Uni/College successful dropouts?

[nado]

hey all

I know there's a few "should I go to uni" threads about the place, but I'm sort of in the same concern.

What may be helpful is info on people who have recently (i.e. the past few years) have dropped out or deferred uni/college specifically to pursue a business venture.

I'd be very interested in finding out everything such as why they dropped out, what they did, how they went about getting funding and starting their business.... basically any info on both successful and unsuccessful dropouts.

Anyone know of any info... or has any comments/advice?

btw, I've got a long post up on my blog atm which explains more ramblings about whether or not I should stick to uni.

cheers
nathan

[Jimmye]

See nathan now you know how I was feeling. I feel like im at school again.

Ok look at

Branson
Jobs
Gates
Siimon Renolds
etc

One of Siimon renolds greatest quotes was that a person who had read the top 8 marketing books would know more than a person doing a 3 yr degree. Dont listen to the people at uni like the councillors they will want to keep you their because they are there because they believe in uni. They talk such crap when I talked to them about this they have no idea. With their left wing garbage.

If you want to be happy do what you want to do. Some of my mates have dropped out and now are getting paid $30 (no tax) an hour. So yea do what you want to do. Anyone who says a piece of paper is better than real life skills in business is kidding themselves because they didn’t have the guts to go for it.

Dont get me wrong people need degrees e.g lawyers e.t.c But for business people like yourself a degree teaches no practicality in the business word today which you really need to stay alive in the 21st century.

[mxer210]

I would say definately get a degree. Gates and Jobs both went to very prestigious and intelligent schools (harvard and reed) before dropping out. There are also exceptions such as branson and other entrepreneurs who don't go to college, and become billionaires, but you can't look at 2-3 people out of the millions in the entrepreneurial workforce. Just because a small handful made it without college, it doesn't mean every entrepreneur should bypass college to get more real world experience. The founders of yahoo, google, ebay, kinkos, fedex, craigslist, nike... almost every other company, went to college. Many companies were even founded in college and wouldn't have been founded if the founders were not in college (Kinkos, Nike, and Gatorade). It's just wrong to look at a few non-degree entrepreneurs and follow their path, because it's misleading.

I also believe that when I attend college next year, my professors, entrepreneur/business clubs, and the college itself will be a much better environment to foster my learning and grow my business, and my skills as well. Business plan competitions, university grants for student businesses, networking and meeting business partners (founders of google met at stanford), etc. Learning and growing my business in front of a computer with no guidance or support around me seems extremely risky and definately not a positioin I would feel comfortable being in.

Just my 2 cents

[nado]

lol yep I agree with both of you which is a difficult situation

Yep I know that Branson and most of the famous entrepreneurs dropped out of uni/college... but does anyone know of any recent people (the last 5 years or so)?

Maybe I should just stay in uni, find time to devote to business while still passing uni and if one of the businesses becomes big, then just defer uni and devote my full time to the business...? (heh, but even if that happened I can't see myself bothering to go back to uni again).

cheers
nathan

[mxer210]

Ryan Allis, a very famous and successful young entrepreneur, currently attends UNC-Chapel Hill. http://ryanallis.com/

Cameron Johnson is also very famous and successful, and attended University of Virginia but "put his college plans on hold". http://cameronjohnson.com

Nat S Turner, Cameron's main business partner, attends University of Pennsylvania and is studying business. He is the least successful of these 3 but his latest venture http://www.eatnow.com looks really strong. He is also the founder of http://www.oodalay.com

[Jimmye]

Ryan Allis, a very famous and successful young entrepreneur, currently attends UNC-Chapel Hill. http://ryanallis.com/

Cameron Johnson is also very famous and successful, and attended University of Virginia but "put his college plans on hold". http://cameronjohnson.com

Nat S Turner, Cameron's main business partner, attends University of Pennsylvania and is studying business. He is the least successful of these 3 but his latest venture http://www.eatnow.com looks really strong. He is also the founder of http://www.oodalay.com

Thanks for the links were did you find these?

[mxer210]

Over the years I've stumbled across them.

http://www.ryanjglasgow.com is another successful and famous entrepreneur. Haha just kidding.... I have not been successful (financially), nor am considered famous, but hopefully some day....

[Joel Chue]

Here is my advice. Stick with uni at the moment and start developing a business part-time. Start small, try to manage your time and work well.

Only when your business starts getting bigger and requires more of your time, defer then. I believe this is the most logical step you can take now.

Honestly, I am entering uni in 4 months time and I am an internet business owner as well. My internet business has just picked up speed and profits, so this uni thingy has been bugging me as well.

So what I have planned to do is to first attend uni and do my business part-time. But I know I will defer if my business needs me urgently. Start planning, get a business idea and plans. And keep us update about your progress.

I hope this helps.

Joel

[nado]

Thanks Joel, I've been thinking that is probably the best option.

If I can set into practice some solid time management I think I might be able to get stuck into some bigger projects I have in mind.

cheers
nathan

[demiGod031]

Dropping out of university and starting your own business doesn't mean that you will be successful.

Finish your studies first. Then start your own business. Your degree will serve as a cushion in case something bad happens to your business.

[Jimmye]

Dropping out of university and starting your own business doesn't mean that you will be successful.

Finish your studies first. Then start your own business. Your degree will serve as a cushion in case something bad happens to your business.

Thats not taking a risk at all. Thats not very Entrepreneur of you:P

[Bestmiler]

but its reality

[Antdizzle]

If you fail at your business, you could always work at McDonalds.

[robyang!]

Richard M. Schulze founder of Best Buy.
Hey if you fail at business there's nothing wrong with working at McDonald's.
My dentist worked at McDonald's.

[Antdizzle]

Richard M. Schulze founder of Best Buy.
Hey if you fail at business there's nothing wrong with working at McDonald's.
My dentist worked at McDonald's.

Great minds think alike?