We think it’s awesome if you are 17 and have a more specific idea of what you want to do with your life, be it pre-med, history, or business school. There’s no time like the present, so why not just dive on in? The top undergraduate business schools have tricky admissions processes. If you're interested in business in a macro-sense, we suggest trying to start a business.
Starting a business can sound daunting, but if you are interested in business school, you should probably get used to the idea. Obviously business school appeal to more people than just entrepreneurs, but we've found that starting a business is a hack on the admissions process. Besides, there’s almost no better time in your life to start a business than when you have relatively minimal responsibilities in life. You know by now that Mark Zuckerberg developed Facebook when he was just a little bit older than you are. Why not take a shot at landing future you a spot in the big leagues? (Minus the whole Russian bot, fake news thing).
Develop an Idea
The first step is, of course, to have an idea. Is there something you’ve thought of launching for a few months now? Perhaps there’s a skill you’re really good at? Whatever it is, commit to it. Don’t give yourself the option to back out until you’ve really given it a shot. If you are still working to develop an idea, try thinking about your own skills and how can leverage those into a business idea. Also consider your network—who could you partner with and who is a potential customer or client? It might also be wise to consider what’s in demand in your community. When in doubt, we suggest thinking of a small inconvenient or problem in your community and solving it. Then, develop a business plan.
Engage a Board of Advisors
Once you have landed upon an idea, get advice from trusted adults. People want to help ambitious rising leaders make it to the top. Asking for advice is never a bad option and in fact, it might just land you with a stack of business cards that will come in handy later.
Get Going
The thought of launching your project between now and summer can be scary, but we’ll let you in on a little secret. Your business doesn’t actually need to make money. You just need to demonstrate to the admissions board that you worked really hard, put thought into your project, are organized, and learned something about entrepreneurship. So, don’t worry about getting rich yet. Just consider this an opportunity to learn the ropes. In the world of entrepreneurship, trial by fire is invaluable. Your parents are about to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into an education that doesn’t guarantee success in the real world. Learning practical business skills now will help you ensure success in future. Of course, there’s always a chance your business actually takes off.
Need help designing a summer business plan? Reach out to us. After all, TKG was the brainchild of a young entrepreneur.