Kode with Klossy program guide | RISE Research

TL;DR: Kode with Klossy is a free, selective coding and tech education program for young women and nonbinary students in high school. It runs as a two-week intensive experience and produces alumni who go on to build apps, launch projects, and strengthen their college profiles. Acceptance is competitive. Students who want a verifiable, published research output to complement this kind of program should look at RISE Research. Our deadline is closing soon.

What is the Kode with Klossy program and who is it for?

Kode with Klossy is a nonprofit coding education program founded by model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss in 2015. It provides free coding scholarships and two-week intensive camps to young women and nonbinary students aged 13 to 18 across the United States. The program focuses on web development, mobile app development, and machine learning, and has reached more than 50,000 scholars since its founding.

This Kode with Klossy program guide covers everything you need to know: what the program involves, how competitive it is, what students actually produce, and how to strengthen your application profile whether or not you are accepted.

The program targets students who identify as women or nonbinary, are between 13 and 18 years old, and are based in the United States. No prior coding experience is required. The program is explicitly designed for beginners and students who are curious about technology but have not yet had formal instruction.

Kode with Klossy scholars gain access to a national community of peers and alumni, coding instruction from trained educators, and ongoing support through the Kode with Klossy Scholar network after the camp ends.

How does the Kode with Klossy program work?

The program runs as a two-week intensive coding camp. Scholars attend either in person at a host campus or through a virtual format, depending on the cohort and location. Sessions run for approximately six to eight hours per day. Students learn to code using languages and tools relevant to their chosen track, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Swift, and Python depending on the curriculum strand.

Each track has a specific focus:

• Web Development: Students build functional websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Mobile App Development: Students design and build iOS apps using Swift.

• Machine Learning: Students explore data, algorithms, and predictive modeling using Python-based tools.

By the end of the two weeks, scholars complete a final project in their chosen track. This project is presented to peers and instructors on the final day. The program is free to accepted scholars. There are no tuition costs, and in many cases travel and accommodation support is provided for in-person camps.

Official program details and application information are available at kodewithklossy.com.

How competitive is the Kode with Klossy program?

Kode with Klossy receives tens of thousands of applications each cycle for a limited number of scholar spots. The program does not publish an official acceptance rate, but demand significantly exceeds available places. Applicants are evaluated on their interest in technology, their motivation to learn, and their potential to contribute to the scholar community.

The program does not require prior coding experience, which means the applicant pool is broad. Strong applications demonstrate genuine curiosity, a clear reason for wanting to learn to code, and an awareness of how technology connects to the student's broader goals. Students who can articulate a specific problem they want to solve with technology, or a community they want to serve, tend to write stronger applications.

Because the program is free and open to students without prior experience, competition comes from volume rather than credential requirements. A student with no coding background but a compelling personal statement can be accepted over a student with more technical experience but a generic application.

Students who are not accepted on their first application are encouraged to reapply. Many Kode with Klossy scholars applied more than once before being accepted.

What does the Kode with Klossy program actually produce?

By the end of the two-week camp, scholars complete a coding project in their chosen track. This is a real, functional output: a working website, a mobile app prototype, or a machine learning model. These projects are presented on the final day of the program.

The project is a meaningful addition to a student's portfolio. It demonstrates technical skill and the ability to build something from scratch. However, it is not a peer-reviewed or externally validated output. It does not appear in an academic journal. In a college application, it functions as a portfolio piece rather than a published credential.

Kode with Klossy also provides access to the Scholar Network, which connects alumni with internship opportunities, tech industry mentors, and ongoing learning resources. This network has genuine long-term value for students interested in careers in technology.

For students who want a verifiable, externally published research output to accompany their coding project, RISE Research offers a direct path. Through RISE Research, students work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor to produce a peer-reviewed paper published in an academic journal. That paper appears directly in the Common App Activities section as an independently verified credential. RISE has a 90% publication success rate across 40+ journals. You can explore RISE publications to see the range of topics and journals scholars have published in.

How does the Kode with Klossy program compare to doing research with RISE?

These are two different paths, and many students pursue both. They are not in competition with each other. They produce different outcomes and serve different goals.

Kode with Klossy is a two-week intensive program. It is in-person or virtual, free, and focused on building technical coding skills. It produces a functional project and access to a strong alumni network. It is highly selective by volume. The output is a portfolio piece.

