Entrepreneurship now or after MBA?

Hey everyone,

I got into Babson and have visited campus. Down the road, I want to have my own businesses and focus on that. But everyone keeps saying that I should work for a few years, get an MBA and then do entrepreneurship.

What are your thoughts on this? Should I go to Babson and work with some company and have my own businesses on the side or take the more traditional route of going to an in-state undergrad (to save money), work a few years, get an MBA from a top school and then do entrepreneurship?

Go with your heart!

You don’t actually need any college to do entrepreneurship and MBA’s give you the qualifications to work at other people’s companies. Babson isn’t going to give you ideas, it’s hoping that you’re bringing them with you. To me your question is kind of like, “Oh hey, I want to be a pop star. Should I go to Pop Star University before I start singing anything?”

Do you have a viable idea for a business? What is stopping you from doing it now?

As of right now, I don’t have a viable business idea. That’s what I’m afraid of. I understand that Babson gives the guidance and direction I need to successfully start and grow my business, but I am not sure if I will be able to come up with a scalable business idea or product. A lot of incoming students already know what product they are going to commercialize and grow, but I am not sure if I am at that step yet.

This, along with the fact that Babson’s alumni are not spreadout throughout the country, thus making it difficult to find corporate jobs outside of Boston and NYC, are my two biggest concerns with Babson.

Other than that, I love the school’s resources and offerings.

I have gotten into Indiana University Kelley School of Business Direct Admit. They have a large alumni network and have a decent entrepreneurship department. However, the level of expertise and hands-on knowledge for entrepreneurship there is just not the same as that of Babson.

What do you think I should do? @redpoodles