2023 Accepted and Waitlisted Entrepreneurs
2023 GSE Dates
Session 1: June 11 - July 1
Session 2: July 9 - July 29
The 2023 GSE application will open November 14, 2022 and close January 23, 2023.
GSE gives teens an authentic glimpse into entrepreneurship and continues to develop them along their entrepreneurial journey.
Three
step
process.
We keep it simple.
At Governor's School for Entrepreneurs, we don't evaluate you based on your test scores. We form teams based off skillsets, creativity, drive, and passion. You're more than a number at the top of the test. At GSE, we care more about creativity and character than ACT comprehensive scores.
Questions? E-mail info@KentuckyGSE.com
Step 1: Create your video.
Your video should be two minutes long. We want to get to know you and your personality. Upload the video to YouTube.
Step 2: Complete the online application.
Step 3: Collect your recommendations.
You need two recommendations. Have your references complete and submit this form.
Video?! What do I include?
Watch this video 👉 to learn about the process and what to include in your video!
What do we look for in individuals?
Entrepreneurs come from all backgrounds, resources, focus areas, and skill levels.
We look for a few specific traits in young entrepreneurs. These traits help us gauge their ability to be successful at GSE.
1. A strong work ethic and a growth mindset
GSE is an intensive summer experience. It is vital that each member of a team possess a strong work ethic and an ability to collaboratively achieve goals. We look for individuals who know how to work hard and embrace failure as a learning opportunity.
2. Skills and Talents
What are your strengths? What do you bring to a team? Generally, a successful team needs someone with great technology skills (programming / hardware / engineering / science), great interpersonal skills (sales, customers), leadership skills (your CEO) and design skills (branding, marketing, product design).
3. Not afraid to take risks
Entrepreneurs don’t fear taking risks, they take them on head-on. They have to take risks every day – it is part of running a business. The thing though about taking risks is that successful entrepreneurs take calculated risks, not foolish ones. Being comfortable with exploring the unknown and finding your own answers are key.
4. Adaptable and Flexible, open to ideas
Being passionate and dedicated is important, but being inflexible about client or market needs will lead to failure. Successful entrepreneurs welcome all suggestions for optimization or customization that may enhance their offering.
Recommending someone? Submit your recommendation here.
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on a number of criteria. Building a company (even a virtual one) is hard work and we will select participants who show us they will apply themselves wholeheartedly to the experience. The decisions are a bit subjective so show us your passion and creativity! The best applications will be sincere expressions of who you are and why you want to attend.
Applications will be scored by committees, consisting of entrepreneurs and individuals active in Kentucky’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. There is no appeal process for decisions made concerning GSE.
GSE will be selecting students in a manner that allows us to form business teams of no more than four. Effort is made to select students from all areas of the state.
If you are in 9th or 10th grade and you do not make it in the first year of the program, try again the next summer – many successful entrepreneurs have failed the first time. Resilience and persistence are essential qualities.
Remember... students cannot be absent from GSE for any reason except emergency, illness, or overriding personal reason.
Since team building is essential to GSE, an overriding philosophy of freedom coupled with responsibility permeates all that students do. The program’s few regulations are governed by law, safety, and common concern for the total GSE community.
- Student automobiles or other motorized vehicles are prohibited, in addition to riding in unauthorized vehicles, or leaving campus for unauthorized trips.
- No drugs, including alcoholic beverages, are allowed.
- No firearms or other deadly weapons are allowed.
All of these rules will be strictly enforced. A student will be dropped from the program and immediately sent home for violation of any of these rules.
In order to be selected to attend GSE, each student must sign a consent form agreeing:
- To stay for the entire three weeks without interruption (except for illness or emergencies); and
- To abide by GSE rules which include attending sessions daily, while participating fully in sessions and in the life of the community. This includes weekday and weekends on campus as well.
Before applying, you and your parents or guardians should understand that you are expected to stay for the full term of three weeks without interruption. Your teammates are counting on you to help build a successful product and company. Students who know of scheduling conflicts in advance should contact GSE to discuss the conflict or should not apply.
*Note that these are truly just examples. Please do not copy or mimic them. We really encourage creativity and are excited about the opportunity to get to know you. Your video is a glimpse into your personality. Copying someone else’s video parallels copying parts of their personality. We want to know YOU!
READY TO APPLY?
We can't WAIT to review your application. Double check that you've got these things ready, as you can't save your app.
APPLY BELOW:
Note: You can download a printable version of the entire application by clicking the "Sample Application" button above.