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We accept applicants on a rolling basis until we fill up, so submit early. Our upcoming classes will take a similar format as those currently posted.

Let’s get started!

Websites, decks, videos, or other formats that show off your creativity are acceptable as portfolios.

What classes are you interested in?

Beginner Product Design

Advanced Product Design

Expert Product Design

Decolonize, Divest, and Create

Social Media Marketing/Management

Becoming a Leader (to Senior, Staff, Principal, Lead, or similar level)

Becoming a freelancer / starting your own thing (studio, business, etc)

Storytelling / being a better presenter

Beginner Digital Marketing

Beginner Motion Design

Designing & building AI systems

Beginner Graphic Design

Beginner Product Management

Non-visual branding (smell, taste, hearing, touch, etc.)

Becoming a Leader (to Manager, Director, VP, or above)

Being a better freelancer / growing your own thing (studio, business, etc)

How to be an effective mentor

Advanced Digital Marketing

Advanced Motion Design

Advanced Graphic Design

Advanced Product Management

Mental Health, Mindfulness, & Meditation

Data Analytics/Optimization

Working with clients better (client services, account management)

How to teach/lead impactful classes

Sales/Persuasion/Negotiation

Media Planning/Buying

Recruiting & Resourcing

What other classes/topics should we consider launching?

What cohort are you interested and available for?

Specific classes and dates will be posted well in advance of each start date.

What cohort are you interested and available for?

June 2024 - Aug 2024

List out your biggest challenges, your professional goals, and how Useful School will help you achieve them.

What companies/clients do you currently work for and/or have worked for?

If you work for yourself (either part-time or full-time), please note that!

What 3 companies/clients do you want to work for in the next year or two?

This will help us tailor the curriculum to you! If you want to start/grow your own company or something similar, tell us as much as you want.

What are specific roles you are looking to get in the next 6-12 months?

If you want to start working for yourself (either part-time or full-time), please note that!

Let’s get to know you a little better!

Our classes are currently for those 18+ years old and based in the U.S. If you are outside of this audience, apply anyway—we are expanding quickly and given our rolling admissions, favor applicants who apply early.

Our classes are geared towards people of color. Please describe your cultural identity in as little/much detail as you want.

If there are any other aspects of your identity that you want to share, please do so below.

Who are 3 people of color you look up to professionally?

How did you hear about Useful School?

A friend, coworker, past student? Someone specific on LinkedIn? Insta handle? Article? Somewhere else?

Optional: Did another applicant, student, or graduate refer you? If so, let us know who!

What lesson(s) and/or projects are you particularly interested in learning/doing that are not currently in the curriculum?

Including the weekly class, you will typically spend around 4-6 hours (or more) a week for ~12 weeks doing Useful School work. Do you anticipate any barriers to committing to this? If so, how will you address those barriers?

If you are accepted, how much total money will you be able to contribute to Useful School?

This is not a factor for acceptance, but it is important that you consider this prior to finishing your app. Contributions help us run the school. We typically recommend considering contributing 1-5% of your current salary or savings, but every situation is different!

Anything else you want us to know?

Thought starters: Any special considerations we should know? Feedback for us?

By submitting your app, you agree to allow us to send you updates on your application and any other useful information. We or a partner may also send you emails or publish any interesting, anonymous data. We may also contact and/or recommend you for potential projects (and to employers!) as well!