Is it common knowledge that school doesn't prepare you well for the real world?

Sure, you can get a good degree, find a well-paying job, work until you're in your 60s, and then retire to enjoy the life you've deferred¹ for 40+ years. However, that may not prove to be a successful life, a secure life, a financially sound life. A lot will depend on your outlook and your goals but know this: School doesn't prepare you well for achieving wealth or becoming an entrepreneur and it downright fails at teaching you how to be rich.

Nevertheless, school is here to stay. For now. Thus, it helps to identify which classes are the most relevant and helpful for those of us looking to become rich entrepreneurs. There are, in fact, several courses that contain critical information and instruction that, if used correctly, will put you on your path to riches.

If you're in college, about to start college, or looking to take some classes, here is a list of college courses that could help make you rich. (I focused on college because (a) college provides the most variety in course selection, and (b) college is generally the time when individuals realize what they want to do with their lives.)

Accounting²

Although this list is in no particular order, I think Accounting is, by far, the most important course to take if you want to succeed financially. Today's "credit crunch³" illustrates⁴ that there are too many people who do not understand a balance sheet. Someone who walks into Best Buy and pays for a 47-inch plasma⁵ television with a credit card does not comprehend the difference between an asset and a liability.

Learning the difference between assets and liabilities, as well as concepts like inventory⁶ and cash flow, is essential if you intend on keeping your finances in order. Moreover, these concepts are crucial if you want to start your own business. The health of a business is reflected in its balance sheet and financial statement. As those numbers go, so does the business. Accounting will help you understand that cash flow is what helps a business succeed, and it is what helps you as an individual succeed.

Marketing⁷

If you intend on making money from selling something (which, incidentally, is how any business makes money), then you need to learn how to find the right product. Marketing, in and of itself, is not selling. However, it helps you learn how to promote certain products and services. By taking Marketing, you can understand the process involved in figuring out what consumers want, focusing on a product that satisfies those desires, and the attempt at moving consumers toward that product.

Too often, products fail because their creators didn't bother to learn whether a market existed for that product. This process involves research and time, but, in the end, it can save a business thousands, if not millions, of dollars. As an entrepreneur, it can also save you valuable time and money. Find the market first, and then develop the product.

Economics

I regret never taking Economics in college. Understanding the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services is essential if you want to take a big picture approach to business and investing. The current state of the U.S. economy is a combination of various factors (i.e., consumer over-spending, speculative⁸ real estate⁹ investing, fragile lending practices, a weakening dollar, low supply of oil, etc.).

If you understand how the economy got to the point where it is today, it helps you identify where your money should be. You can pick out the right investments and turn away from the bad ones. You can identify which direction your business should go in, including whether to take advantage of certain trends or cut out excess inventory.

Economics is a vital ingredient in a person's financial education. The world is now a global marketplace, and the supply and demand of goods and services operate at that level.

Finance

It's tax season, and several people you know are probably receiving refund¹⁰ checks in the mail from the Internal Revenue Service. If you're excited about receiving a refund check, you probably never took a finance course. Receiving a refund is a way for you to lose money. The government withheld¹¹ money from your paychecks and held that money for a year without paying you any interest. It's like giving someone an interest-free loan. Thus, your money sat in the government's hand and lost value during that time.

Finance helps you understand how the time value of money works and how various investment vehicles operate. One of the keys to becoming rich is comprehending how money works when it's not in your hands. A finance course (preferably one geared towards entrepreneurship) will teach you what you need to know to reach this level of understanding. There might be some math involved, but it won't kill you. It'll just make you a stronger and more savvy¹² investor¹³.

Any American History Course

History can be boring. But if you look at history from a different viewpoint, it can open doors for you. The most valuable aspect of history is its ability to convey to us the mistakes of others. Studying history helps you learn from others mistakes so that, hopefully, you won't commit the same mistakes.

