Learn 'business speak' in four weeks… only $8,000!

Would you pay up to $8,000 for your son or daughter to take a four-week, college business crash course AFTER they have graduated from college?

Thousands of parents are doing just that. It seems that many college graduates have trouble finding a job. Graduates go to an interview only to discover the interviewer speaks a foreign language — business speak.

Many universities have identified the problem and have come up with a solution – summer business crash courses.

"It's a shame to see parents have to dig into their pockets again so their kids can acquire a background in business. However, parents do have a very inexpensive alternative — business week programs for their kids. The problem is that only high school students can take advantage of them,” says Thomas Thoms, administrator of The International Business Directory of Business Week Boot Camps at www.BizKids.biz.

Universities such as Cornell, Stanford, Vanderbilt and SMU, charge their students from $7,500 to $8,000 (2005 fees) for a four-week, non-credit, business crash course. (See Business Boot Camp for the Clueless at www.BizKids.biz.) Last summer’s program at Stanford had one hundred thirty-five participants.

“The BizKids.biz web site was created as a resource for parents and their teenage high school kids to identify a business week program where they can learn about our market economy and entrepreneurship,” emphasizes Thoms.

During their week on a college campus, business week students are introduced to the world of business and the challenges entrepreneurs face in starting and operating a business.

The students and their teammates form a ‘company.’ The team then creates a ‘business’ by constructing a business plan for their imaginary product or service. The plan includes a marketing plan, an advertising campaign and the financials for their business. At the end of the week the team’s business plan is formally presented and then critiqued by a panel of business professionals.

Students not only learn about business, they are introduced to new skill sets in areas such as goal setting, leadership, communications, marketing, team building, presentation skills, business etiquette, and problem-solving.

When the program is completed, students have a great start on understanding business and the importance it plays in our market-based economy.

“Young people need to know about business at an early age,” says Thoms. “Heavens knows the kids will spend their lives in a culture dominated by business. Few high schools teach economics, let alone entrepreneurship. Most teenagers expect to go to school, graduate and get a ‘good job.’ Rarely do the kids realize they have the opportunity to look at the world differently – as a business owner or manager. That’s exactly what these business week programs do. They encourage the kids to look at the world of business differently. Not only as an employee, but as an employer…someone who runs a business as an owner, manager, or CEO.”


Visit www.BizKids.biz, to find if your state has a business week program for your teenage son or daughter. All of the organizations sponsoring a business week program are 501(c)(3) non-profit corporations.