Other options to college

[Anonymous]

If your DC chose a path other than college or delayed college a bit tell me about their path. Technical college? Working? Gap? What had them eventually go to college or if they didn’t are the happy and well employed now (well in Normal times)? TIA

[Anonymous]

The people in my family who did not start or finish college have done okay but not great. Money was never in ample supply. They were underemployed their whole lives, which frustrated them because they (the two I have in mind) were really smart and talented. They were not able to secure jobs that would have utilized their full skill set, however, because they were deemed ineligible to apply.

I will admit, that both of these men had "issues" that might also have contribute to their lack of career fulfillment.

[Anonymous]

Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your DC chose a path other than college or delayed college a bit tell me about their path. Technical college? Working? Gap? What had them eventually go to college or if they didn’t are the happy and well employed now (well in Normal times)? TIA

Me (wife): started at state school, hated it, dropped out, worked at a few odd jobs, then I got an associates in business. Child of European immigrants. I grew up lower working class. I make about $40k/yr as an insurance agent. I supplemented that for about five years at a restaurant (Very part time, done now).


DH: grew up in big Irish Catholic family. Went to Carholic hs, then small uni. Dropped out shortly after. Went to cc, got an associates degree, and then went to trade school, did apprenticeship. One of the lucrative but less taxing trades. Think electrician, welding, etc. He has a full time, stable job, not free lance or anything. Public sector. He makes $110k.


Our hhi is about $150k +rental income. We are in the rust belt. We had kids late. We are mid-50s so I don’t know if it’s possible for sometime to obtain that income w/o a bachelors today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

And they are literally three in the millions of kids who don’t go to or finish college. They are not in any way Representative of the experiences of 99.99% of people.

[Anonymous]

My brother became a carpenter and framed houses. He started a business and ran anywhere from 1 - 6 crews at a time.

He made anywhere from $100K/year to $1M/year.

He was very smart about his money.

His friend paints cars and makes anywhere from $60K-$150K/year.

I work in IT and I have about 10 engineers working for me that learned on their own or did computer learning center. They make $80K-$150K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

And they are literally three in the millions of kids who don’t go to or finish college. They are not in any way Representative of the experiences of 99.99% of people.

correct and their reasons for dropping out were wildly different to the majority of students' reasons. These guys are / were entrepreneurs and bucked against rules, as they were destined in their ways, to lead.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to get some flack from this from the people on this board, but my DS took a gap year and spent the year WWOOFing in various countries in Central America. WWOOF stands for "World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms" - he worked on various organic farms in exchange for food & a place to stay. He wanted to be pushed out of his comfort zone and have some life experiences before starting another 4 years of school.

It was challenging and certainly not always fun, but he loved it. And yes, I was as nervous as you'd expect a mother to be in this sort of situation, but it was a good lesson in learning to let go a little.

He's now doing really well at the excellent university that he had been accepted into and deferred starting at. He came out of his gap year much more mature and with a new perspective on the world. No regrets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

And they are literally three in the millions of kids who don’t go to or finish college. They are not in any way Representative of the experiences of 99.99% of people.

Code monkeys who make 6 figure or close to it don’t need a college degree. They just need a technical training. They are the modern day plumbers and electricians of yesteryears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to get some flack from this from the people on this board, but my DS took a gap year and spent the year WWOOFing in various countries in Central America. WWOOF stands for "World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms" - he worked on various organic farms in exchange for food & a place to stay. He wanted to be pushed out of his comfort zone and have some life experiences before starting another 4 years of school.

It was challenging and certainly not always fun, but he loved it. And yes, I was as nervous as you'd expect a mother to be in this sort of situation, but it was a good lesson in learning to let go a little.

He's now doing really well at the excellent university that he had been accepted into and deferred starting at. He came out of his gap year much more mature and with a new perspective on the world. No regrets!

Sounds awesome actually. Is there a website for this?

[Anonymous]

I have a question for the WWOOF poster. I think you must have been the one to mention it a while back, because I bookmarked the organization at the time. My DD is graduating college in December & wants to work with farm animals for some time (she’s in animal science & thinks the experience will prove helpful when it comes time for employment).

Did you feel that WWOOF, as an organization, employed oversight? When DD checks the site, there are 100s and 100s of farms from which to choose. Are the farm participants vetted in any way? Did you feel safe about the home where your son stayed? Would you feel differently if it had been a daughter instead of a son?

I’d love any additional insight you have on the program, as she’s seriously considering it. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

I think they are the exception to the rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

...or whatever his name is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a question for the WWOOF poster. I think you must have been the one to mention it a while back, because I bookmarked the organization at the time. My DD is graduating college in December & wants to work with farm animals for some time (she’s in animal science & thinks the experience will prove helpful when it comes time for employment).

Did you feel that WWOOF, as an organization, employed oversight? When DD checks the site, there are 100s and 100s of farms from which to choose. Are the farm participants vetted in any way? Did you feel safe about the home where your son stayed? Would you feel differently if it had been a daughter instead of a son?

I’d love any additional insight you have on the program, as she’s seriously considering it. Thanks in advance!

WWOOF PP here. My advice in regards to safety is to look at the reviews of the farm before you choose any of them - only go to ones that have numerous positive reviews, especially reviews that describe their experience in detail. I would stay away from places that don't have many reviews or details. Other tips to consider are to pay close attention to the description of your living space (good info to have) and to perhaps gravitate towards places that have space for a lot of people (safety in numbers).

I do think that I would have been a bit more hesitant if it were a daughter (perhaps more or less so depending on the country she wanted to go to), but I wouldn't have been against the experience at all. There are lots of young female WWOOFers out there! I might take a bit more safety precautions in vetting a potential farm/stay - avoid places run by single men, being extra certain that there's good reviews from other women, etc. Again, though, I would not let any concerns hold you back - the experience is worth it!

I don't know a ton of information about the oversight that the WWOOF organization does. I know that they do screening of some farms, but not all. Again, the reviews from others and direct contact you have with the host themselves is the best way to vet things.

I felt fairly good about the safety of almost all the places my son stayed at (though I did operate on an "ignorance is bliss" frame of mind because it's sometimes hard to quell the anxiety of a mother!). There was only one farm stay that wasn't good experience, but my kid had taken a big risk by going there because there was no reviews and little info online.

Let me know if you have any other questions! It sounds like a great fit for your daughter. I would recommend it to anyone willing to put in the work to plan it and ready to be put out of their comfort zone and experience the world a bit more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to get some flack from this from the people on this board, but my DS took a gap year and spent the year WWOOFing in various countries in Central America. WWOOF stands for "World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms" - he worked on various organic farms in exchange for food & a place to stay. He wanted to be pushed out of his comfort zone and have some life experiences before starting another 4 years of school.

It was challenging and certainly not always fun, but he loved it. And yes, I was as nervous as you'd expect a mother to be in this sort of situation, but it was a good lesson in learning to let go a little.

He's now doing really well at the excellent university that he had been accepted into and deferred starting at. He came out of his gap year much more mature and with a new perspective on the world. No regrets!

Why flack for that? That sounds amazing. I am hoping my now junior in HS considers something like this as well before (if) he goes to college.