4 ms·

If delaying college for a few years is the biggest mistake you make in your life, you have been far too cautious. This position is discussed and Thiel addresse

If delaying college for a few years is the biggest mistake you make in your life, you have been far too cautious. This position is discussed and Thiel addresses why it is not a reasonable position in the article. If you want to advance this position again, protocol says you need to provide a new argument or new evidence that was not considered in the previous round. Didn't down vote you, but think I understand why someone might have.

cubicle67 16y ago
it's not clear if hristov is actually arguing that it would be a mistake or just putting forward as a possible motivation for people getting upset
hristov 16y ago
I read the article carefully and I do not see Thiel discussing that at all. Note that Thiel does not target kids that are about to go to college but kids that are already going to college. So he intentionally wants to interrupt an ongoing college education, not merely delay it. People say you can always go back but that is often not the case. If you are in a very competitive school or program it is very doubtful they will take you back if you took a couple of years off. Actually it would be probably impossible. And believe you me he will choose kids from competitive programs in order to get maximum news exposure. I can imagine how this can be a huge mistake at least for some kids. It is just a very perverse situation ... he says here is all this money but you have to give up something to get it. Usually when one does charity one tries to help the people one does charity to, and does not pose to them difficult and maybe even dangerous bargains. If he thinks these kids are so valuable, why would he not give them the stipend before they go to college or after they finish. It is just a couple of years difference either way?
- maxawaytoolong 16y ago
  It's usually pretty easy to get a leave of absence, maybe even moreso at competitive schools. Harvard, for example, lets you take a leave of absence for up to five years. And even after 5 years you can go back if your petition is approved. MIT has a similar policy. I went to a lesser school but I was allowed to finish up after an 8 year leave of absence.

cubicle67 16y ago

it's not clear if hristov is actually arguing that it would be a mistake or just putting forward as a possible motivation for people getting upset

hristov 16y ago

I read the article carefully and I do not see Thiel discussing that at all. Note that Thiel does not target kids that are about to go to college but kids that are already going to college. So he intentionally wants to interrupt an ongoing college education, not merely delay it. People say you can always go back but that is often not the case. If you are in a very competitive school or program it is very doubtful they will take you back if you took a couple of years off. Actually it would be probably impossible. And believe you me he will choose kids from competitive programs in order to get maximum news exposure. I can imagine how this can be a huge mistake at least for some kids. It is just a very perverse situation ... he says here is all this money but you have to give up something to get it. Usually when one does charity one tries to help the people one does charity to, and does not pose to them difficult and maybe even dangerous bargains. If he thinks these kids are so valuable, why would he not give them the stipend before they go to college or after they finish. It is just a couple of years difference either way?

maxawaytoolong 16y ago
It's usually pretty easy to get a leave of absence, maybe even moreso at competitive schools. Harvard, for example, lets you take a leave of absence for up to five years. And even after 5 years you can go back if your petition is approved. MIT has a similar policy. I went to a lesser school but I was allowed to finish up after an 8 year leave of absence.