Comments on: Should an Entrepreneurial High Schooler Go to College? http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Alan Suggs http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-927597 Alan Suggs Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:02:50 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-927597 I am the father in the picture and the little girl is my lovely 9-year-old, Elora. I'm sorry if anyone was horrified, but we have a sense of humor some find a little unnerving. I think there have been horrific accidents in just about any imaginable situation and to bar humor over someone else's misfortune is political correctness at its worst. On the college thing, who really knows? What's next year even going to be like? If you're productive now and making a decent living, stick to it. Go to college later. I am the father in the picture and the little girl is my lovely 9-year-old, Elora. I’m sorry if anyone was horrified, but we have a sense of humor some find a little unnerving. I think there have been horrific accidents in just about any imaginable situation and to bar humor over someone else’s misfortune is political correctness at its worst.
On the college thing, who really knows? What’s next year even going to be like? If you’re productive now and making a decent living, stick to it. Go to college later.

]]> By: Allison http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-927594 Allison Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:46:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-927594 Trent, I was directed to your site from facebook. Thank you so much for including my picture in your post, and for holding your ground and keeping it up. The man in the picture is my brother and the little girl is my niece. She is a very dramatic, lovely child and the picture was actually her idea. When it was taken, we were not in any way trying to make light of the horrible accidents that can happen with equipment like that. We were just trying to appease a happy little girl by taking a father/daughter picture for her. If any one was to scroll a couple pictures over from that one in my flickr stream, they'd see a very sweet picture of the two of them on a hill. Keep up the good work, Trent. Trent, I was directed to your site from facebook. Thank you so much for including my picture in your post, and for holding your ground and keeping it up. The man in the picture is my brother and the little girl is my niece. She is a very dramatic, lovely child and the picture was actually her idea. When it was taken, we were not in any way trying to make light of the horrible accidents that can happen with equipment like that. We were just trying to appease a happy little girl by taking a father/daughter picture for her. If any one was to scroll a couple pictures over from that one in my flickr stream, they’d see a very sweet picture of the two of them on a hill.

Keep up the good work, Trent.

]]> By: Justin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-912915 Justin Sat, 29 May 2010 02:51:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-912915 I read a lot of fear based advice here. - Limit your liability - LLC or S-Corp. - Automate your business; i.e. - train someone to take over. You won't make as much money, but if you hire the right person they will be good a marketing, customer relations - thus growing your business so you will regain the lost income from hiring a manager over time. - Go to college to learn about business and/or accounting. Not so you can do everything, but so you know the basics and no one can pull a fast one over on you. - Once your personal income from business is over 55K to 56K consider hiring a book keeper (not CPA they are too expensive). Peace Man. I read a lot of fear based advice here.