RISE Research is a 10-week, fully online, 1-on-1 mentorship program. It is available to any qualified student regardless of location. It produces a peer-reviewed paper published in an academic journal. That paper is externally verified and directly listable in college applications. RISE scholars have a 3x higher acceptance rate to Top 10 universities compared to the national average. RISE scholars accepted to Stanford have an 18% acceptance rate, compared to 8.7% nationally. You can review full RISE admissions results to see the data.

For a student interested in computer science, AI, or data science, combining a Kode with Klossy project with a RISE-published research paper creates a profile that demonstrates both practical technical skill and academic depth. That combination is rare and genuinely compelling in a college application.

Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

RISE Research is open to students with interests in computer science, AI, data science, and technology policy. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

What to do if you do not get into Kode with Klossy

Rejection from Kode with Klossy is common. The program receives far more applications than it can accept. It is not a reflection of your potential or your readiness to pursue technology.

RISE Research is the strongest alternative for students who want a verifiable outcome on their college application. RISE accepts students based on research readiness and intellectual curiosity, not prior prestige or program history. Students work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor in their chosen subject area, including computer science, AI, data science, and related fields. The result is a peer-reviewed published paper. RISE has a 90% publication success rate. You can explore RISE scholar projects to see examples of what students in technology-related fields have produced.

Other options for students interested in technology include:

• Girls Who Code: A nonprofit offering free coding clubs and programs for high school students who identify as women or nonbinary. Details at girlswhocode.com.

• TEALS Program: A Microsoft-supported initiative that brings tech volunteers into high school classrooms to co-teach computer science. Details at microsoft.com/teals.

RISE remains the first recommendation for students who want a published research credential in a technology-related field. The other options above build skills and community but do not produce an externally verified academic output.

Frequently asked questions about the Kode with Klossy program

How do I apply to Kode with Klossy?

Applications are submitted through the official Kode with Klossy website at kodewithklossy.com. The application includes short essay questions about your interest in coding, your goals, and your background. No prior coding experience is required. Applications open annually, and the program encourages students to apply early. Check the official site for current application windows.

Is Kode with Klossy free or paid?

Kode with Klossy is completely free for accepted scholars. There is no tuition or program fee. For in-person camps, the program often provides support with travel and accommodation costs. The program is funded through partnerships with major technology companies and philanthropic supporters.

Does Kode with Klossy help with college admissions?

Kode with Klossy can strengthen a college application, particularly for students applying to programs in computer science, engineering, or technology. It demonstrates initiative, technical skill, and commitment to a field. However, it produces a portfolio project rather than a peer-reviewed published credential. For the strongest admissions signal in technology fields, pairing Kode with Klossy experience with a RISE-published research paper creates a profile that is both practical and academically verified. RISE scholars are accepted to Top 10 universities at 3x the national average rate. See RISE admissions outcomes for full data.

What do I do if I do not get into Kode with Klossy?

RISE Research is the first alternative to consider. It is open to students regardless of prior program history, fully online, and produces a peer-reviewed published paper in your chosen subject area. RISE has a 90% publication success rate. You work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor across a 10-week program. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

Can international students apply to Kode with Klossy?

Kode with Klossy is primarily designed for students based in the United States. International students are generally not eligible for the residential camp format. Students outside the US who want access to rigorous technology-focused education and a published research outcome should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. You can explore the RISE mentor network to see the range of technology and computer science experts available.

Conclusion

Kode with Klossy is a genuinely valuable program. It is free, selective, and produces scholars who go on to build real things in technology. If you are eligible and interested in coding, applying is worth your time.

At the same time, a two-week program produces a portfolio project. It does not produce a published research credential. For students who want to demonstrate academic depth in technology fields, RISE Research provides the most direct path to a peer-reviewed published paper, 1-on-1 mentorship from a PhD expert, and a credential that appears directly in the Common App.

RISE scholars are accepted to Top 10 universities at 3x the national rate. The 18% Stanford acceptance rate for RISE scholars, compared to 8.7% nationally, reflects what a published research credential does for an application. Many of our scholars in technology fields have combined program experience with RISE research to build profiles that stand apart.

Our deadline is closing soon. If you want a real research outcome in computer science, AI, or a related field, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.