I don’t think so, but apparently it is something to consider. Everyone knows Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft just in case you didn’t know, never finished college. Steve Jobs founder of Apple Computers never graduated from college. Larry Ellison of Oracle Corporation never finished college either! So what does this mean? Should we just skip an expense that can easily add up to at least $100k to work or pursue a trade? Maybe take some classes on the side? I don’t know.
When I was deciding between colleges, not going to college was never an option. I ended up choosing my state university over an Ivy university. It saved me a ton of money, in fact I made some. I wrote about my decision earlier.
I would like to argue that Bill, Steve, and Larry are naturally gifted, just like pro athletes that have some natural born skill. With the combination of skill, drive, and some timing, they made things happen. The path they took to success is much different than most of the general population, so I would say they are exceptions. What about the rest of us?
This MSNBC.com article, Five Reasons To Skip College, says:
Reasons to skip college. Is higher education a good idea?
1. You’ll be losing four working years
2. You won’t necessarily earn less money
3. In fact, you could make more money
4. You can learn outside a classroom
5. Plenty of other people did fine
I can’t disagree more. Since much of life is about risk minimization, the fact that you have a college degree does in fact minimize the risk that you will not have work, and does maximize your potential to make more. I especially hate reason #5.
But then again, if you have the drive and the ideas, why not skip college? I can’t really argue against that either, but it’s risky. What do you think? If you had a choice, would you go to school again? What about if your kids decided they didn’t want to go to college? Let’s say as the parent you believed they had what it takes to make it without the college degree. What if they were really good at sports, would you let them skip college?
Single Ma
April 24, 2006 at 12:53 pm
college is definitely worth the investment. even if my daughter had major skills, i’d still want her to at least get a bachelor’s. it’s like insurance, ya know?
kassy
April 25, 2006 at 10:26 am
I didn’t go to college and what I find humourous is that I work at a university. But if I had it to do over I would go to college. And if I knew what I wanted to study, I’d go to college right now.
freedumb
April 25, 2006 at 1:59 pm
SingleMa, Yeah, it is…I would strongly urge (level 4 out of 5) my kids to go to college…but on the same note, if they had some business venture idea or golf talent that would secure them even without it, I’d let them choose that. Kassy, that is ironic! You’re never too old to go back…I want to someday…it is getting harder as I get older though…the thought of studying for exams again! ACK!
lauda
April 26, 2006 at 12:00 pm
freedumb–
If college is about risk minimization, then you should have chosen the ivy instead of the state school–jobs go to the top of a state school–and basically anyone who got a diploma from a ivy (and remember D stands for diploma).
In choosing the ivy, you have no risk involved…but I guess there is also a middle road–however, I doubt it was such a conscious decision–at least I could never have made such a thoughtful decision at 18…
freedumb
April 26, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Lauda–
It is…I mean there are tons of other things college brings, but one is risk minimization. Err, I’m having a tough time writing down my thoughts on this.
I agree with you that having a degree from a top university would almost be like a guarantee for a job…but when I had to weigh the stress it would’ve put on my family and myself, it was just not worth it in my opinion. It’s a tough decision…I feel I made the right one…