- Limit your liability – LLC or S-Corp.
- Automate your business; i.e. – train someone to take over. You won’t make as much money, but if you hire the right person they will be good a marketing, customer relations – thus growing your business so you will regain the lost income from hiring a manager over time.
- Go to college to learn about business and/or accounting. Not so you can do everything, but so you know the basics and no one can pull a fast one over on you.
- Once your personal income from business is over 55K to 56K consider hiring a book keeper (not CPA they are too expensive).
Peace Man.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-911664 Andrea Wed, 19 May 2010 13:17:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-911664 My daughter's husband is a pharmacy tech, trained on the job starting at a grocery store, to a drug store now to a major pharmacy. He makes about $13 per hour with benefits. He has no debts. He applied for a house loan and qualified on his income alone for a $102,000 loan. In my area, that buys you a nice house trailer. (They bought an $82,000 house in horrible condition, but cost $2,000 in materials to make it nice.) My second daughter started dating a guy has $80,000 in student loan debt. He is working in his chosen profession, but the job requires that he live where real estate is more expensive. He got pre-approved for a house loan, and due to his debt, could borrow only $80,000. He might be able to buy a few acres of land, but would have no money leftover to put any structure on it. Right now daughter number three is in state college. Four years ago, her college introduced online courses, and now 60% of classes offered are online, and she thinks most online courses are useless. She plans to lump all the online courses to one semester, and do that semester from home. She also thinks many of her school mates are really dumb, literally one didn't know where Africa was. As far as I am concerned, college is a racket. The price escalates every year because society says we need it, so we comply. How come you need a four-year degree to get hired to be a police officer? A generation ago college was not required for that career... you just went to police academy. Now you need it because you're competing for openings against other people who have a degree. We now need degrees only because everyone else has degrees. Also the government loan program, which is intended to be helpful, is actually driving up the costs. There is no reason why college costs should rise faster inflation, unless there is some outside market force that allows it... the price of any commodity is determined by what the market will bear. So make it easy for consumers to borrow money and the price floats up. Same thing happened with the housing market when the government decided there should be cheap loans to help people get into housing.... the cost of housing went up. But it is more insidious with college tuition, because 18-year-olds really don't understand how hard it is to pay off these huge debts. If you go to college, don't go to "broaden yourself." Instead self-educate... read smart stuff, like history. Watch smart TV, like PBS. Don't go because society expects you to have a degree in anything, just to advance in a job. Go to college train for a specific career. Be sure that career is in demand. Also be sure that you will make enough additional money with this career that you can afford to pay back loans and actually be better off financially. Factor in that many professions that require a degree also require that you live in urban areas where the cost of living is high. Do independent research on this, as opposed on relying on the say-so of your college professor, who must sucker enough students to take his classes to get tenure. So crunch the numbers and make no assumptions. Find ways to do it cheap... Clep tests, community college, free college courses at the high school level, etc. College is not a sacred cow... you are allowed to look at the cost/benefit ratio. So for this young man with a lawn-mowing business, sure go to community college for a few business courses. This might be the first of many businesses he starts. My daughter’s husband is a pharmacy tech, trained on the job starting at a grocery store, to a drug store now to a major pharmacy. He makes about $13 per hour with benefits. He has no debts. He applied for a house loan and qualified on his income alone for a $102,000 loan. In my area, that buys you a nice house trailer. (They bought an $82,000 house in horrible condition, but cost $2,000 in materials to make it nice.)
My second daughter started dating a guy has $80,000 in student loan debt. He is working in his chosen profession, but the job requires that he live where real estate is more expensive. He got pre-approved for a house loan, and due to his debt, could borrow only $80,000. He might be able to buy a few acres of land, but would have no money leftover to put any structure on it.
Right now daughter number three is in state college. Four years ago, her college introduced online courses, and now 60% of classes offered are online, and she thinks most online courses are useless. She plans to lump all the online courses to one semester, and do that semester from home. She also thinks many of her school mates are really dumb, literally one didn’t know where Africa was.
As far as I am concerned, college is a racket. The price escalates every year because society says we need it, so we comply. How come you need a four-year degree to get hired to be a police officer? A generation ago college was not required for that career… you just went to police academy. Now you need it because you’re competing for openings against other people who have a degree. We now need degrees only because everyone else has degrees. Also the government loan program, which is intended to be helpful, is actually driving up the costs. There is no reason why college costs should rise faster inflation, unless there is some outside market force that allows it… the price of any commodity is determined by what the market will bear. So make it easy for consumers to borrow money and the price floats up. Same thing happened with the housing market when the government decided there should be cheap loans to help people get into housing…. the cost of housing went up. But it is more insidious with college tuition, because 18-year-olds really don’t understand how hard it is to pay off these huge debts.
If you go to college, don’t go to “broaden yourself.” Instead self-educate… read smart stuff, like history. Watch smart TV, like PBS. Don’t go because society expects you to have a degree in anything, just to advance in a job.
Go to college train for a specific career. Be sure that career is in demand. Also be sure that you will make enough additional money with this career that you can afford to pay back loans and actually be better off financially. Factor in that many professions that require a degree also require that you live in urban areas where the cost of living is high. Do independent research on this, as opposed on relying on the say-so of your college professor, who must sucker enough students to take his classes to get tenure.
So crunch the numbers and make no assumptions. Find ways to do it cheap… Clep tests, community college, free college courses at the high school level, etc. College is not a sacred cow… you are allowed to look at the cost/benefit ratio.
So for this young man with a lawn-mowing business, sure go to community college for a few business courses. This might be the first of many businesses he starts.

