[Bestmiler]

If someone wants to be an entrepreneur, what should they major in (undergraduate)?

[WanganRunner]

Originally Posted by Bestmiler

If someone wants to be an entrepreneur, what should they major in (undergraduate)?

Dual Major in Accounting and Economics.

No matter what kind of business you start, you're going to need to know something about accounting. It's just necessary, there's no escaping it.

A basic economics background is essential to being able to look forward and think about what will happen next. You need to start thinking in terms of "if the value of x moves up, what direction does the value of y go?". You can apply this EVERYWHERE. It gets you into the mindset of a businessperson and develops the all-important trader's instinct.

In the meantime, take lots of fun liberal arts classes, or just whatever you're interested in.

And don't disregard the importance of grades, the ability to get a good job afterward is *very* dependent on grades, and even if you want to end up working for yourself (as most of us do), a little real-world professional experience can be invaluable. Public accounting in particular, although it's *brutal* work while you're really doing it. Auditing, management consulting, and investment banking are very good industries for learning how to evaluate a business, and thus, run your own. Don't think of your 1st job after college as a source of money with which to buy stuff, think of it as experience to send your life in the direction you want it to go.

[Sarafina]

Leave accounting and economics alone. Are you trying to be an entrepreneur or simply gainfully employed?

If it's the former then take something you love. If you're going to be in school for four years then you should take something you wouldn't mind learning about for the next for years. Rather that than something you think will make you a better entrepreneur.

That's the thing about entrepreneurship, it's limitless. Whether you run your own doctors clinic, an ebay store or sell widgets, you're an entrepreneur. There is no discipline that makes you better suited to it. If you *must* take something business oriented, take Marketing. Understanding marketing is pivotal to your success in the entrepreneurial world.

[JSiverio]

Originally Posted by Bestmiler

If someone wants to be an entrepreneur, what should they major in (undergraduate)?

I currently have the same question. I am 20 years old. The key here is that I don't want to waste my time. I don't want to spend two years doing something and then look back and find out I could have done something more productive or efficient. So I want to take as much time to prepare as I can now, and then pursue whatever plan I decide on.

I know that FIU currently has a major called Entrepreneurship Track, but well that is only FIU, but check if the school you are going to has something similar. Right now I am double majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship.

Another key is experience, whatever you major in try to get a job that is related to what you like( what you want to do a business in). That is also currently what I am trying to do also.

Hope this gives a little bit of help

[JSiverio]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

Dual Major in Accounting and Economics.

No matter what kind of business you start, you're going to need to know something about accounting. It's just necessary, there's no escaping it.

A basic economics background is essential to being able to look forward and think about what will happen next. You need to start thinking in terms of "if the value of x moves up, what direction does the value of y go?". You can apply this EVERYWHERE. It gets you into the mindset of a businessperson and develops the all-important trader's instinct.

In the meantime, take lots of fun liberal arts classes, or just whatever you're interested in.

And don't disregard the importance of grades, the ability to get a good job afterward is *very* dependent on grades, and even if you want to end up working for yourself (as most of us do), a little real-world professional experience can be invaluable. Public accounting in particular, although it's *brutal* work while you're really doing it. Auditing, management consulting, and investment banking are very good industries for learning how to evaluate a business, and thus, run your own. Don't think of your 1st job after college as a source of money with which to buy stuff, think of it as experience to send your life in the direction you want it to go.

That is very good advice, Thank You.
The key here is long-term thinking, I am currently reading a book and recommend it to all it is called: "Don't Eat the Marshmallow...Yet!" by Joachim de Posada. Very good book about seeing things in the long term.

[Bestmiler]

bump......

[herbie]

I know that quite a few people say that if you go to uni, you miss out on a huge opportunity to star a business.

However, I am just about to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking, Finance, and Accounting, and even though I would have liked to spend the last three years concentrating on developing my businesses, I believe that a university degree is a very good grounding.

I guess it depends on you and whether or not you take up college or not, or start a business. As they say, if you don't know what to do, there are always people who you can hire who do know.

You can always start up a business while at university.

Herbie

[Outta Hand]

Originally Posted by herbie

I know that quite a few people say that if you go to uni, you miss out on a huge opportunity to star a business.

However, I am just about to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking, Finance, and Accounting, and even though I would have liked to spend the last three years concentrating on developing my businesses, I believe that a university degree is a very good grounding.

I guess it depends on you and whether or not you take up college or not, or start a business. As they say, if you don't know what to do, there are always people who you can hire who do know.

You can always start up a business while at university.

Herbie

I myself am taking some time to build a few businesses currently but i am interested in going back to school in the near future for something along the lines of Commerce, Finance and that sort of thing. Now i have been to college in the past and the way that i see it is that you've got to keep an open mind to the possibility of anything. I mean build your business if you want but don't swear off learning and vice versa. Just be sure to have fun doing it

[bigpund]

Being an entrepreneur is not about the type of degree that you have or the school that you go to, I dont know why people continue to ask this question.

Being an entrepreneur is about risk taking and striving for success but learning from your mistakes and failures. Entrepreneurship is more a mindset and attitude as opposed to an education. Read more about entrepreneurship in general and you will find this. Going to a school or gettinga degree in etnrepreneurship is pointless because it will have been a waste of time for the most part since you will not come out of it with a defined degree such as business management or economics. A good friend of mine is a physical education and health major yet is an outstanding entrepreneur.

Its not about your degree or education, its about your attitude to start a business and achieving success.

You can major in whatever the hell you want and be entrepreneur. You can major in the History specializing in the coal mining regions of the east coast and be an entrepreneur by running a small business dedicated to the coal miners of an area or run a historical muesum on coal mining, both being entrepreneurial endeavors.

[Steve]

I would have to agree with the first post. As some of you know, I dropped out after 10 classes but the four classes that I took that I find somewhat useful in real life.

1. Accounting 1
2. Accounting 2
3. Macroecon
4. Microecon

I am not concentrating on the accounting end in any level, but when I am looking at the financial statements the accountants give me, it really helps to know basic accounting.

[MikeWatkins]

Being an entrepreneur means getting up, off ur ass and actually DOING something. Billions of people around the world come up with amazing business ideas everyday but it is only about 0.0001% of these people who actually DO anything about them. I realise this sounds profoundly simple but beleive me it is the truth....

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something.
It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who
decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But
today. The true entrepreneur is a doer." ...
Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari Computer.