[ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#1

Post by nitin1213 » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:03 AM UTC

Anyone of you dropped out of highschool/college but still manage to have a successful life?share your story along with some suggestions for future dropouts.

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#2

Post by mikkom » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:32 AM UTC

This might answer your question?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_dropout_billion...

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#3

Post by pliny » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:35 AM UTC

mikkom wrote: post #2

This might answer your question? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_dropout_billion...

Are there any billionaires on hn?

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#4

Post by daemonk » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:36 AM UTC

Are you looking for some kind of confirmation for dropping out?

Higher education doesn't guarantee success, but it probably doesn't hurt. If you have the practical means to stay in school, just do it. And take advantage of it. For the amount of effort you have to put into it, you do get quite a lot back in terms of self confidence, how other people perceive you, social network..etc. And if you actually try to actively learn, you can potentially learn a lot too.

Unless you have an extraordinary or unique skill, just stay in school. What's so bad about delaying adulthood, be self indulgent and just enjoy learning for a couple of years. It's probably not something you'll get to do later.

If you don't have the practical means due to financial or other reasons that are outside of your control, then that's another story.

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#5

Post by gavanwoolery » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:37 AM UTC

It's your choice whether or not to drop out, but either way you won't get ahead of the pack by simply getting a diploma / degree. Do something, make something, and you may very well learn more practical knowledge than you ever did in school. Whether or not you fail, your experience is likely to separate you from those just holding a slip of paper. And maybe think twice before dishing out $80-$300k for a college degree - if you want to just have "the college experience" use that money to live in a college town while launching your first startup.

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#6

Post by wellboy » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:37 AM UTC

EDIT: This was supposed to be a reply to the billionaire comment, see my comment there

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#7

Post by jrmg » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:39 AM UTC

mikkom wrote: post #2

This might answer your question? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_dropout_billion...

Compare with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_list_of_billionaires

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#8

Post by richo » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:41 AM UTC

wellboy wrote: post #6

EDIT: This was supposed to be a reply to the billionaire comment, see my comment there

That's probably true for a largish percentage, but it's a huge generalisation that does nothing to actually help OP with his question.

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#9

Post by richo » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:42 AM UTC

I dropped out super early. Worked for some software companies, built some internets.

Trying to get a US visa now, the decision to not get a degree is pretty bitter. That said, this is the first and I optimistically anticipate the last time a degree would have been any use to me, so I'll just power through and hope for the best.

Re: [ask hn]How many of you are dropouts?

#10

Post by wellboy » Mon, Dec 30, 2013, 11:43 AM UTC

richo wrote: post #8

wellboy wrote: post #6

EDIT: This was supposed to be a reply to the billionaire comment, see my comment there

That's probably true for a largish percentage, but it's a huge generalisation that does nothing to actually help OP with his question.

Well the advice here would be to reflect if they wanted to drop out of college, because it's not challenging or because it is too challenging.