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”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spare me all the exaggerated excuses. It's painfully easy to earn a bachelor's and I know some total dumbbells who have recently graduated from both private and state colleges. Unless a kid quits to pursue a real passion with a real plan, it is a major character red flag and likely signals lifelong challenges.

24-Year-Old Student Who Collected Garbage to Pay for College Is Admitted to Harvard Law School
"It was the people that were on the bottom of the hierarchy who really lifted me up," Rehan Staton said
https://people.com/human-interest/24-year-old-student-collected-garbage-admitted-to-harvard-law-school/

Single mom of 5 overcomes tragedy, graduates from law school at 33 after earning GED and bachelor's degree
https://www.today.com/parents/single-texas-mom-5-graduates-law-school-age-33-t127331

You act like it’s a moral accomplishment to finish college though.

Harvard and Yale ain’t all that. From Harvard, Yale to homeless encampments:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-homeless-man-who-graduated-from-harvard-law-school-with-chief-justice-john-roberts/2015/07/13/63257b5c-20ca-11e5-bf41-c23f5d3face1_story.html

https://youtu.be/05We-FC3QfE

It seems unkind to these individuals to use them as examples. They experienced mental health issues.

I know two people who flunked out but then resumed after a semester or year. Both are millionaires.

Most of the people I know who didn't finish college kind of limped along in various jobs--more likely to be unemployed and for a little longer than those with degrees and not real high earners. Mainly fine, but nothing particularly successful and sometimes not fine (e.g. addiction issues, financial troubles). I'm not sure if it had more to do with the actual credential or the reason why they didn't finish college--not quite organized, ambitious, conscientious enough --or had mental/emotional issues that posed challenges. The few people I knew who didn't go to college at all were ones who were never cut out for it and went into a trade or family business or who were lured by what seemed like high pay in IT jobs. Their outcomes were pretty similar--fine, but not super successful. As they've gotten older they seem more likely to have hit a plateau career-wise--and feel a bit stuck.

But outside of careers, they seem to be on the same spectrum of happiness, successful relationships as my college/graduate school educated friends/acquaintances.

Both my parents. Dad got an AA at community college and got a solid tech support job for a manufacturing company, and transitioned eventually to technical writing. Mom cleaned houses until one of her clients offered her an entry-level data entry job. She worked her way up from that to the VP level.

Weird question... Don't we all know a lot of people in this situation?

My good friend owns a dog grooming business. ALWAYS booked solid.

Other friend is a chef at a high dollar restaurant, owned her own catering company for years before that.

One couple owns a lawn care business with many employees.

I know many people who work typical office jobs and make a decent living. Many companies and government agencies will promote based on experience.

One friend is a musician in a rock band. Band does ok, but he supplements income as a studio musician.

I could go on.

My BIL. Started his own business, so successful he retired at 35. Now 60, he invested well, owns two gorgeous homes, a private plane, and golfs most days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spare me all the exaggerated excuses. It's painfully easy to earn a bachelor's and I know some total dumbbells who have recently graduated from both private and state colleges. Unless a kid quits to pursue a real passion with a real plan, it is a major character red flag and likely signals lifelong challenges.

24-Year-Old Student Who Collected Garbage to Pay for College Is Admitted to Harvard Law School
"It was the people that were on the bottom of the hierarchy who really lifted me up," Rehan Staton said
https://people.com/human-interest/24-year-old-student-collected-garbage-admitted-to-harvard-law-school/

Single mom of 5 overcomes tragedy, graduates from law school at 33 after earning GED and bachelor's degree
https://www.today.com/parents/single-texas-mom-5-graduates-law-school-age-33-t127331

You act like it’s a moral accomplishment to finish college though.

They don't have many/any accomplishments outside of college so they get very defensive about defending it.

When you peak in College, it’s all you have to cling on to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spare me all the exaggerated excuses. It's painfully easy to earn a bachelor's and I know some total dumbbells who have recently graduated from both private and state colleges. Unless a kid quits to pursue a real passion with a real plan, it is a major character red flag and likely signals lifelong challenges.

