Steve Jobs: Drop out of college, just like I did!

[GePap]

The only problem with your theory Ozzy is that, you know what? there might actually be NO new fields coming up that will make that kind of money.

The statistics are simple- people who get degrees in general make more than those that did not. The higher the degree the higher the average earnings.

Outliers like Jobs exist, they always do. The chances you will be one of those outliers thought are not particularly high. So don't kid yourself.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

on topic i get real tired of hearing bout the rich little kids boo hooing bout going to class after the parents pay for the school. and everything else that goes with college. As far as delusional, i belive its most folks that think they can move along with their lives with out any education

[Asher]

Originally posted by OzzyKP

Clearly I'm better off with my degree, is that what you're saying?

[asleepathewheel]

Pretty tough (If not illegal) to be a doctor, lawyer, professor of whatever, school teacher, dentist, etc etc without a degree or multiple degrees.

But I guess those aren't satisfying careers, personally or financially. :hmm:

What do I know. I wouldn't have my career without my degree.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Do freelance stuff.

In what? Who's going to give you a contract without seeing something first?

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Start up a small business. There are plenty of opportunities to make it on your own.

You can't be a CPA without an accounting degree. You can't be a PE without an engineering degree. Without a license you aren't going anywhere in these fields.

Computer Science is more lenient in that respect, but you probably won't know the maths without going to university. However you still need all kinds of certificates if you want to go anywhere.

Originally posted by OzzyKP
No degree is going to be able to teach us how to do that.

Then again, you are worse off without a degree.

Lets suppose you and Asher are both soliciting the same client. If all else are equal, who is he going to go with - the man with a degree or the man without?

[Agathon]

Did anyone actually read the speech?

Jobs was saying that he dropped out formally, and that this enabled him to spend 18 months on campus auditing interesting courses like calligraphy. That sounds like it's useless, but then Jobs creates the first computer where typography is a really big deal (it wasn't on the Lisa).

He's not saying that dropping out of school is always good, but that being freed from restrictions sometimes has unexpected results, as was the case with his calligraphy class.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Agathon
Here's the whole speech. Typical stuff, although I thought the final third was very good, and indeed a masterful piece of rhetoric in some places.

Did you jack off while reading it?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Nope, just drinking juice right now. Mrs. Tuberski hogs all the beer.

Then you must have been eating Che's brownies again.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Did you jack off while reading it?

My Dad died of pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago. I guess that the last part of the speech was rather close to home for me.

So the answer is no.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Did you jack off while reading it?

Most people stop doing that so much after they reach full adulthood.

[Kuciwalker]

Way to miss the point.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kidicious
Most people stop doing that so much after they reach full adulthood.

Only the old men with diminished sexdrives like yourself...

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Way to miss the point.

The point is that if your father had died from pancreatic cancer, you would have come closer to understanding the last third of Jobs' speech.

In fact, that speech has improved my (somewhat low) opinion of Jobs as a person.

[Ben Kenobi]

Then you must have been eating Che's brownies again.

It is what I believe, and what I have said previously. School costs too much time and money at this point for me. When I have more money, I am sure that the opportunity cost will drop, and it will make sense for me to go back.

As for freelancing, you don't need a degree, you need a portfolio, which means doing volunteer work along those lines, or working on your own. Once you have the portfolio, and start freelancing, then you continue to add to your porfolio after each freelance contract.

I have had a freelance contract given to me for data entry, based on my portfolio, which turned out great, and now I have some work experience to show people for the next contract. What I don't have is any formal credentials.

[Kidlicious]

The opportunity cost never drops. It keeps increasing.