Center FAQ
Tuck is uniquely positioned to support aspiring entrepreneurs—whether they want to found a venture, join a startup, or acquire and run a business—given our tight-knit community and focus on creating well-rounded leaders.
The six centers at Tuck create pathways for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges. Through courses, programs, and hands-on opportunities, the centers connect students with faculty, staff, alumni, practitioners, and community leaders—on campus and beyond.
While each center has its own focus, cross-center collaboration expands the range of experiences available. Students are encouraged to take advantage of both individual and cross-center offerings to tailor their MBA experience to their unique goals and interests.
We’ve included below answers to some of the questions we receive from prospective and current students, including questions that are relevant to all of the centers at Tuck.
Questions About the Center for Entrepreneurship
- How many courses do I need to take to major in Entrepreneurship?
Students at Tuck receive a general MBA. Centers provide opportunities for you to customize your time and learnings while at Tuck but we do not offer a designated degree in entrepreneurship.
- If I start a company while at Tuck, how much equity does the school keep?
Tuck does not take equity in your company. Note, if you are developing a technology which was developed at Dartmouth, you will be working with the Technology Transfer Office on any commercialization of that technology.
- How can I get into the Venture Learning Lab?
There is an application process before the start of each Venture Learning Lab program. As a base, deep customer discovery must be completed on your venture prior to applying. This is often done as part of either the Entrepreneurial Thinking elective course or an Entrepreneurship First Year Project (eFYP), but it can also be done independently.
- What opportunities does the Center for Entrepreneurship offer students to customize their learning experience while at Tuck?
From elective courses and Entrepreneurship First Year Projects (eFYP) to the Venture Learning Lab and other co-curricular events and programs, Tuck students can individualize their program of study based on their own interests. Explore center opportunities for students.
Questions About Tuck’s Centers
- Are centers the equivalent of a major at Tuck?
No, majors aren’t part of the Tuck MBA curriculum, but centers do offer students a unique opportunity to personalize their Tuck experience and create their own unique career pathway—no previous experience required.
Centers often work in tandem as their fields of focus are multidisciplinary. For example, if you’re interested in autonomous vehicles, becoming involved with both the Revers Center for Energy and the Center for Digital Strategies could be useful. Centers also offer fellowship opportunities for students who wish to work even more closely with a particular center (or centers) throughout their second year at Tuck. Involvement with a center usually begins with interest or experience in that topic and flourishes from there.
- Do I have to be accepted or choose a center to work with at Tuck?
The centers are resources you can consult for industry-specific exploration but you do not have to be accepted or formally enroll with them. Each center operates independently but they often co-sponsor events and speakers. You can attend a talk by a speaker, join a workshop, or attend an industry trek organized by a center to tailor your specific pathway without getting formally involved. Many students will self-identify with a center in one way or another but not always exclusively and through a variety of different opportunities.
- How does a center differ from a student club?
Centers at Tuck serve the entire Tuck community of students, faculty, and alumni through practitioner-led, center-created programming which is strategically planned for each term, academic year, and multi-year.
Tuck student clubs are led by students, for students. Their focus ranges from career support clubs to cultural affinity groups to volunteering in the local community. Each student club offers a distinct set of student events, benefits, and opportunities to those students who elect to join. Centers partner closely with specific career clubs to build community and offerings on campus.
Career clubs, oftentimes aligned with a specific center area of focus, serve as a resource for other students interested in connecting with a fellow Tuck student on that career path.
- Do I need to apply or interview separately for this program?
There are some center programs, such as the fellows programs, that include an application process for selection. However, every center offers a range of programming that is non-selective and available to all Tuck students.