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Is College Really Worth It?

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Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#51

Post by jeff18 »

dangrover wrote: post #5

I dropped out this year and feel awful about it, despite being way better off. During that time, I've quadrupled sales in my ISV and have made a full-time living of it, and I now have no debt and decent savings. I'm no Mark Zuckerburg, but it's not a bad start. But I still kinda feel like a loser without a degree, even if I don't think I'll need it. Especially since I paid so much for the first couple years. I applie…

Your post is all about why dropping out was great for you, yet you feel bad and you are trying to apply to get back in "in case you come to your senses". What is your motivation for going back to school, after proving to yourself that you don't need it?

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#52

Post by xcombinator »

jey wrote: post #19
nearestneighbor wrote: post #17

Excellent question. For coders trying to maximize their probability of getting rich enough not to worry about money by the time they are 25 or 30, I'm sure going to college is an awful bet, especially in the US, where college education is expensive. And the more education you get, the worse of a bet it is (I have a PhD from an Ivy League school, BTW, as does pg, I think) However, some important work and innovation ab…

> you are extremely unlikely to learn linear algebra and matrix theory "on the job" Why? All of the information is available in books and on Wikipedia. Nowadays you can learn nearly anything for free with just an internet connection and some dedication. The biggest potential impediment is be a self-defeating attitude that prevents you from trying. On the other hand, don't expect learning "on the job" to mean that you…

I had a friend in my University, he had spent a lot of time working and studying from what we call a "Distance Education"(They give you books and some video lectures).

He had a hard time doing that and valued a lot direct contact with the teacher. It resonates with me because I studied engineering but love psychology too and when I learn let's say NLP from video-audio made by masters I learn way more that in the same authors books.

Books are very good when you dominate the subject.

90% of the communication is not verbal. Nuances and emphasis are very important.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#54

Post by Asa-Nisse »

jeff18 wrote: post #51
dangrover wrote: post #5

I dropped out this year and feel awful about it, despite being way better off. During that time, I've quadrupled sales in my ISV and have made a full-time living of it, and I now have no debt and decent savings. I'm no Mark Zuckerburg, but it's not a bad start. But I still kinda feel like a loser without a degree, even if I don't think I'll need it. Especially since I paid so much for the first couple years. I applie…

Your post is all about why dropping out was great for you, yet you feel bad and you are trying to apply to get back in "in case you come to your senses". What is your motivation for going back to school, after proving to yourself that you don't need it?

Part of it (I'm also a dropout, not very successful though, I can pay my bills but thats about it) is the fact that very many social interactions congregate on "what education do you have"? It's a social status thing that people measure other people on in my group of people atleast. Most of the people I socialize with are either doctors, dentists or have a liberal arts degree.

I'm on of the only few with a technical education and I always have a hard time explaning that "yes I did go to college" (I'm from Sweden so it's called University but its not the same as in US), "but I did not graduate".

Their eyes flicker, and I'm instantly degraded to that basement guy with big computer screens they know so well from highschool.

I know very well that my life in very many aspects would be other peoples envy. I organize my days myself, I pay my own salary and I can divulge on whatever project I choose.

However, many people equate a steady paycheck with safety and responsibility. Two keywords that are atleast here in Europe quickly becoming very hot.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#55

Post by dinkumthinkum »

I just feel like the view espoused in this article is unbelievably cliche. Most of the response are pretty cliche as well. The consensus seems to be that college is essentially pointless, a social gathering at best.Then there's also the the typical "colleges will be obsolete soon; we'll all be crowdsourcing our own learning" blah blah blah type nonsense. It's all just rather naive to me.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#56

Post by clistctrl »

tjr wrote: post #4
Oompa wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg both went to college and dropped out. So perhaps college does give some benefit, but the degree isn't necessary.

Sure, but how many people dropped out of college with aspirations to do something great and then failed? More to the point, does college really have any particular impact on such matters? If Bill Gates had finished his degree, would he have still been as successful? If Don Knuth had dropped out, would he have still been as successful?

I think if you're in college, and you drop out with aspirations. You have greater motivation to meet them then your peers who stayed in.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#57

Post by clistctrl »

jeff18 wrote: post #51
dangrover wrote: post #5

I dropped out this year and feel awful about it, despite being way better off. During that time, I've quadrupled sales in my ISV and have made a full-time living of it, and I now have no debt and decent savings. I'm no Mark Zuckerburg, but it's not a bad start. But I still kinda feel like a loser without a degree, even if I don't think I'll need it. Especially since I paid so much for the first couple years. I applie…

Your post is all about why dropping out was great for you, yet you feel bad and you are trying to apply to get back in "in case you come to your senses". What is your motivation for going back to school, after proving to yourself that you don't need it?

(drop out here too)

I definitely feel like I've managed to be "successful" without completed college (yet) I make a decent salary, and I can see that growing in the horizon. I also feel well respected and needed by my coworkers, and family. However I completely agree with the opinion above. While part of me wants to complete it for the sake of ensuring future employment. My main reason for wanting to finish is to gain that last part of self confidence i'm missing.

A second reason, one that is less mentioned is more social. I try to skirt the issue when talking to people, but (even more on the east coast) people tend to think of myself differently when I tell them the truth.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#59

Post by dangrover »

jeff18 wrote: post #51
dangrover wrote: post #5

I dropped out this year and feel awful about it, despite being way better off. During that time, I've quadrupled sales in my ISV and have made a full-time living of it, and I now have no debt and decent savings. I'm no Mark Zuckerburg, but it's not a bad start. But I still kinda feel like a loser without a degree, even if I don't think I'll need it. Especially since I paid so much for the first couple years. I applie…

Your post is all about why dropping out was great for you, yet you feel bad and you are trying to apply to get back in "in case you come to your senses". What is your motivation for going back to school, after proving to yourself that you don't need it?

I dunno. I think it's just the stigma of being a dropout. Also, I think it's generally a good thing to go to college for the intrinsic value, and nothing I'm doing is so critical that it can't wait.

I actually had a 3.8 GPA before my last semester. Going back immediately after dealing with a brain tumor/surgery kinda screwed things up, though I should have been theoretically unaffected by it.

A friend of mine who is far more successful than I'll ever be and shouldn't even be using "go back" and "school" in the same sentence, just went back, and after a semester, he's done again. So I dunno.

I think there have been some pretty big changes with how companies, jobs, and credentials work ("High Res Society" kinda stuff), and the culture will lag behind 10-20 years.

Re: Is College Really Worth It?

#60

Post by himmel »

markpneyer wrote: post #2

Not if you're smart and motivated it's not. I went to High School with a guy named Chris. He dropped out of college to do programming work, and I stayed on, eventually going to grad school. Now he's the founder of GitHub and I'm some no-name programmer working for a financial company nobody's ever heard of.

It helps a lot to know the right people. That's in addition to being smart. Also GTFO of Cincinnati helps too.
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