Does a BA in entrepreneurship help anymore than another degree/no degree?

[live4da206]

This question may come across as abstract, but has been consuming much of my thought as of late. I am currently a junior in college and am beginning to wonder how important all of this is. My question is, how important is a degree from college when wanting to be an entrepreneur (i.e. does it help with investors), and would it be more beneficial to have a BA of entrepreneurship or BA in another mind-broadening major?

I do understand that a degree will no guarantee any further success nor will it come up with any amazing ideas. I do think I have the innovation to do it without any further schooling, but more am wondering if after reaching the point of knowing your idea can and will become something does it become beneficial to finish with an entrepreneurial degree?

[Encrypted]

In my opinion, a degree in entrepreneurship is a complete waste of time and money. Becoming an entrepreneur cannot be taught in a classroom. Becoming an entrepreneur is based on experience and the general thrive for success and creativeness within an individual. Get a degree in business or something else you're interested in and then go from there.

[live4da206]

Thank you for your reply and I feel your opinion is a valid one, but I am torn between believing that maybe business school would give me that experience you mentioned and help pull in some investors and your theory. Where as if I were to approach one now would they look at me as "inexperienced" and a risk?

[Encrypted]

Thank you for your reply and I feel your opinion is a valid one, but I am torn between believing that maybe business school would give me that experience you mentioned and help pull in some investors and your theory. Where as if I were to approach one now would that look at me as "inexperienced" and a risk?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly would not lend to anyone with no previous experience. Even if they had a degree in something. I'd be looking at their job experience. No matter what field you go into, the outcome is basically the same. You have a degree that is going to get you a job.

The problem with a degree in Entrepreneurship is... who the hell's going to hire you and for what? You specialize in entrepreneurship.. OK... what they hell are you going to do for a company with that? However, if you have a degree in Accounting or Biology, you could get a job in either of those fields and then open up your own company with the experience you've gained from those jobs.

[ron komorowski]

I don't know Encrypted...I have been asked once to speak at a college as an entrepreneur.

I also studied entrepreneur books pretty much daily since 20 years old up until 40.

The lessons of some of the great entrepreneurs, studying the way they did things, to me, is the greatest business study you can have and surely can be molded into a course.

When I was about 35 I met the dean of Rutger's Business School. He was so impressed by my overall business pizzaz let's say, he wanted me to meet some of his corporate buddies who come to take a look at the sharpest kids at the college at a college dinner event.

He invited me yet he knew I never attended one day of college. All that I knew and talked of was a result of my self study of entrepreneurs...and if it wasn't for that, maybe I'd be making pizza on the next corner or something instead of selling my invention to people completely around the world and I was smart enough (as an entrepreneur) to start everything with maybe $500 besides patent money.

After all... a degree in business says you were taught how to execute business efficiently. Entrepreneur study is really just that too.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
Handi Straps Lifting System Home

[live4da206]

hhhhhahaah loser

Thank you for your enlightening post.

It seems as though for now my best course of action is a hedging of the bets, and continue through school while establishing a company and gaining that all important experience. Thank you to those with benefical posts.

[criniit]

I am a senior in college, graduating in may, with an entrepreneurship degree. The majority of my classes in college were regular business classes, accounting, marketing, management, economics, finance ect. The entrepreneurship classes have only really come into play in my last 2 years of college.

My entrepreneurship classes are all about writing business plans, how to and where to find and secure funding, how to start companies on a boot strap budget. As well as 2 classes that the whole grade was actually opening a business and how well you ran it.

In my opinion I would not trade my entrepreneurship degree for anything. Though I have been running my 2 businesses since high school, and opened several more in college the classes I took really did help me. Another one of the big things that college did for me is help me make some huge contacts with local and regional angel investors (they are always scouring campuses looking for new business ideas from college entrepreneurs.

Oh and encrypted, from my experience talking with 100's of bankers and angel investors in the south east (us) you are completely off your mark with who people lend money too. On average I found that investors and banks are MUCH more willing to part with their money if you have a degree, especially if you opened up some business while in college. Now if you don't go to college and open something up and it takes off thats great I agree you shouldn't have any problems finding funding. But if, like most of us, haven't found the huge take off with our businesses before college, you should defiantly go to college, you'll learn a lot.

[live4da206]

I am a senior in college, graduating in may, with an entrepreneurship degree. The majority of my classes in college were regular business classes, accounting, marketing, management, economics, finance ect. The entrepreneurship classes have only really come into play in my last 2 years of college.

My entrepreneurship classes are all about writing business plans, how to and where to find and secure funding, how to start companies on a boot strap budget. As well as 2 classes that the whole grade was actually opening a business and how well you ran it.

In my opinion I would not trade my entrepreneurship degree for anything. Though I have been running my 2 businesses since high school, and opened several more in college the classes I took really did help me. Another one of the big things that college did for me is help me make some huge contacts with local and regional angel investors (they are always scouring campuses looking for new business ideas from college entrepreneurs.

