college: just want to know

[EliteFlyers_com]

does anyone have a successful business and you only have a high school diploma? no college. just seeing if its possible and how hard it was for you.

[BioSpherical]

Well I'm in the UK so we have a different education system but I've not finished school yet. I will be taking my GCSEs this summer - they are the qualifications you work for throughout compulsory education. I will also be 16 in the summer.

Anyway, I have not yet had a really successful business ie. none that have made $xxxx + per month. But it is possible, and if you are not in full time education there is a real opportunity to create a successful business. You simply need the drive and passion for your business and belief in the product or service you offer.

[Franakapan]

Depends what business/es you start when in college/uni - if you can work it around your seminar/lecture schedule then go for it. I am planning to set up a bar/club and therefore I would be available during the evenings/nights to run it.

A few suggestions for college business:
- Bar/nightlife business
- Property
- Web ventures
- College based ventures - proofreading services etc.

Basicly you would be looking for businesses that you could run in your spare time.

Other benefits of college include networking, a fall-back plan (the degree), friends and the experience.

[BioSpherical]

You're lucky Franakapan - Uni is the perfect place to start a business, good luck with any ventures you take up! I can't wait until I go to uni for the reasons stated above...

[Franakapan]

Aye, I get a buzz just thinking about the opportunities

[BioSpherical]

Just rub it in why don't you...

[Franakapan]

Ok!

The really good thing is that, while I am setting up these businesses based upon the opportunities I have/will identify, I will be studying business management and enterprise, joining an entrepreneur club (and wheedling my way on to its committe lol) and networking with people who will potentially bring sucess to my ventures, and bring about further opportunities that I can get involved with exploiting.

[/rubbing in]

[pacificfame]

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard.

Michale Dell dropped out of college.

Those two off the top of my head right now. College is not needed to start a business.

[BioSpherical]

No its not needed but uni is a great experience and as Franakapan implies it opens up a lot of opportunities.

PS: You really have just made me feel really jealous Franakapan. I would love to be doing that kind of thing at uni, but its over 2 years away for me...

[Franakapan]

Heh, I've had to wait too you know! I've spent 2 years making sure I build up a decent background knowledge of business and business ideas in order to impress in interviews, on my personal statement and to ensure I get good grades in my AS and A2 business studies course - hard work but worth it.

And yes pasificfame, university/college are not necessary in order to become sucessful in business and I guess it boils down to personal preference. I myself have chosen to go to uni as I think the experiance and, indeed the education, contacts and opportunities, will be invaluable.

[mxer210]

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard.

Michale Dell dropped out of college.

Those two off the top of my head right now. College is not needed to start a business.

People saying stuff like this gets a bit annoying. It's a false inspiration for those who lack the desire to go to college, and for those who need some reassurance, that dropping out will be just fine.

You need to realize GATES dropped out of HARVARD, Steve Jobs dropped out of REED COLLEGE, and Michael Dell dropped out of UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. These are all very high caliber colleges and each was very smart to begin with. On top of that, both Gates and Dell dropped out to expand their business, and if they had not gone to college their businesses would not exist.

[KbProjects]

dude, go to a good school, get a college diploma in business/accounting and in 4 years you'll have the choice, to start your own things, or to work for someone else at first... Going to college is more than attending boring lectures...
I'm 21, i'm graduating in 2 months... i have several job offers, 75,000 a year.. so now at least i have a choice. In addition, I had the best time of my life... and i made very good friends... You wont regret it...

[pacificfame]

People saying stuff like this gets a bit annoying. It's a false inspiration for those who lack the desire to go to college, and for those who need some reassurance, that dropping out will be just fine.

You need to realize GATES dropped out of HARVARD, Steve Jobs dropped out of REED COLLEGE, and Michael Dell dropped out of UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. These are all very high caliber colleges and each was very smart to begin with. On top of that, both Gates and Dell dropped out to expand their business, and if they had not gone to college their businesses would not exist.

I don't think if Bill Gates never attended college he would never make it as far as he did.

I had a principle straight up tell me, if you are going into business college is nothing more than a wast of time and money. Those going into college are looking for degrees for future careers.

I myself will attend for a Business degree, however this is for future occupations that I would like to pursue. Although, a college degree is not required for what I would like to pursue it is recommended.

If you are looking into going into business for yourself, and college is not of interest at least take some marketing classes and a few others.

[KbProjects]

business college is nothing more than a wast of time and money..

haha college a waste of time? are you kidding me?

[akula]

every professional I know, particularly in vc, straight up wouldn't even bother to give the time of day to a kid with no degree

it's very simple....reject everyone without college education...for a lot of important reasons. actually, the level of discrimination is quite extraordinary - most people won't even have non grads as their friends, let alone do business together

I'd certainly have a lot of problem dealing with someone without a business degree with a major in finance. It would just be too difficult to find the right common language to be able to communicate with this person....unless they've got you on a retainer, in which case I obviously don't care - they can be a witch doctor as far as I'm concerned

so I think the social divide between grads and non grads is beyond expansive. it covers everything from differences in food, where people go to party, where people work, who they date, where they go for holidays etc etc etc....and non grads are on the wrong side of this divide