By taking a summer Excel class you can gain a versatile skill that will be valuable in many different types of jobs.
Key Takeaways
- Excel is a versatile spreadsheet program that is used in many different industries.
- Fluency in Excel can be an asset for a career in business, finance, project management, or data analysis.
- There are a number of different Excel summer classes that have been created specifically for high school students, including a popular course that runs through NextGen Bootcamp.
- Many schools also offer Excel classes for adults and college students, with a variety of class lengths.
- Summer can be the perfect time to pick up some Excel skills, whether you’re a teenager or an adult.
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that is used to manage data, run complex calculations, and create charts and graphs. It was first released in 1985 and has evolved from a simple spreadsheet into a sophisticated tool for business and data analytics. It is now used by millions of people, in countries all over the world. If you plan to work in business, finance, project management, or data analysis, you’ll probably need to learn how to use Excel. This program is also popular for personal accounting and data organization.
Excel has hundreds of different tools and features, and can be used by both beginners and experts to represent and manipulate data in many ways. Users enter data into columns and rows, and then manipulate it with formulas. Excel has many automated templates and functions that save users time and reduce errors. It even has its own programming language, which is called Visual Basic for Applications. Excel is part of Microsoft 365, which is available by subscription.
For High School Students and Teenagers
In-Person Classes
NextGen Bootcamp offers an Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program that provides students with detailed instructions on how to manage their financial records and how to invest their money. In this class, students will learn the basics of using Microsoft Excel to track their own financial records, budget their funds, and create detailed and accurate spreadsheets tracking their financial history. This will help ensure that students have a big-picture view of their financial situation, which is the most important first step in setting and achieving long-term financial goals. This training can be helpful for students of any level, and no matter what path a student chooses to follow, this training will help ensure that they can remain financially stable and independent.
Introduction to Businessis a pre-college course offered through the University of Southern California, which is in Los Angeles. In this class, students learn about different aspects of business, like economics, marketing, and ethics. They also receive instruction in the concepts and practical knowledge needed to manage and grow a small business, and the factors that determine a company’s success. The University of Southern California is a private research university that was founded in 1880. It is located less than five miles from downtown Los Angeles.
Data Visualization and Analysis is an in-person class offered at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is designed for students who want to learn data analysis skills. In this class, students learn to use both Excel and Tableau to analyze and visualize data. They learn to visually explore data and clean it in order to prepare it for analysis. They also learn to use statistics to get insights from the data, and they learn how to present that data to other people. Students will receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course.
In New York City, the University of Rochester offers a number of pre-college courses for high school students who are interested in business. The Basics of Investment and Careers in Finance is open to 9th through 12th graders. Students learn about personal finance and careers in finance. They also learn about investments, and build their own hypothetical portfolio. They also have the opportunity to speak with industry professionals.
Live Online Classes
NextGen Bootcamp offers a virtual summer Excel class for high school students. Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program Live Online is a multi-day class where you’ll learn about Excel, finance, and stock market investing. If you’re interested in finance, business, real estate, or entrepreneurship, this class is a great option. It’s also a good way to get an advantage for future jobs or internships because it covers a wide range of in-demand skills. The Excel portion of the class covers beginner through advanced skills including Pivot Tables and macros. Instructors also explain stock market essentials, and help you get a good understanding of financial statements.
1010 Coding offers a multi-week online program called EXCEL: Megabyte Edition For (Ages 13-16). In this class, students learn how to create and edit spreadsheets with Excel. The class is focused on manipulating data and Excel’s presentation features. Covered skills include pivot tables, functions, and different types of charts. Students learn how to enter and format data, create statistical predictions, and create professional-looking presentations. The class includes a final project, where students can utilize all of their new Excel skills.
Microsoft Excel for Kids is an Excel class offered by Fun Tech, a UK-based company that runs classes for kids and teens. It runs in an online format. Students start by learning the basics, and then learn a variety of advanced concepts. They will learn to use formulas, write macros, and use sorting, filters, and conditional formatting to analyze results. They will also learn to create visualizations, including charts and pivot tables.
Another online option is the Data Analytics Workshop, offered by Johns Hopkins University. This is a self-paced program that takes multiple weeks to complete. It is delivered asynchronously, but may also include live interactions. Students work on a data analysis project and learn to collect, organize, clean, and visualize a dataset. They will learn about data scraping and cleansing, data visualization, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression modeling. Students who want to take this class should have some precalculus knowledge. They will use a number of tools in the class, including Excel.