]]> By: lvngwell http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-801566 lvngwell Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:36:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-801566 When my daughter started college she chose business as a major. She went one semester and then because of her health had to take the next one off. When she went to return she decided to go part time mostly because I had started a home business that had just gone through the roof - sales doubled every month for over a year. Being a business major she reasoned that the experience of working and shaping an emerging business would be invaluable and only make her studies that much more relevant. She wants to own a business some day so what better way to learn than to help someone else develop theirs? But she was not foolish enough to think that she could not sharpen her skills in any way – thus she still returned to school – but part time. When my daughter started college she chose business as a major. She went one semester and then because of her health had to take the next one off. When she went to return she decided to go part time mostly because I had started a home business that had just gone through the roof – sales doubled every month for over a year. Being a business major she reasoned that the experience of working and shaping an emerging business would be invaluable and only make her studies that much more relevant. She wants to own a business some day so what better way to learn than to help someone else develop theirs? But she was not foolish enough to think that she could not sharpen her skills in any way – thus she still returned to school – but part time.

]]> By: Jonathan Mahoney http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-420908 Jonathan Mahoney Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:30:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-420908 Here's a drop in the bucket from a 19 year old. I do not plan on going to university to get a job, I may go later to learn things I can't figure out on my own or if for some wild reason I feel a job is a good way to pass my time. I already own a corporation. I know that I won't exclusively run this company my whole life, but I think it's very important to note the topic of this post. Trent said "an entrepreneurial high schooler." Most entrepreneurs fail, that's a fact. True entrepreneurs will keep going and try something else. I don't believe a person with an entrepreneur's spirit would run a lawn care company for any number of years, especially not doing the work themself. This guy will think of something else. Don't jump into school now if you're having success now. School will still be there next year or in 5 years. Starting out at $35,000 while going to school full time is nothing to complain about. Even with no growth, in 2 years you'll have $70,000 in the green rather than $20,000 in the red. Judging but what you've done thus far you'll grow. Don't live the life other people want you to. Here’s a drop in the bucket from a 19 year old. I do not plan on going to university to get a job, I may go later to learn things I can’t figure out on my own or if for some wild reason I feel a job is a good way to pass my time. I already own a corporation. I know that I won’t exclusively run this company my whole life, but I think it’s very important to note the topic of this post. Trent said “an entrepreneurial high schooler.” Most entrepreneurs fail, that’s a fact. True entrepreneurs will keep going and try something else.

I don’t believe a person with an entrepreneur’s spirit would run a lawn care company for any number of years, especially not doing the work themself. This guy will think of something else. Don’t jump into school now if you’re having success now. School will still be there next year or in 5 years. Starting out at $35,000 while going to school full time is nothing to complain about. Even with no growth, in 2 years you’ll have $70,000 in the green rather than $20,000 in the red. Judging but what you’ve done thus far you’ll grow.

Don’t live the life other people want you to.

]]> By: Aubrey http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-404913 Aubrey Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:16:46 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-404913 The photo actually made me get off the reader and comment because I had strong negative reaction to it. Which actually increases site readings, so I guess it does have a benefit. I do enjoy your blog. The photo actually made me get off the reader and comment because I had strong negative reaction to it. Which actually increases site readings, so I guess it does have a benefit. I do enjoy your blog.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-404647 Trent Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:10:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-404647 "Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it’s funny because it’s a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun." That's exactly what I thought when I saw the picture. It made me think of kids having goofy fun. “Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it’s funny because it’s a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun.”

That’s exactly what I thought when I saw the picture. It made me think of kids having goofy fun.