American history is filled with mishaps¹⁴, wrong turns, and terrible decision-making, both at the national political level and at the business level. Look at these errors, and figure out how a better decision could have been made. Then, apply that realization¹⁵ to today's world and to your own trajectory¹⁶. How can you apply what you learned from these mistakes to your own entrepreneurial experiences?

Writing and Composition

Succeeding as an entrepreneur requires that you be able to express yourself and your ideas. Whether it involves pitching an idea to an investor, writing a press release, or composing a business plan, entrepreneurs need to communicate. More often than not, this communication is done in writing. Basic composition and grammar skills can do wonders for your ability to convey your ideas and your mindset.

Just glance around at the number of blogs across the Internet and you will see a lot of bad writing. It's an instant turnoff and preempts¹⁷ any evaluation¹⁸ of the content of your writing. Good writing, on the other hand, draws in a reader, and it gives you a shot at selling someone on your content. In other words, it helps you get in the door.

Any Literature Course

Literature, like history, contains valuable lessons that emanate¹⁹ from years of experience and wisdom. Why not draw on these sources of information? There is no limit to the topics covered by novels. Ernest Hemingway's books are full of inspirational messages. Oscar Wilde provides brilliant business advice. Henry David Thoreau is the master of teaching self-reliance. These books and others provide timeless principles of personal development and, just as important, wealth creation.

Management

One of the problems with "bosses" is that they don't know how to manage people. If you want to own and run a business, you need to manage that business effectively and efficiently²⁰. This process requires dealing²¹ and communicating with people and delegating tasks and decisions to employees. An understanding of management concepts and learning different techniques and skills will not only make you likable, but they will also help you make more money.

学生通过学校的学习并没能掌握应对残酷现实世界的技能，这是否已经成为所有人的共识了呢？

当然，你可以通过上大学获得一个高学位和一份高薪的工作，接着工作到60岁，然后开始享受退休的生活，享受迟来了40余年的那份安逸快活。但是，这并不能保证你就能过上成功，稳定并且金钱宽裕的滋润生活。你要明白学校不会在让学生变富裕或成为一名企业家方面下很大功夫，可以说，在教授学生如何变富裕方面，学校算是彻头彻尾地失败。相反地，在很大程度上这都要取决于你的人生观以及你所制定的目标。

不过，目前学生还是要待在学校里学习的。尤其对于那些想要成为富人的学生来说，学校可以帮助你选择一些最有帮助的相关课程。实际上，有些课程能够提供十分关键的信息指导。如果你能把它们充分地利用，那么财富就会在不远处向你招手。如果你想要选修一些课程以开始自己的大学生涯，那么以下的一系列大学课程都会帮助你发财：

（在此，我主要针对大学课程，一是因为大学课程可选择的范围很广，二是因为人们通常只有到了大学阶段才开始意识到自己今后想要做些什么）

● 会计学

虽然排列的顺序没有特殊的意义，不过我觉得如果你想要获得经济上地成功，那么会计必是首选的课程。当今的信用危机不正好说明了有很多人对保持收支平衡都很不在行吗！人们在好购物刷卡购买一台47英寸等离子电视的时候还是分不清财产和负债的区别。

如果想要使你的财政状况保持有序，你就需要对这两者间的差别，还有货物清单及现金流这些概念有所了解。此外，当你想自己创业时，这些概念也很重要。生意的好坏都会在它的收支平衡表和财政结算表有所反映。如果这些表上的数据不够理想，那么你的生意也不会好到哪儿去。通过学会计，你会知道现金流的保有能使你取得生意上的成功，还能取得人生的成功。

● 市场营销

如果你想要从销售（这也是绝大多数公司赚钱的方式）中赚到钱，那么你就得学会找到合适的产品。市场营销从本质上来说并不等于销售。不过它会让你学会怎样去推销产品和服务。通过学习市场营销，你就会明白消费者想要什么样的商品，把精力集中到能让消费者满意的商品上，并试着让他们对那件产品有购买的欲望。