Wall Street 101 is another online program. It is offered by Bentley University, which is located in Waltham, Massachusetts. This class is designed to help students gain financial literacy, and covers finance, macroeconomics, and financial technology. There are a number of different Made up of a number of different courses, some of which involve using Excel. For instance, in the Investment and Trading Strategies course, students will learn about investing strategies and will use Excel and other platforms to test strategies, evaluate performance, and manage risk.
For College Students and Adults
Live Online Classes
Noble Desktop offers a number of different Excel classes, both in person, at its New York City campus, and live online. This school was founded in 1990 and is licensed by the New York State Education Department. The multi-day Excel Bootcamp takes students from beginner to pro level. Students learn a wide range of different Excel skills including basic functions, charts, and formatting, and advanced skills like creating macros and using advanced database functions. They also get a certificate of completion and the option of doing a free retake within a year.
Noble also offers shorter classes that are designed for various levels of prior Excel knowledge, including Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. Students also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. Students also learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, and Pivot Charts. In addition, students learn to use advanced database functions and record macros.
Noble Desktop also offers an Excel certification program. The Excel Specialist Certification Program includes three Excel courses; fundamental, intermediate, and advanced, where students become proficient in Excel. Students also get two hours of private training. After that, they take the Excel Specialist exam. The course fee includes proctoring, and a free exam retake if needed. Students also receive free lifetime access to Noble’s Excel video courses.
NYC Career Centers also runs a number of Excel classes live online. This school has been operating for more than thirty years and offers many business training classes. In addition to beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel classes, NYC Career Centers also offers some specialized classes. For instance, Excel Programming with VBA is for students who want to master the Visual Basic for Applications feature of Excel. It is a hands-on class where students learn to write macros and automate tasks. Instructors cover both beginner and advanced techniques over multiple days.
Founded in 1983, ONLC Training Centers is one of the largest privately-held IT training companies in the United States. It offers basic, intermediate, and advanced Excel instruction courses in a live online format. It also runs specialized Excel programs, such as Excel Charts, Formatting and Reporting. This course is designed for users who already know the Excel basics and need to learn how to create charts and reports. Students learn to create and format charts and tables within Excel and how to utilize those tables in other Microsoft Office applications.
Training Connection also runs virtual Excel classes. Microsoft Excel Level 1–Introduction is a beginner class where students learn to create worksheets, adjust columns, enter data, enter formulas and functions, and copy and move data. They also learn about formatting and manipulating data, and creating charts. The class also covers output options, settings, and templates. Training Connection is a computer and business skills training company based in Los Angeles.
Accelerate Computer Training also offers Excel classes. This school is based in Long Beach, California. It offers a short class called Excel Intermediate 1: Simple Formulas, designed for students who already have basic Excel skills. This class covers a number of intermediate skills including simple functions, math with dates, and lookup functions. Students also learn to duplicate formulas into neighboring cells, change referencing styles, understand relative and absolute referencing, and create and use named ranges in formulas.
Ledet Training offers a live online Microsoft Excel Bootcamp that combines and discounts its beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. Students start by learning how to input data, and by the end of the course, they will have learned to write their own functions, use PIVOT tables, and streamline the organization of multi-page workbooks. Ledet is an authorized training provider for Microsoft.
Founded in 1991, Computer Training Source is a Chicago-based school that offers live online Excel training. Excel Intermediate is a short class designed for students who already have some basic Excel knowledge. It covers working with functions, including specialized functions, logical functions, date and text functions, and text functions. In addition, students learn to work with lists and analyze data. They also learn to visualize data, create advanced chart features, and work with PivotTables and Pivot Charts.
Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Learn Excel
Whether you’re a teen, a college student, or an adult who is already working full-time, summer can be a great time to learn Excel. For young people, an Excel class can be a good way to stay busy while also gaining valuable skills that can help you in school and in your professional career. Even if you don’t yet know what type of career you plan to pursue, a summer Excel class can be beneficial because it can help you explore different career options and gain a better understanding of what you enjoy and what you’re good at.
If you’re already employed, learning a new skill can also be beneficial. College Board explains that getting certified in a new skill can make you more attractive to potential employers. In an article titled, “What Are Certifications and Certificates?” it says, “Certifications . . . can give you a competitive advantage over other job applicants. Certifications may also help you earn a higher salary.” In addition, it says that there are other benefits to getting certified in a new skill. It says, “The work you put into a getting a certification can expand your knowledge and skill set, and those are things you can take with you into any future profession. Getting a certification can also put you in touch with others in your field. This is a good way to find a mentor and develop community. Finally, getting a certification shows potential employers that you’re dedicated and motivated.”
