Philadelphia High School Students Excel in Wharton’s Pre-baccalaureate Program

The Wharton Global Youth Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is a proud Philadelphia resident. We cheer for the Phillies and Eagles, love a loaded cheesesteak hoagie, and quote Benjamin Franklin on the regular.

And when it comes to academics, we prioritize connecting the city’s high school students to a world-class Wharton business education.

The Wharton Pre-baccalaureate Program, an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors worldwide to enroll in online courses taught by Wharton instructors and earn college credits, is focused on helping Philadelphia students prepare for selective colleges. Tuition for the program is waived for one course per term for students attending a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school. Through a partnership with Philadelphia Heights, a nonprofit focused on transforming the pathways to college and career for the city’s students, Wharton Global Youth has enrolled some 40 Heights high school students in Pre-baccalaureate dual-enrollment courses since 2021. Overall, more than 100 Philadelphia students have completed Pre-baccalaureate courses.

Of Consumers and College

During a recent visit to the Wharton School campus, Philadelphia Pre-baccalaureate students, parents and administrators gathered in Wharton’s Jon M. Huntsman Hall to meet Wharton Global Youth’s dual-enrollment team, led by Alaysha Suggs, and share in-person business education stories from their online classes.

Muneerah (Moon), 16, from Philadelphia’s Masterman School, was excited about her first visit to Penn’s campus and her Wharton Pre-bacc course on behavioral economics. “It’s interesting to learn about how consumers behave with different brands. I’m the consumer; I’m learning about myself right now!” she said. “I was scared I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the work, but I’ve been doing well.”

Added her Masterman classmate Toga: “I applied to the Pre-baccalaureate Program to understand more about what business meant. I’m considering it for a potential career. In my Introduction to Financial Markets and the Global Economy class, we learn about macro and microeconomics and supply and demand. I had heard these terms before but never understood the depth of them. I’m getting background knowledge in financial markets, which has helped me realize that I want to pursue finance and business in college.” Toga represented Philadelphia in her class of 15 high school students from the U.S., China and Europe.

Both students’ best advice: get out there and try new things!

Tania Jackson was drawn to Wharton Global Youth’s Pre-baccalaureate Program for the college-level exposure. While her daughter Gabriyelle, a student at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, has taken rigorous International Baccalaureate classes in school, she was curious about business and finance. She found out about Wharton’s dual-enrollment courses during a Heights’ event at her high school.

“Gabriyelle does really well at school, and I wanted her to have the college experience,” noted Jackson, who appreciated that her daughter could choose to take a Wharton course for a letter grade or pass-fail. “A lot of the programs we were looking into had high tuition. The fact that she was able to have this experience for free as a Philadelphia high school student is amazing. Even if she doesn’t go to Penn…this is a great opportunity to see how she would fare in a college environment.” Gabriyelle enrolled in Introduction to Behavioral Economics in the summer of 2024.

Success In a ‘Nurturing Environment’

Philadelphia Heights’ Annie-Rose Devaney, who works with city high schoolers interested in dual-enrollment, said prospects are often excited about the chance to enroll in a class at the University of Pennsylvania – and can also be somewhat intimidated by the academic rigor. Devaney has partnered closely with Suggs and the Wharton team to recruit students and provide ongoing support to help Philadelphia students thrive in their coursework.

“One of the big things they’ve gotten is the confidence that comes with doing well in a Wharton class and that the professors are kind and welcoming to the students,” observed Devaney. “Students go to office hours and take advantage of it. I’ve seen some get recommendations and end up going to Wharton.”

Suggs confirmed that several Pre-baccalaureate students from Philadelphia are continuing their education as full-time Penn undergraduates. She has been impressed with students’ work ethic and commitment.

“Philadelphia students who are enrolled in the Wharton Global Youth Pre-baccalaureate Program are excelling in their coursework and taking full advantage of the resources available to them as part of the Penn community,” noted Suggs. “In the past three years, I’ve seen many students take control of their academic journey, often enrolling in multiple Pre-baccalaureate courses during their time in the program. It’s inspiring to see how this experience propels them toward success, with many leveraging their achievements to apply to top institutions.”

Pre-bacc classes feed students’ desire for new and challenging learning opportunities. “I was introduced to the business world through a club in high school and decided I wanted to learn more about it,” said Connie J., a student at Central High School who enrolled in Introduction to Financial Markets and the Global Economy. “My high school doesn’t offer any business classes, so this was a good opportunity.”

Connie fits the profile of many students that Devaney encounters through Philadelphia Heights. “The Philadelphia students I work with are talented and motivated for their future. If they are missing something at school, they go out and look for a way to fulfill that need,” observed Devaney. “Through the Wharton Pre-baccalaureate Program, I’ve seen students learn to think more critically about marketing, behavioral economics and other classes. It’s a great place for them to build their talents in a nurturing environment that cares about their success. It benefits the students, Wharton and Philadelphia.”