产品不畅销，通常都是因为其生产商事先没有调查，确定这件产品的市场前景。虽然在这个过程中既要做市场调查又要消耗一些时间，不过这样做却能帮公司省掉上千，上万，甚至百万千万美元的损失。对于一名企业家来说，它还可以帮你节省很多宝贵的时间和金钱。重要的是先要对市场做个考查，然后才着手产品。

● 经济学

我后悔自己在上大学时没有修经济学。如果想要对整个金融与投资地大环境有个全面的了解，那你就得对货物，服务，生产，分配以及消费这些方面有所了解。当前美国的经济状况使由多种因素造成的，例如消费者的过度消费，房地产的投机猖獗，过于脆弱的借款机制，美元的疲软以及石油供应不足等。

对经济发展的态势的了解会让你看清投资的方向。你就可以避免错误投资并找到正确的投资领域。此外，你还能清楚地了解自己生意今后前进的方向，例如是否有必要就者当前的某种趋势，或是大幅消减超额的货物清单呢。

经济学在个人的金融教育中是一个不可或缺的因素。当今世界已经变成了一个全球市场，所有的货物以及服务的供求都在这个大市场中进行。

● 金融学

又到了交税的时间了，你可能会从身边的朋友那里得知他们会从税务机关那里得到一些退款单。如果你也为此而激动不已的话，那么你从来没有上过金融课程。事实上，收到退款的同时你也在赔钱。政府会从你的收入中扣取一些钱，期限是一年，而且不付任何的利息。这就像是你把自己的钱无偿地借出去一样。那么，你的钱就会因为被扣在政府那里而失去了生钱的价值。

金融学会帮你理解钱的时间价值还有不同的投资机构的运行方式。要想发财，关键之一就是要了解当钱不在你手上的时候它们是如何运作的。一门关于金融的，最好是针对于如何管理企业的课程会教你怎样达到那样的理解层次。或许这会涉及到数学，但还是难不倒你的。相反地，它会让你成为一个更强更有悟性的投资者。

● 任意一门美国历史课

历史可能会很枯燥。但是如果你能从一个新的角度去看待它，你就会得到很多有用的启示。你能从历史中看到他人所犯的错误，这是它最有价值的地方。此外，通过对历史的学习能够让你避免再犯前人所犯的错误。

美国历史是由许许多多的灾难，错误的转折以及可怕决定充斥而成的，不论是国家政治上的或是经济上的。研究这些错误并找出更好的解决办法，然后把之付诸实践，最好是把这些经验应用到你的企业中。

● 写作

要想成为一名成功的企业家，你必须具有表达自己观点以及表达自己的能力。因为无论是要向投资者表述一个构思，写记者会文稿，还是拟定一份商业计划书你都需要与别人沟通，大多数情况下，这种沟通都是通过书面形式完成。当你向表达自己的观点和想法时，对基本的写作以及语法技巧的掌握就能让你事半功倍。

浏览网上的博客，你就会发现有很多的文章都写得很糟糕。这样的文章让人一见生厌不说，对其内容的含金量也会大打折扣。一篇好的作文除了能吸引读者注意力，对于推销你的观点也是一个绝好的契机。换句话说，好的作文有助于获得成功。

● 任意一门文学课程

文学和历史一样，饱含了前人留下的宝贵经验和才智。鉴于此，为什么不把这些宝贵资源充分汲取呢？小说所涵盖的主题是不受任何限制的。厄内斯特·海明威的小说所包含的内容能激发人们的灵感。奥斯卡·王尔德会提供十分独到精辟的商业建议。亨利·大卫·梭罗却是教人自助自立的大师级作家。这些书能够提供的原理古今通用，不仅促进个人发展，而且还能帮助你创造财富。

● 管理学

老板不知道如何管理好自己的员工，这是他们的通病之一。如果想要经营一门生意，你必须能高效高速地处理问题。在这个过程中，你必须要处理的事情很多，例如与职员的沟通，谈判，有时还要做出些决定。不过当你对管理的理念有所了解，又掌握了多种应对方法和技巧之后，你这个老板就会变得人见人爱，而且还能赚到更多的钱。