Extra Credit Earn while you learn--and leave college with a flourishing business.
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Should you start a business in college? In the best-casescenario, you get a thriving small company and answer theinevitable question--What are you going to do with the rest of yourlife?--before you even graduate. On the flip side, you mayend your school years with a failed business, substantial debt andan embarrassing grade point average.
I started a free travel e-zine called Student WorldTraveler (www.studenttravels.com) during my junior year at theUniversity of California, Irvine. It did take a lot of courage andlate-night coffee breaks, but the advantages a college campusaffords a start-up entrepreneur could save you thousands ofdollars.
*Technology. Virtually every college campus has computerlabs (many of them open 24 hours) and desktop publishing labscomplete with scanners and Zip drives. And you can get your owne-mail address, FTP converter and Web-page space--all for free.
- Library. Not many community libraries can boast theonline and print resources for research materials, governmentfiles, microfilm and books that many colleges have.
- Mentors. Your professors can become the mentors who helpkick your business into gear. I've found college professors notonly recommend starting your own business, they'll help youthrough the important start-up stages, such as writing a businessplan and creating cash flow. Of course, professors are extremelybusy individuals, but if you bring them your business plan, youmight gain several semesters of expertconsulting . . . and possibly your firstinvestor.