]]> By: Ty Brown http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-404388 Ty Brown Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:43:36 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-404388 Forget college. Nothing at college teaches you how to make money. It teaches you to get a job. Tell that kid to get a real life education. Forget college. Nothing at college teaches you how to make money. It teaches you to get a job. Tell that kid to get a real life education.

]]> By: Tim Rosanelli http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-3/#comment-404347 Tim Rosanelli Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:59:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-404347 I have seen both ends - because I own a karate business but did go to college. College did not help me at all in starting my own business, in fact, I feel it almost destroyed my dream. Let me explain... I graduated college in Environmental Science and got a job out of college with the intent to become a business owner. Well, the pressures and salary of the job and the uncertainty of a starting business steered me away from my dream. I finally broke through because I thought I may get laid-off and wanted a back up plan. I think these same feelings of uncertainty are what stop most people. I found that College is more about creating great employees not business owners. The trap is entering the paid by the hour mindset. With that said... This reader is very talented but still needs an education about Entrepreneurship. I believe he should do what Steve Job's did. He (Steve Jobs) dropped out of college and dropped in on the classes he was interested in. 1. Find a Mentor 2. Take College courses on small business, sales, and marketing. Our Community College teaches a certification class on entrepreneurship run by local successful business owners 3. Network with others in your business especially the extremely successful. 4. Read, Read, Read - Start reading anything you can get your hands on about small business. 5. Get a copy of the E-Myth - Right now, pushing a mower may seem alright but do you want to do it when you're 30, 40, 50 yrs old. You will need to build a business system and hire employees soon. Follow these steps and like me, you'll be on your way to a six figures income in no time. Tim Rosanelli View my blog at <a href="http://timrosanelli.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Sensei Talks</a> Join our sit-up challenge at <a href="http://60situpschallenge.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">60 Situps in a Minute Challenge</a> I have seen both ends – because I own a karate business but did go to college. College did not help me at all in starting my own business, in fact, I feel it almost destroyed my dream.

Let me explain…
I graduated college in Environmental Science and got a job out of college with the intent to become a business owner. Well, the pressures and salary of the job and the uncertainty of a starting business steered me away from my dream. I finally broke through because I thought I may get laid-off and wanted a back up plan. I think these same feelings of uncertainty are what stop most people.

I found that College is more about creating great employees not business owners. The trap is entering the paid by the hour mindset.

With that said…
This reader is very talented but still needs an education about Entrepreneurship. I believe he should do what Steve Job’s did. He (Steve Jobs) dropped out of college and dropped in on the classes he was interested in.

1. Find a Mentor
2. Take College courses on small business, sales, and marketing. Our Community College teaches a certification class on entrepreneurship run by local successful business owners
3. Network with others in your business especially the extremely successful.
4. Read, Read, Read – Start reading anything you can get your hands on about small business.
5. Get a copy of the E-Myth – Right now, pushing a mower may seem alright but do you want to do it when you’re 30, 40, 50 yrs old. You will need to build a business system and hire employees soon.

Follow these steps and like me, you’ll be on your way to a six figures income in no time.

Tim Rosanelli
View my blog at
Sensei Talks
Join our sit-up challenge at
60 Situps in a Minute Challenge

]]> By: Sophia http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-404196 Sophia Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:57:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-404196 About the picture- first, I didn't even notice it until I saw all the comments about it. Also, if you click on it, you can see a bigger version of it. The little girl has happy eyes and looks like the corners of her mouth are trying not to smile, she is clearly acting and enjoying it. I can appreciate that horrible accidents happen with lawn mowers, but I think this is a good lesson in something my father taught me- "not everything is about you". They, nor Trent, didn't think "I know people have lost limbs, and I think it's so funny, and I totally don't care, screw you guys!". Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it's funny because it's a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun. About the picture- first, I didn’t even notice it until I saw all the comments about it. Also, if you click on it, you can see a bigger version of it. The little girl has happy eyes and looks like the corners of her mouth are trying not to smile, she is clearly acting and enjoying it. I can appreciate that horrible accidents happen with lawn mowers, but I think this is a good lesson in something my father taught me- “not everything is about you”. They, nor Trent, didn’t think “I know people have lost limbs, and I think it’s so funny, and I totally don’t care, screw you guys!”.

Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it’s funny because it’s a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun.

]]> By: Nick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403817 Nick Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:14:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403817 As a current undergraduate, I'd say why not try and do both? Sounds like you're a good student, and have a business mind. Attend school some place local and continue with your business, and see what's right for you. Ready someone to run your business if you then wish to continue with college, or just flat sell the business if you'd like. As a current undergraduate, I’d say why not try and do both? Sounds like you’re a good student, and have a business mind. Attend school some place local and continue with your business, and see what’s right for you. Ready someone to run your business if you then wish to continue with college, or just flat sell the business if you’d like.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403810 Lisa Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:55:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403810 I meant to say: There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college when you are young, free, & footloose. If you like being an entrepreneur you will find something next year at school. I meant to say:
There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college when you are young, free, & footloose. If you like being an entrepreneur you will find something next year at school.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403808 Lisa Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:53:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403808 I would like to know why the guy says "what I really want to do is build my lawn care business." This is a question he should be asking himself and goes along with Trent's advice. Is it the building something, seeing instant results, or simply the money? I think that for a high school student, 35K can seem like a huge amount of money. It really isn't. Follow David's advice if you decide to not go to school next fall. There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college. I would like to know why the guy says “what I really want to do is build my lawn care business.” This is a question he should be asking himself and goes along with Trent’s advice. Is it the building something, seeing instant results, or simply the money? I think that for a high school student, 35K can seem like a huge amount of money. It really isn’t. Follow David’s advice if you decide to not go to school next fall. There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college.

]]> By: Georgia http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403760 Georgia Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:46:19 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403760 My situation is a little different. I worked for one full year before attending college. I did it to earn money to pay for it. I was unable to go back after my 2nd year, but I left with no debt and a good job. I also took a few more classes in between. Now I am 71 and am planning on going back p/t in January to test whether I am up to the grind of studying again. I have always wanted to finish my degree just because I like to complete what I begin. If I manage all right in the spring semester, then I will attend p/t or f/t at my original college - about 450 miles from home. I will go f/t if I can get enough assistance. I refuse, at this late date, to ever have student loans. If I can only pay for p/t, that is what I will do. So, I agree with others that Andy could do both for at least one or two years. The work experience would be a great forerunner to the discipline needed to study. I worked while going to college f/t also those two years, sometimes for 40-48 hours per week. Didn't hurt me and I got pretty good grades. (But I had also had the experience of doing this in high school. My situation is a little different. I worked for one full year before attending college. I did it to earn money to pay for it. I was unable to go back after my 2nd year, but I left with no debt and a good job. I also took a few more classes in between.

Now I am 71 and am planning on going back p/t in January to test whether I am up to the grind of studying again. I have always wanted to finish my degree just because I like to complete what I begin. If I manage all right in the spring semester, then I will attend p/t or f/t at my original college – about 450 miles from home. I will go f/t if I can get enough assistance. I refuse, at this late date, to ever have student loans. If I can only pay for p/t, that is what I will do.

So, I agree with others that Andy could do both for at least one or two years. The work experience would be a great forerunner to the discipline needed to study. I worked while going to college f/t also those two years, sometimes for 40-48 hours per week. Didn’t hurt me and I got pretty good grades. (But I had also had the experience of doing this in high school.

]]> By: No Debt Plan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403739 No Debt Plan Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:49:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403739 I agree with the very first comment (and admit I haven't read all of the comments)... why not do both? Go to school at night, or online (at a reputable school... not University of Phoenix). Do both... keep the business and go to school. I agree with the very first comment (and admit I haven’t read all of the comments)…

why not do both? Go to school at night, or online (at a reputable school… not University of Phoenix).

Do both… keep the business and go to school.

