What is IDEAcademy?

At IDEAcademy, we take an experiential approach to education by immersing students in programmatic topics commonly found in college courses to provide a foundation for innovative thinking. By fostering their natural curiosity to analyze and solve problems that improve the human experience, our approach aims to develop leadership skills, creative confidence, and professional collaboration among students.

Whether it's college, trade school, or an early career, IDEA provides students with a "hiker's toolbox" of educational and practical skills to help them prepare for the next big mountain in their lives. The program consists of a multi-session, class block schedule in which students engage in human-centered design projects spanning several focus areas. All of our program managers are industry professionals and recent students with prior leadership experience. This allows students to access teachers unlike their current public schools and brings the world of private & public sector businesses to students in the comfort of their school system.

When:

July 6th - July 24th, 2026

Monday - Friday

9am - 2pm

Where:

Boston University Charles River Campus

Boston, MA

(Rooms to be announced!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships

How It Works:

Apply for IDEA2026: Students should submit their applications via the button at the top right of our website to be considered by our admissions team. An email confirmation will be sent to you if your submission was successful.

Monitor Your Inbox: If a student's application is approved, they will receive an email in 1-2 weeks with their tentative acceptance into the Academy contingent upon completing the registration process.

Register For Courses: Accepted students will be able to register via our website for one offering from our selection of 2026 Cohorts. At this time, students will be expected to pay their Commitment Fee to lock in their spot as a part of the IDEA Class of 2026.

Get Excited! Once registered, students just need to count down the days until our program kicks off on July 6th.

IDEA 2026 Schedule Information

Students will register for Cohorts on a first come, first serve basis!

Students will leave IDEA with their very own Capstone Project, complete with corresponding write-up, that they will showcase at the Demo Day Symposium and can submit for publishing in our Student Journal!

Capstone Projects

During the final two hours of each day, students immerse themselves in Capstone Projects, a hands-on opportunity to apply the design thinking process. They work toward creating innovative prototypes, which they proudly present during Demo Day at the end of the program. Students have the freedom to explore projects related to their cohort's focus or combine diverse interests to develop entirely new ideas. They can choose to work individually or form collaborative teams, fostering creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving as they bring their visions to life.

Previous Projects

An AI recycling container that recognizes plastics

An AI Teddy Bear that assists young children with language translation

An interactive map showcasing community resources

A free business closet for student job readiness

A prosthetic arm made of found materials

A video game where you can experience being a political leader of a nation

Our cohorts offer students an opportunity to engage with college-level innovation in industry fields they are passionate about, right from the heart of the city.

IDEA 2026 Cohorts

Health & Medicine

Possible Topics: Public Health, Medicine, Anthropology, Genetics, Diseases

Explore the connections between public health and modern medicine through a pathway that covers medical science, biotech, social wellbeing, and communal health. Develop skills to promote mental and physical wellness in diverse communities.

Computer Science & Robotics

Possible Topics: IDEs, Arduino, Game Design, Wireframing, Agile Scrum, Ethics & Security

Uncover the transformative power of computer science by mastering programming, data visualization, predictive analytics, and natural language processing. Navigate the crucial ethical landscapes that shape technology's future.

Engineering & Manufacturing

Topics: CAD, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Assistive Technology, Prosthetics, Product Design

Gain hands-on experience in the full product development cycle, from design and prototyping to advanced manufacturing techniques and machinery. Learn practical skills to turn innovative ideas into real-world products ready for client use.

Business & Psychology

Topics: Investing, Negotiation, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Budgeting, Marketing, Branding

Learn to build, manage, and grow your own business while developing a strong foundation in financial systems and entrepreneurship. Understand how our minds shape how we consume, and influence how we sell. This pathway equips you with the skills to make informed financial decisions and drive sustainable growth.

Research & Discovery Lab

Topics: Data Acquisition, Analytics, Interviewing, Field Work, Study Design, Dissertation

The Research and Discovery Lab is an opportunity for 2nd year idea students, upperclassmen, and graduating seniors to explore real-life problems through local clients in need of research support. Students can come from a range of experiences, from data science to interviews to storytelling. With a team of graduate researchers, they will receive a problem from a client and create accessible research for public consumption and publication. This is a pre-college program, so requires a high level of engagement similar to an internship.

Students will work through the project ideation process over the course of the program, creating a final product that fits into one of these key concept areas:

Conversations

What conversations should we be having, and how can we create a space to have those conversations effectively?

Creations

What creations can we design and implement to improve the quality of the human experience?

Conclusions

What conclusions about the world are misunderstood or lacking, and how do we fill that gap?

Connections

What connections can we form to sustainably and equitably serve all individuals of our world?