School Vs. Entrepreneurship

[joelholland]

I think college is just as much about the social aspect as it is about the education. College is the transitional period for many teenagers to jump into adulthood and come to terms with greater personal responsibility.

I personally think a college education is extremely important even if you have a successful business and cash flow. However, this doesn't mean you can't take time off between high school and college to get out into the real world and play your hand at business. I was accepted to Babson College, a small entrepreneurial business school in Wellesley, Mass., and they allowed me to take a one year deferral to work on my business before attending in 2004.

So even if you want the college education, you can always take a little time off first!

- Joel

[Steve]

Here is my fear of taking a year off.

- High School Revenue is dismal.
- 1 Year off, make $50,000.
- Go back to living off dismal income.

I would like to see some numbers of people who say they are "taking a year off", what percentage goes back?

[Steve]

Here is my fear of taking a year off.

- High School Revenue is dismal.
- 1 Year off, make $50,000.
- Go back to living off dismal income.

I would like to see some numbers of people who say they are "taking a year off", what percentage goes back?

[RickyPatrick10]

Man, it's hard going to school and trying to give a 100 percent to your business as well. Like many of you, I have invested a great deal of time and money into my ventures. It's a juggling act but staying in school is a good back up plan if your business doesn't do well. Plus, you can market your business in school and create solid contacts.

[Alex Singh]

Firstly, I'm Australian so my values, ideals, and priorities may be a bit different from the standard American ones. But this is how life has panned out for me:

Finished high school in 2001, and took 2002 off. Worked at a bar for 4 months or so, started martial arts, and went out and socialised alot. Mid way through I ended up getting a scholarship to a Graphic Design school which I was at for a semester, but I really didn't like it, so I dropped out of it and realised that all along I still wanted to get into business (I had just been temporarily blinded!)

Unhappy with what was turning into a completely wasted year, I decided to do something radical by moving to a completely new state and city. From living with my parents in Sydney to moving in with friends I had up in Brisbane. Big change at 18 but I felt I needed to be able to say I had done something worthwhile with that year.

Its been just over a year since then and I've almost finished my first year of university (Bachelor of Business double major in Marketing and Management.) I'm also working on 3-4 business projects and am an employee with a couple of other companies.

While I believe a tertiary education and degree is important both for the knowledge you gain, the contacts you meet (alumni) and the educational experience you receive in comparison to that of high school, real world experience is just as (and possibly more) important. By the time I finish my first degree I would have had 3 years experience more than any other student, and thats in the fields of business management, sales, IT, and systems development and implementation. A broad field that compliment one another in various ways.

So thats where I stand and my outlook on the subject!

[Gummie92]

I think you need a balance of both school and business. School establishes credability and the basic knowledge of the world and topics - I feel that's the foundation. Business gives you real life experience, making your own decision and deciding your own destiny - that is the skyscraper above the clouds built on top of the foundation.

But that's thinking with my head. When it comes to my heart, it's business business business all the way, baby!!

[Chaperdet]

School does nothing but teach you how to follow. You want to be an entrepreneur, you better figure out how to lead.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain

Think about that quote. Ill personally tell you that from the 2 years I've spent in college, everything I learned about making money online and running an e-commerce company came from my own research and experiences. School is NOT going to teach you the life skills you will need to successfully run a company. Sure it will give you fundamental definitions but the faster you get out and learn from your own experiences and from doing it, the faster you will be on the road to success.