Wharton vs. Princeton/Harvard/Stanford - Help a High School Student
As a rising senior who is considering Wharton Undergrad I have a couple q's.
I started a business in HS and am very interested in business, but more specifically entrepreneurship and marketing, NOT the finance side.
The option I have to choose between then is Wharton w/concentration in Entrepreneurship/Marketing/Management (I don't know specifically yet) vs. a liberal arts education and probably majoring in economics @ Princeton or Harvard/Stanford.
Theoretical economics doesn't really interest me either, and I was thinking that at Wharton I might enjoy what I am learning about more because it would be related to business.
My main concern is that going to Wharton is for people who want to get into finance and become CPAs, financial analysts, work on Wall Street, etc. which is definitely NOT what I want to do. Rather, I'm the type who would head to the SF Bay area and work on/found a start-up.
Based on your experience do you have any advice on which option I should pick, or maybe some decision making criteria I should employ?
Thanks for your time!
I always heard Babson had a top entrepreneurial program...but I guess you don't get Penn's name with that.
Yes, I'm going to look into Babson and visit. Thanks.
And thanks Wolfy.
I looked it up. Girl works at Compete, a $45k-50k a year job. GG.
Don't go to Babson, Don't go to Babson, Don't go to Babson. MIT kids will laugh you at the Wellesley parties.
lol at least get in first.
It's not that simple. Wharton has course requirements that I could do without if I eliminate it as an option.
Further, and more importantly I am an athletic recruit at some of the Ivies and ED is pushed by coaches for recruits. If I don't take the early at a HYP (don't want to get into specifics about my recruitment), then I give up a spot potentially because the coaches want to fill their team or I might get less financial aid.
If I apply early to one then I can't keep the doors of Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Babson open b/c it would be very unfair to the coaches @ that school and future kids who want to go to these schools (it leaves a bad mark on the sports at my school).
Thanks again to everyone who is giving me advice, I really do appreciate it.
Get into the fucking schools then ask which one you should go. Apply to all four
Get in first. Babson -- I had a high school friend years younger who hesitated on Harvard College for Babson because "of the top entrepreneurial program." Full scholarships to both.
Guess where she went and graduated without a job?
All 3 schools are great. I was an admit to the MBA and they are top quality undergrads.
If you want a great example, Google Joyce Meng, from the Huntsman program, who managed both non profit activities and corporate.
I would think Stanford is an obvious choice given it's location, it's caliber, and your interests. There are so many tech startups that come out of the silicon valley area, and even if you aren't technically inclined, you will be surrounding yourself with people that are entrepreneurs.
In my opinion, entrepreneurship isn't a "program" to be sought after. I'm surprised that there even exists such a ranking. You want a very solid backround in the fundamentals of running a business - accounting, corporate finance, business law, operations, etc. But I think the true nature of entrepreneurship is creativity - usually collective creativity, and that can't be taught; it happens by surrounding yourself with other like minded people, building relationships, forming ideas, and then transforming those ideas into a business. Any of those schools you mentioned will give you an amazing foundation - the question you should ask, is which one will surround you with the most like minded people? Which one puts you in the back yard of hundreds of recent "startups"? Which one puts you in the area that most VC's are plugged in to? Which one has thousands of people that were in your shoes 10-15 years ago, and have succeeded in the way that you want to succeed?
I agree I love Stanford.
I know other people who went there or friends of friends that have heard good things so I won't rule it out..... but I do see your point about HYPS caliber wise.
See my other reply to someone with a similar sentiment.
Yeah maybe I should just drop out and make more money instead of considering biz school at all ;)
I'd go with Stanford based on your interests and desired location. It's not like you'll lose out on anything by going to Stanford if you change your mind
dumbest. thread. ever.
Co-sign. OP, seriously? Its good that you're ambitious but get in to the schools before you make a thread asking for an opinion. What are we supposed to tell you? What school is better? They're all great. I dont understand. Honestly, you could whatever you want to from any of those schools.
Wow. Dont even put Babson in the same sentence with HYPSW.
Hey, my six year old cousin just started a business...she made huge profits by selling lemonade...what undergrad b-school do you think she should apply to: UPenn Wharton or UPenn Wharton? She doesn't have any other choice.
Literally no doors close with any of the schools you mentioned. Visit and rank them accordingly.
Haha, didn't mean to be an asshole with my post...but my personal opinion, I think you should aim for Harvard if you are interested in entrepreneurship. All the schools are fucking awesome and will probably get you anywhere if you work hard enough, but you will be working with more people like yourself at Harvard with limitless resources. Babson is no where near any of these schools.
I think there is a quote from the movie Social Network that goes like this: "You go to Harvard...everyone here believes that inventing a job is better then working one."
Just my 2 cents.
Is this the quote you're looking for:
"Yes. Everyone at Harvard's inventing something. Harvard undergraduates believe that inventing a job is better than finding a job. So, I'll suggest again that the two of you come up with a new new project."
Apply for Peter Thiel's entrepreneurship thing and get a hundred thousand bucks and actually do shit. Bam.
BAM!
What? No I'm not stalking you.
Stalking is indicative of good research skills and dedication.
BAM.
That's crazy, because "good research skills and dedication" is my middle name. It's a b*tch to spell on the phone.
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