Successful entrepreneurs don't need a college degree!

Going to university is the right choice if you dream of becoming a scientist, architect, or doctor, but not an entrepreneur.

In a recent blog post, Virgin Group owner Richard Branson shared: “A business degree may not yield the results you expect. University is the right choice if you dream of becoming a scientist, architect, or doctor. The research and teaching programs in these fields provide essential initial preparation, although you still need to continue learning after completing your degree. My daughter Holly is a prime example. She studied pharmacy.”

The owner of Virgin Group - Richard Branson

However, for an entrepreneur, knowledge and skills should be learned through personal experience. “You know, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg – they all dropped out of college to pursue their dreams of starting their own businesses.”

These individuals developed their unique and compelling approach to creating innovation and leadership not by reading a textbook, but rather through sleepless nights fueled by a burning desire to become entrepreneurs.

While Branson acknowledges that some great leaders do have MBAs, he considers it unnecessary.

"No matter how much you study the art of success or analyze the strategies of famous entrepreneurs, nothing can better prepare you for your journey than running a real business."

All entrepreneurs can make mistakes, especially when starting out, and Branson says that, in his experience, "the best way to grow is through learning and experimentation when you're young and have little to lose."

Richard said that Virgin would never agree with encouraging young people – those with ambitions to become entrepreneurs – to go to university only to end up burdened with huge debts. That's not the best option.

This is also why the UK government launched a program to support startup loans to help young entrepreneurs access funding – leading to the launch of the non-profit organization Virgin Startup.

“They have a choice. They can either take the traditional route, borrowing money to pay for college tuition, or borrow money and start a business – with the support of Virgin Startup’s network of leading consultants.”

The outcome is entirely up to them. Since its launch in 2013, Virgin StartUp has made over 1,000 such loans totaling more than £12 million.

“Programs like this help a new generation of entrepreneurs turn crazy ideas into reality. Research shows that for every pound lent to startups, three pounds are injected into the economy. This makes entrepreneurs feel like they are making a financial contribution to the community and society.”

However, he also noted that deciding to start a company instead of going to university “doesn’t mean you stop learning and stop developing yourself. It simply means you’ll be seeking knowledge elsewhere, not in a university classroom.”

According to Tri Thuc Tre (Young Intellectuals)