Seeking Wisdom: College vs. Entrepreneurship - What Path Should I Choose?

[Kanchan Mehta]

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out for some guidance on a decision that's been weighing heavily on me. As I approach my 17th birthday, I'm grappling with the question of whether I should pursue a traditional college education or dive headfirst into my entrepreneurial dreams.

For the past few years, I've been passionately drawn to entrepreneurship. The idea of creating something of my own, making a real impact, and leaving a lasting legacy ignites a fire within me. However, the pressure to excel academically, particularly in preparation for exams like IIT, has often felt like a roadblock to my entrepreneurial ambitions.

I find myself torn between the perceived security of a prestigious college education and the freedom to pursue my dreams independently. Will attending college truly enhance my entrepreneurial journey, or am I better off forging my own path?

I know that being at a good college will provide me with good networks and overall social experience, but man, at what price? I would have to invest years of my time into college when I'm so young and full of energy, and I seriously want to channel this energy into creating something valuable for the world. I believe I can contribute more to society by focusing directly on subjects linked to my entrepreneurial aspirations rather than spending time learning about subjects like chemistry or maths. While I understand that ultimately, the decision to attend college is personal, I seek advice from those wiser and older than me. Moreover, I recently read a post by MJ where he said that don't dismiss college education. MJ, if you're saying that college life is great and fun, let me tell you that the most beautiful period in my life so far was when I learnt to do hard work, when the first time I did hard work. I love my work so much that nothing else compares to it. Is college still important in light of this?

No, I'm not asking anyone to make the decision for me. I just want to ensure that I'm considering all the risks and benefits on either side of the decision. If I'm missing anything in my analysis, please let me know. I know you, as a community, are older and wiser, and I trust that you understand the burning passion I have for entrepreneurship. I value your perspectives on this important decision.

I've spent countless hours researching and soul-searching, but I still haven't found a definitive answer. That's why I'm turning to this community for advice. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a college graduate, or someone facing a similar dilemma, I value your insights.

Do you believe that a college education is essential for success in entrepreneurship, or have you found success through alternative paths? How did you navigate this decision, and what advice would you offer to someone in my shoes?

I'm open to hearing all perspectives and grateful for any guidance you can offer. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Your question cannot be answered.

I also wouldn't dare answering considering I don't know your strengths/weaknesses, much more, where you are located.

One question to always ask, what path will push me to grow and be happy in that process?

Also, you write very well!

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[Kanchan Mehta]

Well, just wanted to clarify that while I love to write, the grammar of the post I made was checked and refined with assistance of chatgpt so I can't take the entire credit myself.

Thank you for your insights mj

 

[Kevin88660]

Why not both?

Some would say it drains their time and that they do not have any time for business.

But time management is the first lesson in life for anything.

 

[Satoshi]

I must point out that having overly high expectations for entrepreneurship is a very bad idea. Entrepreneurship has never been about creating something that belongs to you; rather, it is about value exchange by solving consumers' problems. Moreover, consumers do not care who you are or how much hardship you have endured in the process of starting your business. Consumers only serve their own interests. In other words, if your dreams are not closely tied to the interests of others, I can confidently say that this path is destined to fail.

 

[Satoshi]

From my life experience, I suggest you go to college. When I was your age, I worked 12 hours a day. While your friends were out socializing and having fun, I was working alone at home until midnight or even the next morning. This sense of loneliness is something that not everyone can endure. The path of an entrepreneur is extremely difficult, especially when you might spend 1-2 years developing a product only to end up with just 100 customers. At that point, you'd feel heartbroken and devastated, realizing you would have been better off taking a job and earning a month's salary.

 

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[Satoshi]

From this perspective, if you can endure the risk of working for years without returns, the loneliness of being misunderstood by everyone, and the despair of knowing your fate as an entrepreneur depends entirely on whether consumers buy your product, then I suggest you become an entrepreneur. If you don't have this level of awareness, I recommend you go to a good university and actively make friends with others. When you can move forward with others, you'll see many paths ahead. If you choose entrepreneurship without any awareness and skip university, I guarantee you will experience hell. Likewise, the spirit of never giving up can only be learned in hell, and this is a life process that every qualified entrepreneur must go through.

 

[Dark Water]

I've commented on a lot of "college or not" type posts over the years and I'm always pro college.

