Is it derogatory to be a college dropout?
I started a group called College Dropouts on Linkedin a few weeks back. I have not had a single request to be a part of this group to date. This makes me wonder if people are not open to be recognized as a college dropout... or no one is a college dropout...I spoke to one of my clients early last week and even he suggested that I remove that reference from my profile... I would like to understand why formal education is so overrated and paramount in the way we judge our peers/ friends/ family/ coworkers...
Good Answers (2)
I think "the L in life is for learning", some follow formal route, some learn from peers, some learn with time and experiences while some choose exceptional paths. At the end of the day if you are able to meet the expectation and beat the competition, who cares you saw college.
If you are a success the "dropout" becomes the backbone of your will, if you end up being an average, it s indeed a thing to keep mum.
its why you listen "i'm a college dropout" from someone sitting very high, who will not consider joining your forum, and a person very down below would shy off, joining the group, coz he has no success stories to paste on the board.
I graduated from college and wish now that I never went. It was a waste of 4 years of my life. I could be much further ahead right now.
More Answers (41)
I think Bill Gates should be the first one to join.
Shirley P.
Business Development Executive - Market Research at Confirmit
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I think in the professional sphere, especially once you have been working in your arena for a period of time, it is not so much your educational background as your experience in your field that is the determining factor for developing new clients and business.
While one may not finish higher education studies for any number of reasons, I don't believe people think of themselves as "dropouts" (which seems to imply some sort of failure); rather they've moved on to a new and better opportunity. It's all a matter of perception.
Luis F.
USPTO Registered Patent Agent at Matrix Patent Agency
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I've met a number successful people (in many forms of measurement, personal, financial, etc.) who would fit into the description of "drop out" over the years (without regards for the REALLY famous ones, Jobs, Wozniak, etc.).
I have also met a number of "succesefull" College graduates (from Harvard, Stanford, etc.), who are under the same criteria, "failures". I am in fact reminded of a report I saw on Dental Economics about 1 in 50 dentists declaring bankruptcy.
So if you have trouble getting people into the group, it may have more to do with the fact that in real life, few if any people will consider "going" back to College something they need to relate with someone other than the people who they were in College with?
Ray M.
Energy expert, educator, award winning sculptor
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Not anymore.
There was a day when it had more negative impact, but college is not really for everyone, despite what politicians are saying. Some people are born entrepreneurs, like Jobs, Gates, and many more.
Grant E.
Senior Account Executive at USADATA, Inc
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I don't think it is. There are A LOT of reasons that people have to leave school (or choose to) beyond grades. Plus, if you have enough experience in our field, who cares if you have letters behind your name?
Allen L.
Independent technical documentation professional
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Depends on if your self employed. HR departments look for the education section on your resume and if it doesn’t meet their “standard” it goes in the reject pile. If you are self employed, your the HR department and you are satisfied anyway.
The bigger the company the more it matters because it’s a fast easy way to eliminate the work of actually reading your qualifications.
Clarification added February 14, 2008:
PS: Sign me up for your group!
Barbara H.
Experienced & Sophisticated Executive Consultant, Counselor, & Coach
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It's not a matter of how you are judged - it's a matter of accentuating the negative rather than the positive.
Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard, which I happen to know pretty much when it happened, because we're about the same age and we had mutual acquaintances - but otherwise, had he not become who he is now, very few people would know. It's just not something that one advertises.
Not to mention that without at the very least an undergraduate degree, your career choices are going to be very limited. Most people, me included, want those who are educated in the area we want you to work. That you might be a genius at it without education is a risk not many are willing to take. Often, a college degree is the fast track to success; if you want to take another train, then it might take you longer, and you will likely have to do it on your own. A self-made man is often self-educated as well, but it's the school of hard knocks that he attends, and the connections you make there aren't the same as the ones you get from a more tradtional educational institution.
I suppose that being a college dropout is unimportant to some fields, and we can all sight particular instances where a college dropout was a wild success - and we all know of college dropouts that weren't so successful. So the anecdotes are of little practical value. I believe that for the masses (yes, most of us) completing college is important.