Another benefit of taking a summer class is that it can help you keep your skills up-to-date. In an article titled, “10 Reasons Why You Should Take a College Class This Summer,” Harvard Summer School explains, “Technologies and methodologies in every industry evolve over time. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to keep your skills fresh when you are bogged down with day-to-day responsibilities.” It advises a summer class as an easy way to refresh your skills.
Summer classes are often smaller than classes that run during other times of the year, which can be a huge benefit. Harvard Summer School explains, “In a small summer class, classroom discussions will be more intimate. Everyone in the class will have the chance to ask in-depth questions, get involved in the coursework, and participate in classroom debates. You’ll also have more opportunities to get to know both your instructors and your peers. Your instructors will have the chance to get to know you.” In addition, it says that smaller classes often result in a higher level of attention and support.
Reasons to Learn Excel
Excel is a popular application and is used in many different industries. It is commonly used in office jobs, financial accounting, business, project management, and data analytics. Learning this program can lead to many different career opportunities including a Data Analyst,Financial Analyst,Business Analyst, Marketing Analyst, Accountant, Investment Analyst, or Project Manager. Many of these jobs pay well. For instance, the average salary for an Investment Analyst is $84,000 to $103,000, for a Data Analyst it is, $75,000 to $77,000, and for a Project Manager, $118,000 to $120,000.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that publishes statistics about a number of jobs where Excel is commonly used. It predicts above-average job growth in many of these jobs over the next ten years. Between 2022 and 2023, BLS predicts a 4 percent job growth rate for Accountants and Auditors, 6 percent for Project Management Specialists, 8 percent for Financial Analysts, and 35 percent for Data Scientists. According to BLS, one reason for these high growth rates is that big data has become an important part of many different types of business. This means that there is a high level of demand for people who know how to analyze data. Excel is one tool that is used in data analysis.
Knowing how to use Excel can also help you stand out from other applicants when you’re looking for a job or internship. In a February 2023 article, Microsoft Office Trainer Michael Belfry says, “Microsoft Excel is a powerful business application that is used in a variety of industries by people in various professional roles. The ability to use Excel is a marketable skill that is highly sought-after in the job market.” According to him, roles that require a high level of expertise in Excel include Administrative Assistant, Accountant, Financial Analyst, Business Analyst, Project Manager, Retail Manager, and Sales Manager.
Knowing Excel can also be an advantage if you’re planning to go to college because it can help set you apart from other students in the application process. Having an Excel class on your resume shows colleges that you’re serious about learning, and that you can take the initiative to go beyond the bare minimum. In addition, it can help give you a more well-rounded resume, which many experts say is important to college admissions teams.
Is It Hard to Learn Excel?
Most people say that Excel is relatively quick to learn. You may be able to develop an understanding of the basics of Excel within days, and start using this application right away for some simple tasks. Excel does have many advanced features too, which will take longer to learn, however with dedication and practice, almost anyone can master this program. In a May 2023 blog article, ONLC Training Centers stresses the importance of practice. It says, “The more someone uses Excel in everyday operations, the more familiar they will become with its functionality. Daily practice allows one to master more complicated features and tools in Excel.” Enrolling in a formal class can also speed up the learning process because you’ll be guided by an expert and can ask questions and get feedback as you learn.
How to Choose the Right Summer Excel Course
With so many Excel class options, you may be wondering how to choose the class that is right for you. One way to start is by thinking about what your goals are and then researching your options. For example, what does the class cover, is it in-person or online, how long does it run, and what is the cost? All of these things can vary considerably from class to class. It's a good idea to thoroughly read all course descriptions to understand if the class will be a good fit for your needs. You can also request more information from the school if necessary. You can also gain more information about potential courses by reading reviews from former students.
When you’ve narrowed down your options, you also need to get an understanding of how and when to apply for the programs that you’re interested in. In an article titled, “Summer Learning Programs: What, Why and How,” College Board advises, “For the best options, start looking into summer programs during the winter before you want to attend. Many programs have March deadlines and a limited number of spaces. And some programs ask for application materials that require planning.” It advises doing some research online, and figuring out the application requirements for the program that you’re interested in.