<p>Ok so I've posted my stats on CC before and yeah people commented on them and stuff, but Im seriously thinking about not going to college at all. I mean its not like I want to become a doctor or anything that requires a degree. I want to start my own company (already have but plan on shifting its focus) and I sort of feel like Im ready to devote my entire energy to that and not go to school. What are some thoughts. Bill Gates and Larry Ellison(daughter went to my high school and is a former neighbor lil side note) didnt finish college.</p>
<p>College isn't for everyone. If you think college would be a waste of your time, it probably would be, and you should devote your energy to what you think you're ready for. So go for it, and if it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out. People get degrees later in life.</p>
<p>I would go to college anyways. Explore, learn, and continue your business while in college. This is especially true if your family is fairly wealthy since you likely won't have loans after graduation. If the business does well, you can just finish school or leave. If it doesn't work out, you have college to fall back on.</p>
<p>lol never listen to someone who has senioritis/loss of ambition ;). I'd say unless college is DEFINITELY NOT FOR YOU you should at least have it to fall back on. Continue ur business during college and drop out if u feel like it is doing well enough and you have enough knowledge to help it further succeed. Give college a chance if you are alright with the cost and see how it goes! GL no matter wat!!!</p>
<p>Figgy: haha, fair enough.
But I still feel like college isn't for everyone, and that if you think you'd be going to college just because other people think you should or expect it from you, it might not be worth it. But going to college certainly might help you with what you want to do.</p>
<p>I'd actually agree...it must be noted that in some cases, say if the person wants to be a steelworker, that college is not really meant for people. Or if you're going to be a model or something, or in your case, starting your own business.</p>
<p>But it is always good to get an education, especially for something like business, as it IS something to fall back on. Let's say (hypothetically, I'm sure you know what you're doing) your business starts to not go too well, and you end up stopping it. Then what are you going to do...the job market is very limited for those without a college degree, especially in the business world.</p>
<p>Having a business degree will also cause some of your potential customers to possibly hold more faith in you; yeah, its a stupid social thing, but it should be mentioned that society tends to look higher upon those with a college education than those who do not. They see them as intellectuals, regardless of their major or if they actually learned anything while in college that has anything to do with their current job (which is why lawyers can major in Art History!).</p>
<p>So yes, I would say to go for college, but try to keep your business going; it will be a challenge, but a very rewarding one after college is done, as who knows where it will be by then! And if it does start to really shoot off you could drop out, a la Bill Gates who dropped out of Harvard when Microsoft became his full time commitment.</p>
<p>Well, if you are uncertain if you want to go to college then take a gap year, get your business up and running and analyze the situation in another year. I think you should not be thinking "is college not for me ever" and more "is college not for me next year". You might, for instance, get your business up and running and in a year or two decide that for business and/or social purposes it would be advantageous to have a resume that lists a BA or BS or whatever. Conversely, you may decide in one year that your business just isn't going to fly and the best thing is to go to college and get some finance, marketing, business type courses under your belt. This isn't a now or never proposition. Many people follow different paths to the same outcome.</p>
<p>yeah ive really been considering a gap year and my parents are fine with that. Ok, so if I do go to college is there really a big benefit for me looking at ivy league schools or stanford (the one school where i might have a connection donor, legacy, and family member a former member of board of trustees)? Or could i just go to like some state school.</p>
<p>If you're going to start a business, I think you definitely need a college degree. Not necessarily because it'll help you start or run a business, but because business if a fickle thing. You never know if it will or won't work out, and you need a degree to fall back on in case it doesn't. A college degree will get you jobs. A high school diploma won't.</p>
<p>An Ivy League/Stanford education will get you lots of connections and brings a large recognition factor with it. I'd say apply to both choices (top school and state school) and figure it out as you go.</p>
<p>You could also look at schools that support entrepreneur skills and/or strong co-op experiences. I'm not familiar with many of them - Babson comes to mind - but I'm sure people on this board could generate a list.</p>
<p>College can teach you many things about business. Schools like Penn's Wharton have excellent programs in business management and etc.
How many Bill Gates are there? not many. The number of selfmade millionaires compared with the number of jobless high school graduates with no college degree isn't exactly balanced.
btw, you live in a town that has the same name as my school...i just thought i would point that out cuz that's neat.</p>
<p>wow that is neat--the only other atherton ive ever heard of is someone's last name</p>
<p>If you want to start your own company, definitely get at least a bachelor's degree in business administration. It's hard to learn this stuff on your own. Bill Gates is a poor example. He was just in the right place at the right time. Way back then, you could still get away with not getting a college degree, but now, that gap is quickly closing up.</p>
<p>if college doesn't interest you, please don't go -- you'll be stressed and miserable, and you won't be a pleasure to have in class</p>
<p>I think a business degree would help in business, but this is just me.</p>
<p>Well, that's just using logic</p>
<p>:-)</p>