I can tell you that when I am hiring, I look for college graduates. It indicates to me that the person can complete something they started. I am less concerned about the field of study than I am that they completed what they set out to achieve - even if it took several years or they did not complete college until much later than their peers. Persistence toward a goal is a valuable experience.
Wow, I saw the comment on your profile and it sure does come across as a negative. Actually, I'm willing to argue that it was not a waste of time for you. Through that experience you probably were able to make some solid decisions about the direction you wanted to take. That direction meant you didn't want to finish that degree. And that's fine, so think about rephrasing your experience in more positive terms. And maybe you could rename your group "Self-Educated Professionals" or "School of Hard Knocks."
Ask Bill Gates.
Gerry D. M.
IT Manager at GameStop
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From a career perspective, Having a degree will open more doors and get you through more filters than not having a degree. It increases the number of opportunities you will be considered for.
Degree does not equal knowledge, ability or accomplishment.
To many, "dropout" has the connotation of "quitter", although there are many just and valid reasons for not completing a degree. However you may not get to the interview stage to explain it until/unless you have significant experience in a scarce skill set.
Formal education shows that someone can stick to and complete a program that is long and complex. Selecting someone with this proven quality increases the hiring manager's chances of getting their work done - so I would be careful about stating that education is overrated. By itself, it is a desirable quality and can be the make-or-break between those who have and those who have not in a competitive job market. I think it is wise to have every advantage you can that is within your power to obtain.
Best of luck,
Gerry.
John P.
Instructional Design Specialist at GMAC
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Dropout has a negative quality to it. Rename it to something more up beat.
I like Sandy's suggestion of "Self Educated Professionals" it has a much better sound to it.
Bob G.
Looking for a Social Media opportunity
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College is not a ticket for success, as a friend who was a professor at a leading university always told me, its just a business and nothing more.
I believe there are a lot reasons that folks drop out. Health, finances, family to name a few. I "dropped" out of Wharton - because I didn't want to miss out on my young family growing up. I wonder where I would have be today if I haven't. But I value the times with my family even more.
Yes, if college teaches you how to live life in the world outside campus & walled classrooms. Unfortunately, we keep on wasting our time to learn & re-learn lessons from past & if we fail to answer few questions of past - than how can it be so that we are not competent enough to answer the future. So, now you decide whether its really derogatroy to be a college dropout.
Maurice W.
SEO Engineer at Reed Business Information
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Because people like people like them look at Google’s well know bias to tier one university types.
I did have one negative reaction afew years ago if I had been nastier I could have responded along the lines of .
“my first job was at a world leading research organization (the Boss was President of the Mechanical Engineers at the time) oh and we where on the same campus as one of the top 5 Business schools and they where considered where the stupid people and you got a 2.2 from some redbrick/ jumped up polytechnic in business studies?”
Lee H.
Background checks, extremely thorough & very inexpensive
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is or is not derogatory relative to context. As you obviously know, it can matter quite a lot. You can't control that, so don't try.
Best to you,
Lee
Informed Networks Corporation : BackgroundNow.com : Direct (281) 506-2132 : Fax (281) 754-4886 : Office (713) 784-3232 ext 3142 : Skype Name leehill2 : http://www.linkedin.com/in/backgroundnow
Ronnie B.
Senior SAP/Business Objects Recruitment Specialist. ronnie.browning@ecom-group.com
I don't think it is derogatory being a college Drop-Out, I for one am grateful that I had the balls to drop out and hold my head up high as I wasn't happy there and I realised I wasn't working for a future that I actually wanted.
I know of a few people who would never risk dropping out as they feel they would be letting their family down because they had their own expectations of them. It is these people that I pity.
When I dropped out of college, I was still very ambitious and money hungry but I just had to find another way to be successful.
We must remember that we only have 1 shot at life and we must do what makes us HAPPY. If it means dropping out of college and choosing to work in a garage over selling IT Solutions, then so-be-it.