Oh and encrypted, from my experience talking with 100's of bankers and angel investors in the south east (us) you are completely off your mark with who people lend money too. On average I found that investors and banks are MUCH more willing to part with their money if you have a degree, especially if you opened up some business while in college. Now if you don't go to college and open something up and it takes off thats great I agree you shouldn't have any problems finding funding. But if, like most of us, haven't found the huge take off with our businesses before college, you should defiantly go to college, you'll learn a lot.

This is the kind of answer i was searching for, someone in my shoes who made a decision (which ever it was) and is happy with that decision. Thank you for your insite.

[akula]

Thank you for your enlightening post.

It seems as though for now my best course of action is a hedging of the bets, and continue through school while establishing a company and gaining that all important experience. Thank you to those with benefical posts.

erhhh yea sorry
think i was drunk when i posted that

entrepreneurship education is important
it teaches founders how not to go around trying to find investors
i highly reccomend it
ur original post is ironic, that's all....plus i hate when up and coming founders mention the "i" word. it shits me to no end.

anyways...look the thing with entrepreneurship education is that it varies dramatically across campuses
some schools are completely useless....u sit around there writting business plans. other schools, like babson, are incredible. there they to do experiential learning...which is how you ought to study the discipline

so, what, u thinking of enrolling?

[shoestringventure]

In my opinion yes the degree in Entrepreneurship will give you edge over the others. You might have better understanding of handling financial or negotiating with banks or other institutions.But you have to understand that the world best entrepreneurship lessons are learnt on STREET.

[GlobalWealth]

I am a senior in college, graduating in may, with an entrepreneurship degree. The majority of my classes in college were regular business classes, accounting, marketing, management, economics, finance ect. The entrepreneurship classes have only really come into play in my last 2 years of college.

My entrepreneurship classes are all about writing business plans, how to and where to find and secure funding, how to start companies on a boot strap budget. As well as 2 classes that the whole grade was actually opening a business and how well you ran it.

In my opinion I would not trade my entrepreneurship degree for anything. Though I have been running my 2 businesses since high school, and opened several more in college the classes I took really did help me. Another one of the big things that college did for me is help me make some huge contacts with local and regional angel investors (they are always scouring campuses looking for new business ideas from college entrepreneurs.

Oh and encrypted, from my experience talking with 100's of bankers and angel investors in the south east (us) you are completely off your mark with who people lend money too. On average I found that investors and banks are MUCH more willing to part with their money if you have a degree, especially if you opened up some business while in college. Now if you don't go to college and open something up and it takes off thats great I agree you shouldn't have any problems finding funding. But if, like most of us, haven't found the huge take off with our businesses before college, you should defiantly go to college, you'll learn a lot.

I have had millions of dollars in credit lines from several banks and have never been asked to see my diploma. I have also worked with other private funding sources and never been asked about my education. I have started, bought, and/or sold several companies along with many real estate deals. Not in one instance was I asked about education.

[kameron]

depends how bad you want a piece of paper u can frame...

or if your ready to get results

[SharonaB]

Education should be for yourself and not as a badge to wear to impress others. In my opinion such a degree would give you some great underpinning skills, perhaps some extra self belief and would also be a great networking experience for others looking to do the same as you.

On the other hand... it is true that many successful entrepreneurs are self taught. Richard Branson is dyslexic and many others had patchy schooling. At the end of the day there is no right answer here.

[veikoh]

I would like to tell same that I have told here before on similar question. Entrepreneur must think out of the box while any school or education will put you to think in the box. You can't be succesful entrepreneur if you are doing exactly what somebody has teach to do!!!

[criniit]

I have had millions of dollars in credit lines from several banks and have never been asked to see my diploma. I have also worked with other private funding sources and never been asked about my education. I have started, bought, and/or sold several companies along with many real estate deals. Not in one instance was I asked about education.

Dosen't mean you wouldn't bring it up if you had a diploma. Or that it wouldn't help you get a loan/investment?

Education should be for yourself and not as a badge to wear to impress others. In my opinion such a degree would give you some great underpinning skills, perhaps some extra self belief and would also be a great networking experience for others looking to do the same as you.

On the other hand... it is true that many successful entrepreneurs are self taught. Richard Branson is dyslexic and many others had patchy schooling. At the end of the day there is no right answer here.

Its true most of the stories you here about the billionares of our time, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, the Google Brothers, ect all don't have college degrees. But all of them were in college until they found that one great idea and then dropped out.

I would like to tell same that I have told here before on similar question. Entrepreneur must think out of the box while any school or education will put you to think in the box. You can't be succesful entrepreneur if you are doing exactly what somebody has teach to do!!!

My time in entrepreneurship classes did not teach me to think "inside the box", in fact most of my schooling has been about how to think creatively and resourcefully.



There is no right or wrong answer here, its all about personal opinion. I personally think that entrepreneurs that have gone to college think it was worth their time, and those that haven't think its a waist of time. You got to decide for yourself whether its worth the investment or not.