There is no reason you cannot do both. Going to college does not hold you back from your entrepreneurial pursuit: I would argue it does the exact opposite, it fuels it.

I think opening up multiple "fronts" - whether college, jobs, side projects, sports, fitness... all blend together and fuel you in a positive way.

At every point in your life, you are going to face constraints and pushback on your entrepreneurial journey. College gives you very manageable, easy constraints to manage while you work on your own thing.

Becoming a well-rounded, more educated person and making connections with others in the same boat is not going to hold you back.

Not to mention the biggest thing... food. Taken care of for you, three times a day, just go to your grub hall, eat, and place the dish on your conveyor belt and your free to go.

In my early 30s and I just started my Master's degree. Being back on a college campus is revitalizing and a fresh perspective. I have a lot of early 20 year old peers in my program who either jumped right into a Master's or are taking a few master's classes to finish up their undergrad. A lot of them have entrepreneurial side hustles or ambition. They have businesses that are actually making money, or if not, having a positive impact in their community.

It is really cool to be able to piece together that perspective and side of entrepreneurship along with reading the forum here, and being able to offer them value from a fastlane perspective during our discussions.

If you have a "prestigious" college opportunity, all the more reason to go for it. The literal only drawback you could face is racking up too much debt. Keeping it under $20k or $30k in total for undergrad is ideal. If you have a scholarship opportunity or parents who will take care of it for you, use it.

You have a long journey ahead of you. Think of it this way: you can have the safety net of college going and a guaranteed positive outcome by 21 while launching and failing as many businesses as you'd like in that timeframe. Develop that work ethic and grit and put yourself to the test.

 

[NervesOfSteel]

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out for some guidance on a decision that's been weighing heavily on me. As I approach my 17th birthday, I'm grappling with the question of whether I should pursue a traditional college education or dive headfirst into my entrepreneurial dreams.

For the past few years, I've been passionately drawn to entrepreneurship. The idea of creating something of my own, making a real impact, and leaving a lasting legacy ignites a fire within me. However, the pressure to excel academically, particularly in preparation for exams like IIT, has often felt like a roadblock to my entrepreneurial ambitions.

I find myself torn between the perceived security of a prestigious college education and the freedom to pursue my dreams independently. Will attending college truly enhance my entrepreneurial journey, or am I better off forging my own path?

I know that being at a good college will provide me with good networks and overall social experience, but man, at what price? I would have to invest years of my time into college when I'm so young and full of energy, and I seriously want to channel this energy into creating something valuable for the world. I believe I can contribute more to society by focusing directly on subjects linked to my entrepreneurial aspirations rather than spending time learning about subjects like chemistry or maths. While I understand that ultimately, the decision to attend college is personal, I seek advice from those wiser and older than me. Moreover, I recently read a post by MJ where he said that don't dismiss college education. MJ, if you're saying that college life is great and fun, let me tell you that the most beautiful period in my life so far was when I learnt to do hard work, when the first time I did hard work. I love my work so much that nothing else compares to it. Is college still important in light of this?

No, I'm not asking anyone to make the decision for me. I just want to ensure that I'm considering all the risks and benefits on either side of the decision. If I'm missing anything in my analysis, please let me know. I know you, as a community, are older and wiser, and I trust that you understand the burning passion I have for entrepreneurship. I value your perspectives on this important decision.

I've spent countless hours researching and soul-searching, but I still haven't found a definitive answer. That's why I'm turning to this community for advice. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a college graduate, or someone facing a similar dilemma, I value your insights.

Do you believe that a college education is essential for success in entrepreneurship, or have you found success through alternative paths? How did you navigate this decision, and what advice would you offer to someone in my shoes?

I'm open to hearing all perspectives and grateful for any guidance you can offer. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me.

This is self glorification post.

OP will choose college .. OP is here to seek only glorification for getting into top level of rat race!

The day OP posts his admission letter to IIT, and his rejection letter to IIT .. I will quit this forum!

Entrepreneurship is always born out of poverty/hunger for money ..

Self doubts happen when peopile like OP have more than one choices!

Edit : OP is here only to evaluate his options if he doesn't get admission into top notch University!