In 10 years time you will still wake up with a smile on your face and that smile counts for so much more than the title, "College Drop-out!"
A college degree has been devalued to the point it's just a piece of paper.
It's important to have those certifications when you have no career experience, but if you have 10 years experience in a field, what is more valuable, the experience or the degree?
I have met way too many college graduates who think that because they have a bachelor's they are entitled to employment. The only thing a bachelor's degree means is that you have to be retrained all over again.
One of my old college professors joked that B.A. stands for begin again.
Steve M.
Principal at Oratory Consulting. Catholic Radio Fundraising and Management.
Think about it. Most of the people in decision making positions are themselves, College Graduates. They place a high value on their successful graduation and degree, and severely discount anyone who doesn't measure up to that standard. Of course, this flys in the face of reality - Bill Gates, etc. And it also fails to account for self education. But my point is that we all know this and therefore we also place a high value on a College Education. I prefer to live down my lack of a College Education and instead let my experience, self education, and knowledge make the impression I want to make before I admit to a lack of a degree. Most people who meet me are surprised that I'm so knowledgeable and yet have no degree. Personally, I think that most of what people learn in College today is this side of nitwittery - much to our country's detriment.
Asra I.
SAP Functional Analyst at Cargill
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I agree with Shirley that the term does not defines anyone as a person. Education is a tool and stating "dropout' equates to not having the tools. you may wish to use a more creative title like " Street wise" " on-hand experts" etc. People are more interested in what you have then what you don't have.
By the way some companies go very far - they will only put you in certain positions if you are a MBA etc. regardless of your performance or ability.
I agree with the thought process of it's what you have experience in, and your stripes you have earned while working. College is not for everyone, and a piece of paper doesn't make you have drive, spirit,energy and passion for what you do.
Steve C.
Senior Business Analyst / Project Manager
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I completed an MBA at night. It took me 4 years, the last 2 of which were done while working in a position that included 24/7 on call application support. The degree was extremely expensive and only covered by tuition reimbursement during the last year of it.
Therefore, I'm a bit uncomfortable seeing posts that say education is not important. Thats probably an unpopular thing to say, but education should be rewarded, and the company which ignores this boosts its own turnover.
While no one should have derogatory and demeaning labels attached to them. Its not right to devalue education
I've got to agree with the consensus here... the term "drop out" is derogatory, but too not have completed formal post-secondary education is not.
The world of IT is replete with "them"... Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Paul Allen, Michael Dell... and NKOTB Mark Zuckerberg to name a few.
It'll probably hurt dreams of a career in Medicine though.
Prof. Swapan G.
Social Entrepreneur, Strategist, Professor, Mentor, CSR and Non-Profit Management Advisor, Social & Ethical Fund Manager
You do not need college educatio to succeed in life. There are many successful entrepreneurs, noble prize winner and others who have not crossed the boundary of school education. Cheer up and do what you enjoy doing. Success will follow you.
Dr Swapan Garain, India
Hi Hari,
It isn't essentially a bad thing as it looks but the place where we write now is where we are valued based on our education as good as our work experience. Hence people would be still reluctant to sign up to a group which proudly shows them as dropouts.
I have vetted many resumes and hired people who have had and have not had degrees. However, I will tell you while preference is not necessarily given to a person with a college degree, not completing college can be an indicator of someone who is might be a "quitter". If someone has not completed a degree course they should state to a potential employer why they haven't completed the degree course and what is their plans for completing it in the future.
Again, while preference is not necessarily given to persons with degrees, they certainly command more money and move up through a company more than someone without a degree.
Remember there are always exceptions. But as a rule of thumb, having a degree is always better than not.
I believe that life lessons are the most important...If you have a college degree, as I do, it can be good but the truth of the matter is that our experience and connections are the determining factors in how far we go......I know quite a few folks who dropped out of college or for that matter, high school, and who are doing quite well in their business ventures......
