College & Career Lab

Igniting Passions.

Exploring Pathways.

Reimagining Futures.

Our Program

The College & Career Lab is a tuition-free, six-year program offered as a multi-week intensive workshop during the summer and Practice Lab sessions during the academic year to prepare students to succeed in their post-secondary education and career paths.

We offer New York City middle and high school students the opportunity to explore a variety of academic pathways and “try on” careers. Through two stages, Exploratory and Immersive, CCL scholars dive into college-style lectures and workshops led by New York University faculty, on subjects ranging from neuroscience to philosophy and everything in between. Scholars network with industry professionals and get to experience what it would be like to be an immigration lawyer, physical therapist, game designer, and more. Through each stage and Practice Lab, students receive introductory courses, mentorship, advising, and a specialized CCL curriculum to enhance soft skills and prepare for the college application or career entry process.

Admission to program

Students are admitted to CCL during the Exploratory Stage. Afterward, those who have previously parti­ci­­pat­ed in the Exploratory Stage are invited to join the Immersive Stage for specialized courses and prepara­tion during their high school career.

Rising 8th & 9th graders

Exploratory Stage
Immersive Stage

Students are not permitted to join the Immersive Stage without completing at least one year in the Exploratory Stage.

Exploratory

The Exploratory Stage introduces rising 8th- and 9th-grade students to college-level subjects offered at each NYU school or college and allows students to “try on” careers through experiential learning for four weeks in the summer. Each summer component is connected through year-round Practice Labs, honing skills for use in the real world.

Immersive

The Immersive Stage provides rising 10th-grade to post–high school students a deep dive into subject areas across schools and colleges at NYU through a two- or three-week experience encompassing introductory college courses, internship opportunities, and further hands-on career exploration. CCL scholars continue participating in Practice Labs as they did in the Exploratory Stage.

During my internship at the New York Stock Exchange, I met students completing their college internships (I was so happy to make them my first connections on LinkedIn) and networked with seasoned market traders (I did not even know what that meant prior to CCL!). I am more eager than ever to explore the world of finance and am taking a college-level microeconomics class right now because of my time with CCL.

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Ashly

Rising 12th grader (2022)

With this program, I was stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new things, which definitely helped me grow as a person. I learned a lot this summer and I definitely find this program to be very resourceful for me finding out my passion.

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Brenda

Rising 10th grader (2023)

Not everyone needs to know what profession they want to pursue right now, and that is what this program is all about: presenting opportunities to help you see that you have many options. Find your passion and pursue it rather than adhering to what others expect of you, because at the end of the day, you will be the one living that life.

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Jacqueline

Rising 11th grader (2023)

CCL created a second home for us, all of these years. I still remember the improv and stunt-acting session from 2018 and use the principles we learned to get out of my comfort zone. At the time I did not realize I was gaining skills for my future, but these memories demonstrate the immense importance of starting this program in 8th grade and continuing until now.

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Daniel

Recent high school graduate (Morgan State)

I love how we did not only go to one school at NYU but were able to learn about many different majors and careers. Because of this program, I want to say one thing to my future college self: No matter where I go, what accomplishments or disappointments I may have, I hope I remember anything is possible because of this program.

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Katlyn

Rising 8th grader (2019)

This program helped me so much in pinpointing what I’m truly interested in and what I should do in preparation for college. It taught me so much about myself, and which majors I have possible interests in and which I don’t. Most importantly, it has opened my mind to learning about careers I never considered before.

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Kate

Rising 9th grader (2019)

This program challenged my mind in ways I couldn’t have imagined. At Tisch School of the Arts, we learned about the power of art and how art can change the world for better or worse. We learned about the power of self identification and the danger of only recognizing a single story.

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Tyrik

Rising 8th grader (2019)

Until I went to Stern Business School with the College & Career Lab, I never realized being an entrepreneur was possible. I’d heard about entrepreneurs but learning what it takes to become one and have that mindset is something I’ll never forget.

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Jonathan

Rising 8th grader

I was able to do actual research on topics that affect the world, which was really fun and exciting. I got to know there are so many things in the world that I don’t know about.

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Rising 9th grader (2019)

See our students