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I think it's ok to drop out of college to grow a startup. But it's a terrible idea to drop out of college to start a startup.

by DevX101 15y ago

josh_miller 15y ago
I won't argue with people who think I am crazy. That's a completely understandable deduction. What frustrates me are people who think I did it for the wrong reasons (i.e. $$$).
- niklas_a 15y ago
  Why not wait one year and actually get a degree? It's okay to take risks but no reason to overdo it.
- DevX101 15y ago
  I wasn't really trying to convince you, just making an observation. Entrepreneurs are almost by definition hard-headed. But if I were an investor I would seriously question your decision making ability based on the fact that you dropped out of Princeton your senior year with about 8 months to go. If you want to take a somewhat data driven approach, I'd also ask how many successful startups STARTED after dropping out. I can't think of any off the top of my head. (Hint: Microsoft and Facebook don't fit this criterion).
  - josh_miller 15y ago
    I hear ya. I got inspired, I am working with an amazing team – a relentless backend engineer and ridiculously talented designer – and worst comes to worst I go back to school in a couple of years. I would always wonder "what could have been" if I passed this opportunity up, but if I fail at least I can say I learned a lot and gave it my best effort.
  - johnrob 15y ago
    If people relied on data driven approaches, I don't think there would be any startups. The expected return of a startup is a massive time expenditure combined with very little cash reward.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
trevor99 15y ago
both of these are generalizations that I don't believe in
- hugh3 15y ago
  Do you think all overgeneralizations are false?
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
randomdata 15y ago
That's like saying it is a terrible idea to stop playing baseball to start a startup. And maybe it is, exercise is important, but when the desire to build your business is burning within you, you're not going to miss those games. College is a nice passtime, but you shouldn't let it get in the way of your dreams. If you need to start a startup, do it. There is no correct path. You are just as likely to fail no matter what route you take, so take the one that feels like the best opportunity for you.

I think it's ok to drop out of college to grow a startup. But it's a terrible idea to drop out of college to start a startup.

by DevX101 15y ago

I think it's ok to drop out of college to grow a startup. But it's a terrible idea to drop out of college to start a startup.

josh_miller 15y ago

I won't argue with people who think I am crazy. That's a completely understandable deduction. What frustrates me are people who think I did it for the wrong reasons (i.e. $$$).

niklas_a 15y ago
Why not wait one year and actually get a degree? It's okay to take risks but no reason to overdo it.
DevX101 15y ago
I wasn't really trying to convince you, just making an observation. Entrepreneurs are almost by definition hard-headed. But if I were an investor I would seriously question your decision making ability based on the fact that you dropped out of Princeton your senior year with about 8 months to go. If you want to take a somewhat data driven approach, I'd also ask how many successful startups STARTED after dropping out. I can't think of any off the top of my head. (Hint: Microsoft and Facebook don't fit this criterion).
- josh_miller 15y ago
  I hear ya. I got inspired, I am working with an amazing team – a relentless backend engineer and ridiculously talented designer – and worst comes to worst I go back to school in a couple of years. I would always wonder "what could have been" if I passed this opportunity up, but if I fail at least I can say I learned a lot and gave it my best effort.
- johnrob 15y ago
  If people relied on data driven approaches, I don't think there would be any startups. The expected return of a startup is a massive time expenditure combined with very little cash reward.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

trevor99 15y ago

both of these are generalizations that I don't believe in

hugh3 15y ago
Do you think all overgeneralizations are false?

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

randomdata 15y ago

That's like saying it is a terrible idea to stop playing baseball to start a startup. And maybe it is, exercise is important, but when the desire to build your business is burning within you, you're not going to miss those games. College is a nice passtime, but you shouldn't let it get in the way of your dreams. If you need to start a startup, do it. There is no correct path. You are just as likely to fail no matter what route you take, so take the one that feels like the best opportunity for you.