College: Perfect Start-Up Environment College is one of the best times to start a business--just don't forget to have fun.
By Sara Wilson •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Being an entrepreneur is a mind-set and a way of life. And now, entrepreneurship is one of the hottest new majors in college. College students are increasingly heading down this path--with many getting their businesses off the ground before they even graduate. But where do you start, and what awaits? We've got the inside scoop.
You should tap into the resources at your university, says Rod Shrader, an associate professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois, Chicago. From the classes to the mentors to the networks of investors, college campuses are rife with the tools you'll need to start a business. Some universities, like the University of Illinois, Chicago, even have partnerships in place where local businesses offer student entrepreneurs pro bono services ranging from legal guidance to marketing.
"You have to be confident in yourself," says Joel Holland, who turned down a high-paying job at an investment bank to continue working on his business full time after college. Holland, who just graduated from Babson College, already has a thriving six-figure business, Footage Firm, which provides video footage to TV shows, movies and commercials, serving high-profile clients such as MTV and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
