Developing, Inspiring and Leading Young Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship + College? Best fits? Advice? Experiences?

Well this is a bit of a strange topic but I can't think of a better place to ask.

Right now I'm a Senior in High School. I'm also a budding entrepreneur trying to start two different ventures at the same time (I know, I know... not the best idea) while also looking at colleges. This depending on where I look one place claims this school is the best while another list claims another.

Right now Babson is my first choice (if I can get in) But at the same time I have no idea where I want to go more realistically. Drexel sent me a free application so I'll apply there, ASU I have the business card of the dean of admissions so I probably should send her an email.. etc etc..

Also, has anyone heard of Champlins BYO Biz program? It sounds kinda sketchy to me, yet is interesting.

I'm wondering what you guys have learned over the college years and whatnot. Where are the best CEO chapters? Is Collegiate DECA any good compared to CEO? (I'm in DECA right now in High School) Is incubator space all that its cracked up to be? Seed funding yes or no?

Other things for me are water and or mountains. At least one of the two. I'm big into beaches, sailing, rowing, basically anything to do with the water. I'm also a big skier, hiker, camper, biking type person. My businesses are generally all run online and other things like PO locations and times and stuff matter somewhat as well (eventually going to use a fulfillment house for one of the ventures)

Any advice?

Thanks,
-Andrew

Tags: ceo, college, entrepreneurship, high, school, senior

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fidan on October 1, 2009 at 10:54pm: If you like water and beaches you should apply to a school either on west or east coast, there are good schools in both directions. The advice i can give you is that go a little more deeper than just entrepreneur program, i mean that even if you dont find a good entrepreneur program you can choose something in the business field that you not can handle for now and want to learn? I am in the same positon in life right now and i am probably going to choose finance as a major because i cant master that by myself for now, but with a degree no investor can fool me when it comes to finance and investor money.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Wilson on October 7, 2009 at 5:45pm: Hey Andrew you came to the right place for advice. You've obviously researched some of the best e-ship programs, so yu are applying at the right places. I've never heard of Champlins and don't know about Collegiate Deca, but if you get involved with a good Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization you'd be golden. I can connect you with a ton of outstanding people in CEO and of course since you asked Bryant University has been the #1 CEO chapter in the world the past two years. http://bryantceo.org (I'm a little partial as I was president for 2 years). Anyhow, come to Chicago for the CEO Nat'l Conference this year Oct 23, 24!

Let me know what else you need matt @under30ceo.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on October 7, 2009 at 7:56pm: Thanks for the advice guys!

Fidan your advice is rock solid. Great advice. I've actually been thinking about it almost daily since you posted it. I think a good business education is the base that every entrepreneur will find useful. My hope is that I can find the right Entrepreneurial mix in a good business education, since at heart I'm an entrepreneur.

Matt, thanks for the information, I was hoping I could get some of your view on this as well. I haven't visited Bryant yet, I did Babson and Bently then kinda stopped... I also kinda wanted to get out of the state for school but if it is the best I probably should check it out.

As for the CEO stuff, I thought it was CEO members only? Is there a High School version of CEO? Then again I'm actually going to be at the College Board's Forum 09 in NYC that wednesday-friday and am flying home friday so I don't think I would be able to turn around and fly back out.

Thanks for the responses and please keep the comments coming!
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Wilson on October 8, 2009 at 8:50pm: Hey Andrew, I could get you in if you wanted to go--I'm sure you could register to check it out.

Are you from Rhode Island?

Andrew Hill said:
Thanks for the advice guys!

Fidan your advice is rock solid. Great advice. I've actually been thinking about it almost daily since you posted it. I think a good business education is the base that every entrepreneur will find useful. My hope is that I can find the right Entrepreneurial mix in a good business education, since at heart I'm an entrepreneur.

Matt, thanks for the information, I was hoping I could get some of your view on this as well. I haven't visited Bryant yet, I did Babson and Bently then kinda stopped... I also kinda wanted to get out of the state for school but if it is the best I probably should check it out.

As for the CEO stuff, I thought it was CEO members only? Is there a High School version of CEO? Then again I'm actually going to be at the College Board's Forum 09 in NYC that wednesday-friday and am flying home friday so I don't think I would be able to turn around and fly back out.

Thanks for the responses and please keep the comments coming!
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Emily Pritchard on November 18, 2009 at 2:17pm: Hi Andrew,

You may want to check out the program at the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. I am currently pursuing an Entrepreneurship degree in the Opus College of Business at St. Thomas and have found it to be absolutely amazing! The Twin Cities is a great area for business, with headquarters such as Best Buy, 3M, General Mills, etc... right down the road. Lots of innovation--it's an exciting place to be! Also, the weather is great in the summer to head to the many lakes in the area and partake in many outdoor activities in the summer and winter.

Just a suggestion from one student to another. Let me know if you're interested and want more information!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on November 27, 2009 at 8:55pm: Thanks Emily, I'll have to take a look!

-Andrew Hill; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Wilson on December 8, 2009 at 4:52pm: Andrew, how's the search going?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on December 8, 2009 at 6:54pm: Its a going.

Right now I've applied to
University of Rhode Island (safety, don't want to go there)
Harvard (a bit of a reach to say the least)
Arizona State University
Drexel

I'm working on
University of Southern California (stretchy as well)
Babson
University of Arizona
Bryant
Florida State University
University of Dayton

I'm missing like a school or two, but yeah I really am not fond of college apps!
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Wilson on December 9, 2009 at 10:02am: Yeah Bryant!!!

Let me know if you go for a tour or interview, I'll introduce you to some people in Entrepreneurship.

Andrew Hill said:
Its a going.

Right now I've applied to
University of Rhode Island (safety, don't want to go there)
Harvard (a bit of a reach to say the least)
Arizona State University
Drexel

I'm working on
University of Southern California (stretchy as well)
Babson
University of Arizona
Bryant
Florida State University
University of Dayton

I'm missing like a school or two, but yeah I really am not fond of college apps!
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on December 9, 2009 at 5:35pm: Are you there now?

-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on January 11, 2010 at 9:24pm: Just an update on the college application process. I've basically finished applying everywhere. I still have FSU and University of Arizona to go.

I've been accepted to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business: Business management (entrepreneurship), and University of RI's honors college and honors business college thing. The major at URI would be international business with a 5th year international internship and study somewhere. They don't have much at all for entrepreneurship though.

I'm still crossing my fingers for the big ones. My last letter of recommendation for Harvard, USC, and Babson was faxed today.

The fun has begun,
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on March 16, 2010 at 3:14pm: So time has passed and more letter have come in the mail. I've been admitted into ASU, URI, Bryant, University of Dayton, Drexel.

I got the mail today to find a big envelope from Babson, who said they weren't sending any letters this year to let you know. It says I've been admitted... So who knows maybe Harvard will say yes as well.

Granted, now I need to figure out small elite entrepreneurial minded business college or nicely priced w/scholarship top tier business school with #2 Entrepreneurship program and a lot to choose from plus lots of sunlight and all kinds of beautiful weather etc.

Interesting future decisions...
-Andrew; ▶ Reply to This