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When your most potent competitor companies (FB, MSFT, Apple) and investments (OpenAI) were all founded by college drop-outs, it does make you wonder whether col

When your most potent competitor companies (FB, MSFT, Apple) and investments (OpenAI) were all founded by college drop-outs, it does make you wonder whether college itself was holding these individuals back. I'm sure they are exceptions rather than the rule.

mikkupikku 9mo ago
If you already have the necessary skills and knowledge, and connections, then wasting years of your youth (when you have the most productive potential) in extended schooling is going to be a disadvantage. If.
- gambiting 9mo ago
  Here in UK it's "well known" that going to a prestigious school like Eton is about being in one class with kids of prime ministers, presidents and oil sheikhs, so you have those connections for life and you can always call up on those. In that context going to university and studying almost anything could be a waste of time if you have someone who can help you get into places straight away.
newman8r 9mo ago
I think just because you've studied something for years doesn't mean you're good at it. I've interviewed plenty curious hackers with no degree who are miles ahead of CS people with degrees. Of course that's just anecdotal and may be the exception. And there's plenty of CS grads who have been passionate about the space their entire lives. I studied Spanish for 3 years in high school, coasted by. I'm a complete beginner though. Nowadays I have a bit more curiosity in learning it again, and I'd probably make more progress in a few months than I did in all those years.
bluedino 9mo ago
On the whole, there's a difference between 'got accepted to Harvard and dropped out after 2 years to start MegaCorp', and 'never went in the first place'
- inetknght 9mo ago
  As someone who never went in the first place: that difference is rather small for many (definitely not all) industries, with software engineering being one of them.

mikkupikku 9mo ago

If you already have the necessary skills and knowledge, and connections, then wasting years of your youth (when you have the most productive potential) in extended schooling is going to be a disadvantage. If.

gambiting 9mo ago
Here in UK it's "well known" that going to a prestigious school like Eton is about being in one class with kids of prime ministers, presidents and oil sheikhs, so you have those connections for life and you can always call up on those. In that context going to university and studying almost anything could be a waste of time if you have someone who can help you get into places straight away.

newman8r 9mo ago

I think just because you've studied something for years doesn't mean you're good at it. I've interviewed plenty curious hackers with no degree who are miles ahead of CS people with degrees. Of course that's just anecdotal and may be the exception. And there's plenty of CS grads who have been passionate about the space their entire lives. I studied Spanish for 3 years in high school, coasted by. I'm a complete beginner though. Nowadays I have a bit more curiosity in learning it again, and I'd probably make more progress in a few months than I did in all those years.

bluedino 9mo ago

On the whole, there's a difference between 'got accepted to Harvard and dropped out after 2 years to start MegaCorp', and 'never went in the first place'

inetknght 9mo ago
As someone who never went in the first place: that difference is rather small for many (definitely not all) industries, with software engineering being one of them.