I dropped out for financial reasons about halfway through.

I worked in a couple of administrative positions, then worked as a nanny, and then started my own business (a placement agency). I ran my business for about 8 years, then finished school in my late 30's. I now lead Talent Acquisition for a federal contractor and make a good salary (about $150k + incentives). I know that puts me in the poor-house by DCUM standards.

I'm also happily married with two kids.

Me! I struggled at a big state school. Ended up leaving. Finished at night school and now have my own firm. I did pretty well considering I didn't take the traditional route.

Our contractor failed out of a flagship state school. He's a bright guy, very successful and much in demand for his work, but he says that as his kids approach HS, he wishes he could go back and finish his degree to set an example for them.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious

Yes, and that person just RETIRED in his late 40's. Voluntarily. He did just fine.

Of course there are success stories everywhere.

But the truth is it's hard to make it if you don't go to college, especially if the reason is you aren't a hard worker or you aren't motivated.

(which is markedly different from someone who is going to be an amazing chef, plumber or car mechanic or someone who is going to be a successful musician or actor and doesn't attend or finish school).

Getting a degree gets you in the door at some entry level jobs and the chance to prove yourself, move up, etc.

My kids don't have to go to college, but if they don't have another good path, I will help them go and try to encourage because it's something you can never take away from them and you can always start over if you have a degree.

A good friend from high school flunked out after freshman year. He went into the marines and eventually earned a degree online. He's making very good money as a government contractor now

I know four young people who have washed out of college, all around 21-22. One has learned a trade and seems to have found his path. The others are working retail or odd jobs and are still finding their way. (Two of them with significant mental health issues.)

Anonymous wrote:My younger brother flunked out out of Cornell after two years there. He designed a hardware encryption device and his company was acquired by a big player in that market for $200M and his share of the company is 50M. That was the end of 1999 during the dot com bubble. He cashed out before the crash and invested in Apple in 2002. He now has a few hundred million.

Just wow!

My brother dropped out of UC Davis after realizing college isn't for him. After floating around for a bit, he joined the SF Fire Department. He is doing great now and recently bought a house in Marin. He is set for life with a nice pension and great benefits. However, he tells me that his situation is becoming much more rare as more departments are looking for recruits that have college degrees.

My favorite blogger never went to college. He was a software consultant and now if a very well known sports technology reviewer

Nobody in my immediate family got a bachelor's degree. My brother dropped out after his freshman year but works in a speciality area and makes more than I do and I have a graduate degree. My mom got a 2 yr degree and was an RN. Now you need a bachelor's degree to be an RN. Dad dropped out after a year and went to Vietnam. He was in the special forces and came back and worked for AT&T for many years. He did well financially.

My younger brother flunked out out of Cornell after two years there. He designed a hardware encryption device and his company was acquired by a big player in that market for $200M and his share of the company is 50M. That was the end of 1999 during the dot com bubble. He cashed out before the crash and invested in Apple in 2002. He now has a few hundred million.

In my immediate neighborhood, I was the first person to go to a four-year college (my brother got an AA degree). In my friendship group in HS, all my friends attended college, though many kids I grew up with either did not attend at all or dropped out after a bit. They wanted to keep the party going. A few of these friends ended up in college later in life - one had worked his way up in Fedex from a driver to a regional manager and got canned to save money in the '08 financial crisis - right before his 20 years - such BS. He ended up back in school, got a BA in accounting and is now employed. Another friend flitted around, married, had kids, came out, ended up in recovery, then went to under/grad and is now a MSW therapist. Others have ended up having good, sometimes challenging, lives as their jobs are often more precarious. Marriages, kids, grand kids now, etc.

Yet many more had addiction issues, injured on jobs and not working due to not having health insurance for the necessary PT/surgery that would have gotten them back in the work force, etc.

Feel fortunate that my brother has made it to 62 with no real hiccups and just hoping he can get to 65.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Made $375k last year, no degree. Heavily recruited female athlete. 1480 SAT. I’m sure you’d “know” instantly but I’m proud of myself and my entire trajectory so I don’t care if you “know”

Are you a pro athlete?

No. Woman, sales

Co worker didn’t graduate HS

CS is a software architect very high salary . Same job last 25 years.

Coworker IT never finished college lies on his resume VP at large
Company. Not sure why no one checked .