[babar]

I think your chances of succeeding in your startup increase tremendously if you've taken a couple of years to work at another startup, see what is required to make it work, and see what problems you want to avoid, before starting your own. I also think, for CMU in particular, students have less exposure to the Silicon Valley startup culture than Stanford students. Hopefully that is better now than when I went, but being naive about the business side of things can have some pretty negative consequences when you try to start your own thing.

Of course, if you really have an idea you are passionate about you should go out there and make it happen. But maybe find some other more experienced CMU folks to give you some advice while you do it :)

[khuey]

Well of course CMU students have less exposure to the Silicon Valley startup culture than Stanford students. One is right down the road, the other is on the opposite side of the country.

[anamax]

http://www.cmu.edu/silicon-valley/