About

Launched in 2015, the SELF program is an inspiring and unique summer program that accepts applications from innovative and motivated high school students. The course empowers students to become the CEO of ME (My Enterprise), Inc. while exploring the power of individual creativity and free markets to deliver solutions to problems in the world that they are passionate about solving. The student “fellows” are introduced to a life philosophy rooted in self-reliance and self-discovery while learning how to develop a personal leadership plan. Working in teams, students engage with leading faculty and business executives to proactively apply what they learn to real-world problems while gaining a better understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset. Work is done in a highly collaborative group setting and culminates in the presentation of a venture pitch. Additionally, students are exposed to marketing, strategy, market-based economics and personal finance. They will learn the value of business in society as they develop enterprise and leadership skills that enable personal happiness and upward mobility, all while forging friendships that will last through and beyond college. Nearly 500 students have participated in SELF since its inception and in summer 2026, we will again offer the SELF program experience as a 3-credit undergraduate course, BMGT262 “Enterprising Leader” through Terp Young Scholars. Students who fully register for the in-person commuter section of “Enterprising Leader” through Terp Young Scholars may separately apply for the residential package available through the Ed Snider Center. Whether staying on campus or commuting, students who choose the in-person option can discover UMD’s outstanding facilities and amenities. Students who select the 100% online learning option engage in interactive virtual activities that provide insights into the UMD experience.