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Am I being completely unreal?

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Am I being completely unreal?

#1

Post by vondip »

Hi all,

I am a 22 year old web developer. In the last three years I have been developing for the mobile and web platform. I've been hired with no degree, based on my skills solely. I am now faced with a very difficult decision of 2 very compelling options.

Now, I am now in a cross path in my life. Should I go and study for my first degree in computer science, in a well known university, or should I join a team of 3 very good friends who are also extremely talented (a doctor in electrical engineering and another two excellent developers) and start a start-up?

I am currently convinced that I have a wonderful idea. I want to give it a try, but don't want to postpone my studies anymore. I decided I'll give this idea a chance.

To my understanding building a start-up and pursuing this dream can take forever, that's why unless I give it a final deadline I believe that I won't study at all. That why I decided that if by one year I raise an investment of a million dollars, and in two years I can can make 10 million dollars, I will forget about studying. How unreal am I? Am I daydreaming?

What would you do?

thank you!

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#2

Post by cpt1138 »

The only thing I've ever regretted in my life is not going and doing a startup right out of high-school. In hind sight I already know it failed, but I still regret it. School will always be there IMHO.

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#3

Post by vondip »

cpt1138 wrote: post #2

The only thing I've ever regretted in my life is not going and doing a startup right out of high-school. In hind sight I already know it failed, but I still regret it. School will always be there IMHO.

Thank you, your response means a lot to me. Do you think the figures I talked about are exaggerated?

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#6

Post by gacba »

I feel your pain. You are in a unique position as a developer. Most of what you learn in your degree program, whatever it is, will not have direct relevance on how to run a business, create a product, build a company, or how to work with other people in a business environment. I have several friends who all either did some college and dropped out it bored them and their interests led them to successful careers in software (two of them are senior independent consultants, one is a CTO and founder of several startups). Lack of degree was only a barrier for a brief time when their experience wasn't strong enough to carry them forward. It's no such barrier now.

In your particular case, I think you should seize the opportunity to build something for yourself. Whether you succeed or fail will be immaterial compared to what you learn from the experience. Like someone said, school will always be there.

I say go for it. You're only young once.

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#7

Post by nostrademons »

You are being unreal, but I'd go with the startup anyway.

School will always be there, and your experience won't be that different based on age. I had friends up to about age 26 when I was in college, and I've known people that did it all throughout their 20s. The chance to found a startup with people you really respect doesn't arise all that often, though. Take advantage of it and see where it leads you, and if it doesn't work out, then you can go back to school.

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#8

Post by robflynn »

cpt1138 wrote: post #2

The only thing I've ever regretted in my life is not going and doing a startup right out of high-school. In hind sight I already know it failed, but I still regret it. School will always be there IMHO.

I joined a start up right out of high school. It went belly up in 2001 or so, but that lead to some other jobs and what not. Though, now I'm 30 and looking for work and kind of wishing I'd done college right after high school.

Maybe it's a 'the grass is greener' kind of thing. Though I did have the same mindset that "school will always be there." I just never quite made it back to "there."

(My response might be a but jumbled, but I am agreeing with you, while at the same time looking back on my own thoughts and feelings of past decisions. Sorry for any confusion.)

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#9

Post by cpt1138 »

vondip wrote: post #3
cpt1138 wrote: post #2

The only thing I've ever regretted in my life is not going and doing a startup right out of high-school. In hind sight I already know it failed, but I still regret it. School will always be there IMHO.

Thank you, your response means a lot to me. Do you think the figures I talked about are exaggerated?

Yes I do think they are exaggerated. However I would say do it and set yourself a timeframe to re-evaluate, regardless of money.

Re: Am I being completely unreal?

#10

Post by vondip »

robflynn wrote: post #8
cpt1138 wrote: post #2

The only thing I've ever regretted in my life is not going and doing a startup right out of high-school. In hind sight I already know it failed, but I still regret it. School will always be there IMHO.

I joined a start up right out of high school. It went belly up in 2001 or so, but that lead to some other jobs and what not. Though, now I'm 30 and looking for work and kind of wishing I'd done college right after high school. Maybe it's a 'the grass is greener' kind of thing. Though I did have the same mindset that "school will always be there." I just never quite made it back to "there." (My response might be a but…

This is my fear exactly. To my understanding life has got its own tendency to unfold. The older you are, the more distractions you have. Chances are slimier to finish a degree in a well known \ respected university. This is my fear.
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