I have a cousin who dropped out in fantastic fashion (I think straight Fs). He married his high school sweetheart, who was super ambitious. She went on to get a PhD while he delivered pizzas. He was supposed to do the "stay at home" dad thing, but of course his drinking problem made that dicey.

Somehow they pulled through. I can't imagine why she stuck around, but she did. He's sober now, but it all feels tenuous. Kids are teens.

My BIL failed out of college. He's making really good money right now selling mortgages in Phoenix, but it's a commission-based job, so paychecks are uneven. He has 2 kids and his wife doesn't work, so it's a source of stress for his parents (don't know if he really thinks about it).

My college boyfriend dropped out. He was struggling mightily with depression and just didn't have solid footing or the maturity to get through it. He has some evangelical brain washing to work out, which he attempted to do through pot. Not great all around.

He spent a few years working in factories and restaurants after we broke up. But after a bit realized he didn't want that life forever, and the older he got the less it appealed to him. By his mid-20s he enrolled almost full time in community college and worked at the same time. Graduated, went onto to become a teacher and a sports coach. Married and had 3 kids and all by all visuals seems to be doing quite well. I still do wonder about the evangelical stuff though and I suspect he got sucked back in. Which makes me sad, but he seems happy so there's that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize that well over half of Americans do not possess a bachelor’s degree, right?

OP. I know. I also don't personally know many people who fall in that category, so was just curious.

I don't think most people I know are aware that I haven't finished college. A lot of of people just assume I did.

Believe me, if they finished college, they know you did not. There are little tell-tale signs that reveal someone does not have a degree.

If someone went to Yale for 3 years, a person who graduated Fairleigh Dickinson will pick up some subtle clues that the other person dropped out?

I dropped out of college. Worked as a professional chef for 10 years. Spent a lot of time in therapy (I have bipolar disorder). Discovered a love for accounting and have been taking community college classes in accounting/have taken over the in-house accounting work for my restaurant group. Happily married home-owner with a stepkid and a baby on the way.

Anonymous wrote:my brother flunked out of columbia. came back home and attended the local commuter school. got his act together, majored in math and is now a very succesful consultant. he was always "smart but scattered" and just needed to mature.

I wonder if my brother is your brother's long lost twin? 😁 Except for the school, this sounds EXACTLY like my brother. He flunked out of Vermont ( too much skiing & partying), moved in with our dad & went to the local college, majored in math & is now a consultant.

I failed out of college the first time I went.

Eventually I went back and I’m now a lawyer, went to a top tier law school, married with kids, nice house. DH & I are both gov employees so we’re barely making it by DCUM standards, but we feel successful.

The first two I thought of both work in the wine industry and are doing well

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize that well over half of Americans do not possess a bachelor’s degree, right?

OP. I know. I also don't personally know many people who fall in that category, so was just curious.

I don't think most people I know are aware that I haven't finished college. A lot of of people just assume I did.

Believe me, if they finished college, they know you did not. There are little tell-tale signs that reveal someone does not have a degree.

LOL

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize that well over half of Americans do not possess a bachelor’s degree, right?

OP. I know. I also don't personally know many people who fall in that category, so was just curious.

I don't think most people I know are aware that I haven't finished college. A lot of of people just assume I did.

Believe me, if they finished college, they know you did not. There are little tell-tale signs that reveal someone does not have a degree.

Not!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize that well over half of Americans do not possess a bachelor’s degree, right?

OP. I know. I also don't personally know many people who fall in that category, so was just curious.

I don't think most people I know are aware that I haven't finished college. A lot of of people just assume I did.

Believe me, if they finished college, they know you did not. There are little tell-tale signs that reveal someone does not have a degree.

My brother dropped out of college. He works in IT and has done well.

FWIW, I have a relative with multiple graduate degrees who has done absolutely nothing with his life.

I have met several billionaires who either dropped out of college or never went, one of which is Bill Gates. The others are in the real estate, coal, and oil businesses. That doesn't count Ted Turner, who was thrown out of Brown (and who I have never met). Smart, hardworking risk-takers, all. In a way, I think it's probably easier to build a huge business like that when you don't have a college degree. College makes it easier to settle into a cushy, medium to high-wage job that will make you comfortable enough to be afraid to gamble everything on a dream.

I dropped out of college about halfway through. Struggled in my 20s but eventually started my own successful business. Finished my degree in my late 30s. Now have a good career working for a small government contractor. Have a great DH and kids, live in a nice house in a good neighborhood, and live a stable life.

I flunked out of college. Lived at home for a while, went back and got BA, MA, PhD, and am doing great now.

2 that never went.
One flitted from menial job to the next. Another stayed at his company and is now middle mgmt. Both doing fine, just not UMC.