Five business programs and competitions open this September

A prestigious business award or program can be one of the harder gaps to fill on an application, since so many of the well-known ones only open once a year. Here are five with windows open this September.

The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition has students use an online stock simulator to manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio. It's free to enter, and registration closes in mid-September.

The Harvard Student Agencies Case Competition is a global virtual competition inviting high schoolers to solve real-world corporate strategy cases. Participants analyze data and pitch a strategic slide deck, with direct feedback from industry professionals and Ivy League mentors.

The Ladder Internship Program is a selective remote internship that matches students with high-growth startups and venture-backed companies to work on real business deliverables. Applications run through September.

UC Berkeley's youth business academy lets aspiring young entrepreneurs take an idea from validation to a full business model, with guidance from top collegiate business faculty and mentors.

The Diamond Challenge is one of the top global entrepreneurship competitions for teens. Teams develop and pitch an original business or social-impact venture, with submissions opening mid-September and winners eligible for up to $100,000 in funding.

If you're aiming to stand out on business-focused applications, these five are worth applying to as a group rather than picking just one.