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Should I join CS major at college or start building my own startup?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Should I join CS major at college or start building my own startup?

#3
Let me tell you a story....

In 1997, I was precisely where you are right now. I had just started the third year of an accounting degree, I hated every moment of every single class, and my grades had started to slip from all 90s into the mid 70s. Being a good Gen-X'er, rather than outright quit, I decided to be a slacker for four months while I slowly started doing market research.

By early 1998, I was ready to drop out and start my own company. That company was reasonably successful and I sold it later that year (for a price I would laugh at today, but I was 21). Most importantly, I learned more in nine months than I had in my entire University career. About a decade later, I went back to school and finished my degree.

Basically my friend, if you're not motivated and if your marks stink, why waste money? You likely aren't learning much of anything, so either go out and start something or get a job. Higher education is hard enough when you are motivated; it is a waste of time when you are not.

Just my two cents - best of luck!

Re: Should I join CS major at college or start building my own startup?

#5
You're the person who posted the other day at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2792610 saying "I am greatly interested in programming, and I guess I am doing good at it", etc. You didn't follow up on any of the replies. What is it you're looking for? What do you want to accomplish? Figure that out and you'll answer your question.

Re: Should I join CS major at college or start building my own startup?

#10
One year left: finish the damn thing. The ROI is pretty good there. You can also do other things at the same time like trying to sort out your career plans.

People who dropped out of college and founded some giant tech company didn't do it because they had bad grades. They did it because they had already started developing the company and no longer had time for anything else.

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