BEST Boston

🚨 Student and business applications for the summer session are due April 15, 2024.

BEST Boston (Business Engagement for Students) offers students 10-week paid consulting opportunities with local businesses, allowing them to tackle real-world challenges. Participation is free for businesses, providing them with access to valuable resources and talent to solve a problem while contributing meaningfully to education. It’s a true win-win for both the student and the business.

Important Dates

April 15, 2024: Business and Student Applications Due

May 1, 2024: Students and Businesses will be Notified if Accepted

May 1 - May 24, 2024: Project Assignment and Onboarding

May 27 - August 2, 2024: BEST Boston Summer 2024 Program

August 8, 2024: Final Presentations at the UMass Club in Boston

For Businesses

Participating is free and will offer your business or organization a chance to make a meaningful contribution to education. It will also help you meet your own organizational goals through gaining access to cost-effective, valuable resources and talent to help you solve a problem.

If your project is accepted, you will need to assign a business representative to mentor the students. The representative will meet with their student team weekly for an ~hour for 10 weeks and then attend the final presentation on August 8th. Have a problem to solve? Submit your project today!

Submit your Project

For Students

Student teams will be formed and given a project based on the needs of their assigned business. Through collaboration with highly talented faculty and the business representative, you will identify problems, develop methodologies, analyze data, and implement a proposed solution.

Accepted students are required to attend the final presentation on August 8th and are expected to dedicate 10 hours a week. Those accepted will also be paid $2,000. Interested in making a real difference and gaining invaluable skills? Apply now!

Submit your Application

In the news.

UMass Boston's College of Management has officially completed their pilot for a new program named BEST (Business Engagement for Students) Boston.

See what our business students are saying.

"Working with QUBIC Labs has opened my eyes to the vast potential of Blockchain technology and how it can revolutionize various industries. I am beyond grateful for this experience that has broadened my horizons and fueled my passion for innovation." — Kalgi P.

"The BEST Boston program has been very exciting! I have met with many people over at the Castle Group and those conversations have taught me what it actually takes to run a business in the real world." — Courtney Z.

"I am extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity to learn from and network with so many intelligent professionals in the Boston area! It has helped me get one step closer to reaching my career goals." — Kyle O.

Participating businesses from the 2023 pilot program.

“The Castle Group believes in inspiring the next generation to build their careers and pursue their passions, so we were thrilled to participate in this pilot program. Our students conducted crucial research and analysis on our services, and we will use their work to help inform our future goals. This program is a true benefit to the economic vitality of small businesses in Boston.” - Sandy Lish, Principal/Co-founder of the Castle Group