<p>Would you let your daughter who's in college date a guy who's attending an Ivy League university, but is dropping out after starting a business with a few of his friends? Let's say their company got millions of dollars in funding and investors are offering the guy a full-time salary to work as the Chief Operating Officer if he drops out. Remember, when you hear "millions in funding" that simply means $4-6 million are given to the company to use for business reasons...they can't cash out that money. All the founders will receive full-time salaries but certainly not millions.</p>
<p>Would you let your daughter date a guy like that? Or would you rather have her date someone who actually has a degree? </p>
<p>(yes, this is a true story. I just want your opinions on this)</p>
<p>ps. I'm not the parent...this girl's dad called me up for a talk the other day...I just wanted to get your opinions on this..</p>
<p>For a college-aged daughter, I don’t think the parents should “let”, or the converse, “forbid”, daughter from dating…she’s a big girl and can make the decision herself.</p>
<p>BTW, to make dad feel better, dating does not equal “I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this guy”.</p>
<p>I don’t feel I control who my kids date. I don’t understand the concept of “would I let my college daughter”. Why would a parent allow or not allow a boy or girl friend? These daughters and sons are ADULTS. I got married while I was IN college in fact. I have two daughters ages 21 and 23 and I can’t imagine having input in terms of who they date. </p>
<p>That said, I would not even be unhappy about the situation you describe. This young man is apparently very bright (to get into an Ivy League school) and is educated (even if sans degree at this moment in time) and in fact, is a go getter who is already successful in getting a business started with major funding and a job as part of of the deal. Sounds like someone who will be successful even without the degree. And someone can always return to finish a degree if desired. </p>
<p>By the way, my husband took a lot of time off from college (and not for the reasons the young man in your post did!..he was a ski instructor, LOL) but he did end up getting his degree, as well as a four year professional grad school degree (has Dr. in front of his name). Ironically, he is missing work all day as we are in the middle of a two foot snow storm and he is out…skiing. Has come full circle. :D</p>
<p>Yes. I’d let my daughter date a community college drop-out. I’d want the guy to have some great qualities and to have a way to support himself before the two of them married/had kids, but that is just a preference. I don’t control who my kids date.</p>
<p>My husband was a Berkeley drop-out. He is in the top 5% of wage earners in the US and has been every year since leaving school with the exception of two different 6-month periods. A college degree or lack thereof is just one piece of the picture.</p>
<p>It seems the guy in question is a bit of a risk taker - could have some big upswings and some dry spells, too. It’s up to your daughter to figure out if that is the kind of ride she likes hitching her own wagon to - besides, who says your daughter needs to depend on a future husband for financial stability? Maybe she likes that role or will grow into that role.</p>
<p>When I was at an Ivy, I dated a guy who had dropped out of the same school but was working nearby (at a not-very-lucrative job). When I graduated, we both moved to another city, he finished his degree and got an M.A., and then a very good job with a tech company. We broke up after a few years, but he’s had a very successful career. </p>
<p>And of course I agree with all the above: this is the girl’s decision and no one else’s.</p>
<p>By the way, I don’t consider every boyfriend my daughter has at this age (she is currently 21 but has had several boyfriends averaging a year or so each) as potential lifelong partners. I suppose that could be so but I just think of them as the boyfriend for the time being. And if it were more, so it is.</p>
<p>(the parent in question would likely be up in arms to know that every BF my D has had is an actor!)</p>
<p>What does that have to do with it? I expect when my kids date in college that sex is part of the relationship. </p>
<p>Again, this young man sounds like a real go getter. While I believe in college degrees, there is a lot more to a person, let alone to success. He sounds like someone who will be successful. Anyway, they are just dating. They are YOUNG. I doubt they are getting married and even if so, so be it.</p>
<p>Not that I have any say in who my kids date, nor give input, yes, I would be perfectly fine in my own thoughts with my kid dating a young man as described in the first post.</p>
<p>I actually don’t understand what the objection is to this boyfriend.</p>
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<p>I assume the boyfriend will be getting stock options. There is no point in working for a start up if you don’t get stock options. If the company succeeds then he will most certainly walk away with millions.</p>
<p>The kid has a full time job. His business is being funded by outsiders, not mom and dad. He isn’t making millions? He is less than 22 years old!!! My husband is 55 and doesn’t make millions and he has a college degree and a four year professional degree! :rolleyes:</p>
<p>(yes, I think I will pop some popcorn!)</p>
<p>PS, I guess I don’t think like the OP, whose name is, afterall, “MadeItToTheTop”. Guess what? Fancy degree doesn’t mean you make it to the top or make a lot of mulah anyway. I have a graduate degree from Harvard (only mentioning this in the context of this discussion, sorry) and I make a very low salary.</p>
<p>haha more like “would you be ANGRY if he dropped out?”</p>
<p>The dad voiced his concern that “education is a very important thing to have in life…whereever you happen to go it’s always good to have an education, regardless of how much money you’ve already made”</p>
<p>He has a PhD…I can’t blame him on his opinion hahaha…just wanted to know what the rest of you thought</p>