You have watched every episode of Shark Tank. You have read Mark Cuban’s biography. You have opened your fair share of lemonade stands. Now, it is time for you to open your own business. Although everyone has his or her own opinion on the benefit of a college degree, here are five reasons how a college degree will help you run a successful business.
College is What You Make It
Let’s get this out of the way. Signing up for classes and attending them will not make you run a successful business. College is an opportunity to do something with your time that could help you in the future. Simply getting a degree will not necessarily make you successful, but it will give you the tools to be successful. Buying a hammer will not make you a carpenter, but you cannot be a carpenter without a hammer.
College Gives You Practical Business-Running Skills
If you take Accounting classes, you will learn how to run your books and avoid tax fraud. These are practical skills that you will get from a college or any number of online master’s degree programs in Business. No, you should not major in Dance and expect to gain any of these skills, but if you take the right classes, you will gain the right skills.
Internships Are Great Ways to Learn about Business
Although you want to open your own business, there is no better training than watching the ins and outs of an already established business. Without a college degree it is possible to get an internship, but getting an internship is very competitive and college students are normally at the top of the list. So, if you want a worthwhile experience to put on your resume and learn about business in the process, go to college and get an internship.
College Puts You Face to Face with Masters in the Field
When you sign up for a class in business, chances are your Professor will be a business man or woman who has seen some success in his or her field. Go to their office hours. Ask questions in class. Write them lengthy emails. Professors are (for the most part) very eager to share their knowledge, so take advantage of it! You can run business ideas by them or pitch a certain product you have in mind. If you try going up to a investor without ever pitching anything before in your life, you will seem like an amateur. Use your time in college to pick the brains of the best in each field.
Connections
Whether you are at a state school, private school, or any of the great online master degree programs, you will make great connections with the people around you. That awkward kid you sat next to in Calculus? He’s now running a Fortune 500 company. You never know who you are going to make a connection with and college is the place to meet the future stars in every field. Networking, making connections, and using those resources are important when you start a business. It could lead to funding, or a partnership. Those connections can impact the success of your business through marketing and promotion. College is the perfect place to make great connections and start to build that network that is important to have for aspiring entrepreneurs.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and apply to the college of your dreams!
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