What should I major in if I want to be part of VC?

[Wen]

tldr: Freshman at Stanford wanting to work in VC. Considering CS minor, and engineering/ econ major. What are some other things that I should focus on during college?

I'm currently a freshman at Stanford and am trying to choose my major. As an end goal I want to work in venture capitalism, most likely in software development or biotechnology. I'm planning to ask an academic advisor about this after break ends, but would like to listen to advice from experienced VCs as well.

I'm relatively sure I want to minor but not major in CS as I want to gain skills outside of programming. I was recently considering a major in electrical engineering and then realized I haven't grown out of my dislike for EE theory. I am now considering a major in Management Science and Engineering, Product Design or very unlikely, Economics. I am most in favor of MS&E at the moment, but I'm hesitant about new majors that may not be as well designed as more established engineering majors.

Finally a few more questions to answer if you have the time:
1. Should I continue onto graduate school? an MBA?
2. What are some extracurriculars that will give me valuable experience for a career in VC.
3. Any general advice from your experience?

Thank you!

[tceffE rorriM]

Froshling at Stanford and you're asking Yahoo Answers for advice? Seriously, how many VC types scan Yahoo Answers, lol? Hey, maybe they do? For research. Yahoo does trace itself back to Stanford alumni.

Shouldn't you contact some VC firms in Silicon Valley? You're kind of right there. :-)

The whole trend I'm reading from tech says that college is the old standby, that you should be awakening your independent entrepreneurial spirit outside of academia since you will ultimately be testing your mettle in the real world. Whatever you do must have market demand. You solve problems to create progress in the real world or just make a heck of a lot of money.

An MBA is probably pointless. From my non-tech view, I see a ton of engineers doing what MBA's do. There's so many of them. However, you have brand power in your favor at Stanford. So, I'll assume that your grad school of choice will be at the tippy top. In that case, like I said, brand power will grant you a golden ticket into a dream networking atmosphere. Who wouldn't want to be in your shoes with those prospects on the table!

Extracurriculars? You're in the hotbed of tech creativity, imo. What do you see that you can create? Stuff like apps? You likely have all of the tech skills to create potentially hot internet phenomenons? VC's want ROI. Viral stuff. Global stuff. TEDx appeal stuff. Problem solving stuff. Stuff that creates massive media interest is good. Stuff that makes IPO's skyrocket (this is all psychological, lol!). Get in at Google? You're lucky! You're in the hottest VC location on earth. Stanford *is* where Silicon Valley plucks talent.

Find something to crush Amazon or erase Facebook's popularity (or improve their dominance)?

There's so much I'd think you can do there. Just being in one class you can probably ask the guy next to you to team up to create some sort of hot new app in one afternoon. I know of BASES. That's a student org. on campus for promoting entrepreneurship. You would want to look into that.

Heck, we all know that Snapchat sprouted from Stanford. You're in Silicon Valley's laboratory.

I think an economics major is too general and useless, a waste of talent. The MS&E route. Does that offer you the greatest flexibility later? Does that route give you the knowledge you need? I do know that you should be getting your directive advice from those in VC, not purely from an academic advisor. The academic advisor has no skin in this game nor will they see you as potential talent to influence. An academic advisor can plan your coursework to play the academic game. That is it. Someone in VC will give you an experienced real life, practical real world answer. You're directing where your ship sails here.

Hope you enjoyed that, ha ha! Yeah, cute, no? Rather general, nothing specific, ha ha! You know more than me. Then again, I'm going to be the end user for whatever you create. Good enough of a reason to wish you the best! :-)