spending money for snacks, pizza and souvenirs.
How can the fee be so low?
The low student fee of $549 is possible because because of our generous supporters that give to Ohio Business Week to cover costs throughout the year of planning, registering students, insurance, etc. Learn more about our generous sponsors HERE!
Is financial aid available?
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Please contact the Ohio Business Week Foundation for more information.
When will I find out if I'm accepted?
Applications are reviewed as they are received and you can generally expect an answer within one week. If you are accepted, you will receive an email with your acceptance letter and further instructions.
What if we need to cancel?
You can find our refund policy at refundpolicy.ohiobusinessweek.org