]]> By: Diy Joe http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403721 Diy Joe Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:31:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403721 As a person who took 17 years to get his first degree, don't go to school because you think you have to. Sure, some portions of my life probably would have been better if I would have slaved away at a degree, but I am a far better student now than I ever would have been right out of high school. You will do so much better when you WANT to learn. What is working for me right now is working full-time and going to school nights/online part time. As a person who took 17 years to get his first degree, don’t go to school because you think you have to. Sure, some portions of my life probably would have been better if I would have slaved away at a degree, but I am a far better student now than I ever would have been right out of high school. You will do so much better when you WANT to learn. What is working for me right now is working full-time and going to school nights/online part time.

]]> By: SwingCheese http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403652 SwingCheese Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:41:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403652 I have to say, as one who deferred enrollment to grad school, and as the spouse of one who took 10+ years off befire returning to college, I dislike the "If you don't go now you'll never go" argument, always said with an ominous tone, as though the speaker knows something about yourself that you, personally, don't know. I was given those dire warnings by friends when I took two years off between college and grad school to work. I have since completed grad school. My husband will have his professional degree in about 2.5 years. We both knew ourselves better than our friends professed to know us, and we both realized that we would gain nothing if we forced ourselves to attend school when the time was "right". I think that the advice for Andy to look inside himself for the answer is perhaps the wisest advice that anyone could give. (That having been said, I also really like the working-full-time, school-part-time idea, simply because I've seen a number of people who took the work-full-time, nothing-part-time option who have been sturggling to find work. The degree is, in many instances in this day and age, a necessity in order to be considered for a position.) I have to say, as one who deferred enrollment to grad school, and as the spouse of one who took 10+ years off befire returning to college, I dislike the “If you don’t go now you’ll never go” argument, always said with an ominous tone, as though the speaker knows something about yourself that you, personally, don’t know. I was given those dire warnings by friends when I took two years off between college and grad school to work. I have since completed grad school. My husband will have his professional degree in about 2.5 years. We both knew ourselves better than our friends professed to know us, and we both realized that we would gain nothing if we forced ourselves to attend school when the time was “right”. I think that the advice for Andy to look inside himself for the answer is perhaps the wisest advice that anyone could give. (That having been said, I also really like the working-full-time, school-part-time idea, simply because I’ve seen a number of people who took the work-full-time, nothing-part-time option who have been sturggling to find work. The degree is, in many instances in this day and age, a necessity in order to be considered for a position.)

]]> By: michael http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403566 michael Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:25:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403566 Nearly everyone who plans on going to college should take at least a year off after high school. I can't count the number of folks I met in college who did poorly because their first taste of freedom led to unintended consequences. Enjoy a small taste of freedom before making life-changing decisions like choosing a major -- you'll be much happier and your chances of success will increase dramatically. And not everyone needs to go to college -- in fact, many shouldn't. Nearly everyone who plans on going to college should take at least a year off after high school. I can’t count the number of folks I met in college who did poorly because their first taste of freedom led to unintended consequences. Enjoy a small taste of freedom before making life-changing decisions like choosing a major — you’ll be much happier and your chances of success will increase dramatically.

And not everyone needs to go to college — in fact, many shouldn’t.

]]> By: J http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/comment-page-2/#comment-403555 J Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:05:12 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/25/should-an-entrepreneurial-high-schooler-go-to-college/#comment-403555 I'll agree with the "do both" people. I'd really encourage attendance at a school that provides training for agribusiness/forestry/horticulture. Lawn care will be OK for now, but eventually the business will need to expand by hiring others, or diversifying into other areas -- for instance, tree services or landscape design. With a network of existing customers, these service can be sold to them. Also, as an earlier poster wrote, you will get old and at some point you will want to have people working FOR you -- and will need to know more about the business aspects of management. I’ll agree with the “do both” people. I’d really encourage attendance at a school that provides training for agribusiness/forestry/horticulture. Lawn care will be OK for now, but eventually the business will need to expand by hiring others, or diversifying into other areas — for instance, tree services or landscape design. With a network of existing customers, these service can be sold to them. Also, as an earlier poster wrote, you will get old and at some point you will want to have people working FOR you — and will need to know more about the business aspects of management.

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