Excel Classes for High School Students in Chicago

Excel is a Microsoft application that is used for organizing data and creating spreadsheets. It is extremely popular, with millions of users worldwide. You can use Excel to do things like create charts and graphs, run complex calculations, manage sets of data, and generate statistics. Excel even has its own programming language, called Visual Basic for Applications. Microsoft talks about the popularity of its application, stating, “Not only is Microsoft Excel the world’s most widely used spreadsheet, it could be argued that it is also the world’s most widely used programming language.” 

Excel was first released in 1985. According to one LinkedIn article, it almost ended up going by another name. The author says that other names like “Master Plan” and “Mr. Spreadsheet” were also considered. He explains that “Excel” was ultimately chosen as, “A clever hint to the many cells that make up the spreadsheets while declaring the excellence of the program.”

Excel is now used in many different industries, but is particularly popular in business and finance. It is likely to remain an important tool in the future. One LinkedIn writer says, “Born in 1985, before many of us were even born, Excel has stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved tool for millions of users worldwide.”

Why High School Students Should Learn Excel

Excel is an extremely popular program, and no matter what you end up doing, you’re likely to encounter it at some point in your life. It is the industry-standard in many different office and business jobs, so if you see any kind of professional job in your future, learning Excel can definitely be an asset. One LinkedIn author calls it a “timeless tool.” He explains that by mastering Excel, you’ll gain the ability to organize and analyze data in ways that were impossible before. He says, “Excel is not just spreadsheet software; it's a powerful tool that empowers its users with computational superpowers.”

Excel is particularly popular in business and finance. If you live in Chicago, you’ll find many different opportunities in these fields. The city is a major financial hub, with hundreds of national and international companies. In 2024, Z/Yen Partners in collaboration with the China Development Institute reported that Chicago was a top ten global financial center.

In-Person Excel Classes in Chicago

Illinois Tech offers a number of different summer programs for high school students, including business-related classes. New class offerings are released each year. The school recently ran a Business Bootcamp for students in 10th through 12th grade. The bootcamp ran for a week, and was designed to teach students about a number of different aspects of business such as economics, operations, finance, and marketing. Students participated in a hands-on simulation of owning and operating a food truck, where they learned about how their decisions affect their business, and got to meet with real food truck owners. Tuition costs for Illinois Tech high school classes are released at the time of new course offerings.

Virtual Excel Classes

While some students like to learn in person, virtual classes are also a popular option. Learning virtually means attending class live online by logging in via your computer. When you learn virtually, you can attend from home, or any other location with an internet connection. With this format, you get live instruction and immediate feedback just like with an in-person class. A big advantage of learning virtually is that you don’t have to travel anywhere; you can learn from wherever is convenient for you. This means that you have more class options too, since you don’t have to physically get to a specific class location.

One great virtual Excel class option is NextGen Bootcamp’s Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program Live Online. This is a summer class that was created specifically for high school students who are interested in finance, business, real estate, or entrepreneurship. It covers Excel, finance, and the stock market, giving you skills that can help you stand out when you’re looking for a job or internship in the future. The class starts with beginner Excel skills, and moves up to advanced concepts like macros and Pivot Tables. You’ll also learn stock market essentials, and how to understand financial statements.

You can take this class either part-time, with classes for three hours a day, for two weeks, or you can learn full-time, with five hours of class time each day for a week. The class has a total of 25 hours of instruction. Tuition is $1,299. You don’t need to have any experience with finance or Excel in order to take the bootcamp.

How to Choose an Excel Class

Choosing an Excel class can feel overwhelming, because there are a lot of different class options. Many students start by thinking about what their specific wants and needs are. For instance, think about how much time you want to spend learning Excel. Some classes take only a day or two, while others can last a week or more. There are also part-time and full-time options. Another thing to consider is your budget, since class prices also vary. In addition to thinking about time and price, you may need to consider whether you want to learn in person or virtually. Virtual learning options have become popular in recent years, and they give you a lot of flexibility since you can learn from anywhere you want. On the other hand, some people find that learning virtually can take more discipline and motivation. Some students also find it easier to learn new concepts in person. However, there are also students who prefer to ask questions from behind a screen. Finally, when you’re choosing a class, make sure to thoroughly research the classes that you’re interested in, to make sure that they are appropriate for your age and level of experience. There are a number of different Excel classes designed for high school students, however, there are also many intended for adults.