You started your first company at the age of 14 years old. Sold it at the age of 16 and started your second at 17 years old. So why go to college? Perhaps, you should ask yourself, “Why not?”
Sure, a college degree does not guarantee a job—or success for that matter. And there are plenty of people who are successful and degreeless. But before you make the decision to not attend college, ask yourself the “why not” question and be honest about the answer. Are you choosing not to attend because you think you’re above your future piers? Do you think you know more than your future professors? If you’re mind is heading in this direction, you’re in for a lot of struggle in your life. Look for a more humble answer.
On the flip side, consider the pros of attending college. First off, the networking opportunities can prove to be invaluable. As entrepreneur, it’s important to have a wide range of contacts. And who knows if your colleagues will one day be your strongest supporters. College is great way to learn how to build lasting relationships.
Even if you do think you know more than your piers and professors, universities are a birthing place for new trends. Just look at Facebook. Before your mom was on Facebook, the social network site was only available to college students. Being surrounded by young people, who are yet to be jaded, is how we develop creative ideas in the first place. Plus, you need to understand people in order to develop services that cater to them.
Being a college student also gives you access to people and opportunities you wouldn’t have as a non-student. For example, let’s say you’d love to know how the company Google works. How else will you learn that unless you have a job there? But the age of 19, big companies like Google will not hire you. But there’s a loophole! An internship. Most large companies only allot internships to college students. Also, what if you want to get advice from a big CEO? They’re more likely to meet with you if you approach them by telling them you’re a student at X university and are looking for some mentoring. People are more likely to extend the olive branch to a college student than a conceited 19-year-old who thinks he is too good fora four year degree.
Skipping out on college also means skipping out on a huge growth period. Regardless of what you think, four years of school will undoubtedly help you grow and learn. The experience is invaluable. You can widen your horizons by studying something totally unrelated to your business. Challenging oneself to learn something new shows real courage.
Just promise me, you’ll think about it.
xoxo,
Loren
