Considering leaving college

[ryan24]

I just started my first semester of college. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying the transition into living my own life. However, I am starting to contemplate my decision of staying here right now.

I have always been a very independent person and very very independent learner. I understand that some people to prefer learning in a classroom environment, but I learn ten times better on my own. I am confident that I would be more educated if I left school now rather than staying. So that is not my main issue.

It basically comes down to whether making it in the world is possible without a college degree. It mainly comes down to those first five or so years on your own, and if surviving them is possible.

Right now I am fairly sure I will leave after this year. I am one of the most resourceful people I know. I can make money go very far, and do not need much besides the necessities to live happily. so I believe I would be able to survive.

This summer I will be doing a door to door booksales program that usually makes participants at least 5000 for the summer. I figure if I find a cheap room to rent, I could make that last a good amount of time while I build up other capitol and sharpen my skills. Eventually to go into some kind of small store.

Input very appreciated.

[cybergift]

Bill Gates dropped out from college but he succeeds. He is a real life example of an entrepreneur.

You need to build a business and you can start from a topic that you are really passionate about.

[Encrypted]

You shouldn't leave college until you have a solid foundation for yourself. What if you dropout and you can't find a job etc. Then you're screwed. If you have a business up and running and it's making good money, or enough to get by at least, then I'd go for it.

[Woodcs82]

Create a PLAN or PLAN to FAIL

[Aletheides]

Ryan, some kind of small store? Can you elaborate?

If I were you I would start experimenting with business ideas immediately.

[Danko]

Dont drop out of collage, if there is something I ahve learned over the years so is that the fact that you cant put a pricetag on education. And probably most important, while going to collage you wont just learn the basics for creating a life and (if you do business) a business. Not to talk about all the hundreds of contacts you get while there. I went to uni and just a couple of years after that one friend wanted to start a hotel with me. Another one a traveling company and a third one wanted to start a factory in china. But I am on my masters now so I have put all those things on ice.

Stay in school, you will allways carry your education with you!

[jasaunders]

Dont drop out of collage, if there is something I ahve learned over the years so is that the fact that you cant put a pricetag on education. And probably most important, while going to collage you wont just learn the basics for creating a life and (if you do business) a business. Not to talk about all the hundreds of contacts you get while there. I went to uni and just a couple of years after that one friend wanted to start a hotel with me. Another one a traveling company and a third one wanted to start a factory in china. But I am on my masters now so I have put all those things on ice.

Stay in school, you will allways carry your education with you!

You hit the nail on the head. College is more than attending 8am lectures half asleep with pounding headaches still smelling like alcohol and trying to cram information into your brain. College is meeting new people. People with similar interests and learning from people that are much different than you with different interests. College is about life experiences. Learning how to balance your time in class, with doing homework, while participating in extracurriculars or activities/hobbies, while still enjoying some of the best years of your life. College provides so many resources to help you excel in your personal, academic and professional life that you don't even realize the extent of would you would be missing. You have access to human capital and facilities that you will never have outside of college. If used appropriately, college is a breeding ground for success, especially in business.
Sure you can name people who dropped out of school that became successful, and for every one I can name ten who are working at McDonalds for a living. Even the ones that dropped out, they were already exceptionally intelligent with resources far beyond the average person and the businesses were created in college.

I spend a lot of my time with an organization helping overachieving high school kids go to college. These are kids that would do anything to go to college but don't have the means to do so. College really is a privelege, and I hope you give serious consideration to what you do.

[DennisChang]

There isn't only one path in liife. Whatever path you choose, make sure you don't regret it afterwards. You can choose to stop formal education, but it's important not to stop learning.

[pboychuk]

Uhhh... i think you are getting way ahead of yourself, I am also in college, I did downsize per se, from a biology/pre-med track to business, why? because i dont want to go to college for 8 years and then residency for 4-6 years... Also, I dont really think a business degree will help me that much, I currently make more than any job can offer once i graduate, But, i still feel a degree is important, for the experience, a backup plan and I will learn a few useful things. I realize I could make more money if I dropped out, but I have the rest of my life to increase my income.

Anyways, you dont seem to have a plan B, im sorry but a book salesman that makes 5000$ over the summer wont cut it, most likely you will only come away with half that because im sure the 5000$ is talked up.. So, if you wanna live on 1k$ per month, well, have fun living the rest of your life wishing you finished college.

[Aletheides]

I went to uni and just a couple of years after that one friend wanted to start a hotel with me. Another one a traveling company and a third one wanted to start a factory in china. But I am on my masters now so I have put all those things on ice.

Ouch that's painful

[Iamnotsatisfied]

I am exactly like you, in ways that I am an independent person who prefers and does better on his own. (way better actually). College isn't for everyone, but then again as most people her mentioned, college is not just for your degree. You meet people who can be very usefull to you later when you start your business. Think long term!

[ohilib]

what about students who do not have the funding to go college? Is it worth it to take up loans knowing very clearly that you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Motivation, drive and so on. With the internet around, information is everywhere, some courses are offered free online.

Let's see .. by the time you graduate, you have to start paying your loans.. You will need steady income for that (get a job). When any start-up idea sparks you, you can't just leave the job due to the loan to service, at the same time, you can't dedicate as much time and effort to whatever that's in your head.. Unless you seriously have what it takes.

Any advice on this?

[brownbob06]

I dropped out of college after my first year thinking "I don't need a degree to start a business." Been kicking my ass ever since.

[pboychuk]

what about students who do not have the funding to go college? Is it worth it to take up loans knowing very clearly that you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Motivation, drive and so on. With the internet around, information is everywhere, some courses are offered free online.

Let's see .. by the time you graduate, you have to start paying your loans.. You will need steady income for that (get a job). When any start-up idea sparks you, you can't just leave the job due to the loan to service, at the same time, you can't dedicate as much time and effort to whatever that's in your head.. Unless you seriously have what it takes.

Any advice on this?

That is a good point, I failed to consider this because my tuition is payed by the state lottery. In this case, I would look at your options, if you feel you can suffice without a degree it may not be worth it. Im sure people will disagree, but I am having this dilemma with my choice of whether to go to grad school or not. I am pretty sure I will not get a corporate job, so is it worth it for me to get an MBA or MIT, and take on 60k in debt?
But I still have two years, so I believe by that time will have a better idea of what I want to do for the rest of my life.

[AOCenteno]

Making it without a degree is possible. Most of the world does it everyday.

Just getting a college education so that you can find yourself is a waste. I cringe thinking about my undergrad years and how I wasted so many opportunities to meet great people and take advantage of academic events. When you go to school, be there- live it to the fullest, take the classes you want and go sit in on classes you're not even taking but want to learn about. Get to know your profs and the students that are ambitious....this is real value, having 50 friends who all are smart and want to make a difference vs just the random group life through your way as a kid.

A degree in itself is valuable if you want to move in large companies....getting a commission in the military requires one, and many companies use it as one of many criteria to weed out apps. But if you know this is not your path, or you can't get find a way to get the education without taking out crippling student loan debt....reconsider going to school. I know people who graduated with a master in social work, rack up 100K in debt, and get a job paying 24K a year……make sure your education is worth what you are paying for it.

It’s a personal decision, but a huge one….don’t take it lightly and talk to someone you respect before making a decision.