24-Year-Old Student Who Collected Garbage to Pay for College Is Admitted to Harvard Law School
"It was the people that were on the bottom of the hierarchy who really lifted me up," Rehan Staton said
https://people.com/human-interest/24-year-old-student-collected-garbage-admitted-to-harvard-law-school/

Single mom of 5 overcomes tragedy, graduates from law school at 33 after earning GED and bachelor's degree
https://www.today.com/parents/single-texas-mom-5-graduates-law-school-age-33-t127331

You act like it’s a moral accomplishment to finish college though.

Harvard and Yale ain’t all that. From Harvard, Yale to homeless encampments:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-homeless-man-who-graduated-from-harvard-law-school-with-chief-justice-john-roberts/2015/07/13/63257b5c-20ca-11e5-bf41-c23f5d3face1_story.html

https://youtu.be/05We-FC3QfE

The homeless gentleman in the Wash Post article has mental health issues. Using his individual situation as justification to diminish the value of a degree is a red herring and probably makes you feel better about not having a degree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spare me all the exaggerated excuses. It's painfully easy to earn a bachelor's and I know some total dumbbells who have recently graduated from both private and state colleges. Unless a kid quits to pursue a real passion with a real plan, it is a major character red flag and likely signals lifelong challenges.

24-Year-Old Student Who Collected Garbage to Pay for College Is Admitted to Harvard Law School
"It was the people that were on the bottom of the hierarchy who really lifted me up," Rehan Staton said
https://people.com/human-interest/24-year-old-student-collected-garbage-admitted-to-harvard-law-school/

Single mom of 5 overcomes tragedy, graduates from law school at 33 after earning GED and bachelor's degree
https://www.today.com/parents/single-texas-mom-5-graduates-law-school-age-33-t127331

You act like it’s a moral accomplishment to finish college though.

Harvard and Yale ain’t all that. From Harvard, Yale to homeless encampments:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-homeless-man-who-graduated-from-harvard-law-school-with-chief-justice-john-roberts/2015/07/13/63257b5c-20ca-11e5-bf41-c23f5d3face1_story.html

https://youtu.be/05We-FC3QfE

Friend from h.s. President of the National Honor Society, etc. Attended a SLAC for one year and felt stifled and quit, saw no point to calculus she said. She worked a variety of jobs--collections agent but then blue collar jobs, then moved from small town to large city, did one year night school in programming while working a clerical job, went on to a long career in database admin and did very well.

Actually, I've met a lot of people who have done fairly well in careers that did not involve college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spare me all the exaggerated excuses. It's painfully easy to earn a bachelor's and I know some total dumbbells who have recently graduated from both private and state colleges. Unless a kid quits to pursue a real passion with a real plan, it is a major character red flag and likely signals lifelong challenges.

24-Year-Old Student Who Collected Garbage to Pay for College Is Admitted to Harvard Law School
"It was the people that were on the bottom of the hierarchy who really lifted me up," Rehan Staton said
https://people.com/human-interest/24-year-old-student-collected-garbage-admitted-to-harvard-law-school/

Single mom of 5 overcomes tragedy, graduates from law school at 33 after earning GED and bachelor's degree
https://www.today.com/parents/single-texas-mom-5-graduates-law-school-age-33-t127331

You act like it’s a moral accomplishment to finish college though.

They don't have many/any accomplishments outside of college so they get very defensive about defending it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I quit after 2 years to start a business. Sold it for over $100M when I was 38.

Wow! Which field, if you don't mind me asking?

Automotive technology

There are areas in this country where you can make a living and have a fulfilling life without college. These may not be desirable areas, but people do manage to have happy lives there,.

My niece failed out of college. She is working as a paralegal in a small town and is really valued by her employer. She loves her work. She is married to a wonderful man and they have two kids. She’s doing well but college just wasn’t for her.

I have a son who lacks the ability to go to college. He went to trade school and now works full time in a job he loves.