 

[NervesOfSteel]

I've spent countless hours researching and soul-searching, but I still haven't found a definitive answer. That's why I'm turning to this community for advice. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a college graduate, or someone facing a similar dilemma, I valueu your insights.

You need to do soul searching on this : can you live 100% on your own without your parents, nor their financial support, for a minimum of next 6 months?

 

[Kanchan Mehta]

I've commented on a lot of "college or not" type posts over the years and I'm always pro college.

There is no reason you cannot do both. Going to college does not hold you back from your entrepreneurial pursuit: I would argue it does the exact opposite, it fuels it.

I think opening up multiple "fronts" - whether college, jobs, side projects, sports, fitness... all blend together and fuel you in a positive way.

At every point in your life, you are going to face constraints and pushback on your entrepreneurial journey. College gives you very manageable, easy constraints to manage while you work on your own thing.

Becoming a well-rounded, more educated person and making connections with others in the same boat is not going to hold you back.

Not to mention the biggest thing... food. Taken care of for you, three times a day, just go to your grub hall, eat, and place the dish on your conveyor belt and your free to go.

In my early 30s and I just started my Master's degree. Being back on a college campus is revitalizing and a fresh perspective. I have a lot of early 20 year old peers in my program who either jumped right into a Master's or are taking a few master's classes to finish up their undergrad. A lot of them have entrepreneurial side hustles or ambition. They have businesses that are actually making money, or if not, having a positive impact in their community.

It is really cool to be able to piece together that perspective and side of entrepreneurship along with reading the forum here, and being able to offer them value from a fastlane perspective during our discussions.

If you have a "prestigious" college opportunity, all the more reason to go for it. The literal only drawback you could face is racking up too much debt. Keeping it under $20k or $30k in total for undergrad is ideal. If you have a scholarship opportunity or parents who will take care of it for you, use it.

You have a long journey ahead of you. Think of it this way: you can have the safety net of college going and a guaranteed positive outcome by 21 while launching and failing as many businesses as you'd like in that timeframe. Develop that work ethic and grit and put yourself to the test.

Can't thank you enough for this valuable reply... It helped a lot.

 

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[Kanchan Mehta]

Why not both?

Some would say it drains their time and that they do not have any time for business.

But time management is the first lesson in life for anything.

Well, the reason I didn't consider taking both paths was that I just couldn't understand why college is important and what's there in college that I have to go. But, not so far, I have realized that going to college will be positive only for me. Thanks for taking the time to reply !

 

[Kevin88660]

Well, the reason I didn't consider taking both paths was that I just couldn't understand why college is important and what's there in college that I have to go. But, not so far, I have realized that going to college will be positive only for me. Thanks for taking the time to reply !

Signalling (economics) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The people who should defer or stop pursuing degree are those who already have existing massive opportunity elsewhere.

Many schools offer also offer options where you can defer your study to pursue other options.

 

[Kavin]

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out for some guidance on a decision that's been weighing heavily on me. As I approach my 17th birthday, I'm grappling with the question of whether I should pursue a traditional college education or dive headfirst into my entrepreneurial dreams.

For the past few years, I've been passionately drawn to entrepreneurship. The idea of creating something of my own, making a real impact, and leaving a lasting legacy ignites a fire within me. However, the pressure to excel academically, particularly in preparation for exams like IIT, has often felt like a roadblock to my entrepreneurial ambitions.

I find myself torn between the perceived security of a prestigious college education and the freedom to pursue my dreams independently. Will attending college truly enhance my entrepreneurial journey, or am I better off forging my own path?

I know that being at a good college will provide me with good networks and overall social experience, but man, at what price? I would have to invest years of my time into college when I'm so young and full of energy, and I seriously want to channel this energy into creating something valuable for the world. I believe I can contribute more to society by focusing directly on subjects linked to my entrepreneurial aspirations rather than spending time learning about subjects like chemistry or maths. While I understand that ultimately, the decision to attend college is personal, I seek advice from those wiser and older than me. Moreover, I recently read a post by MJ where he said that don't dismiss college education. MJ, if you're saying that college life is great and fun, let me tell you that the most beautiful period in my life so far was when I learnt to do hard work, when the first time I did hard work. I love my work so much that nothing else compares to it. Is college still important in light of this?

No, I'm not asking anyone to make the decision for me. I just want to ensure that I'm considering all the risks and benefits on either side of the decision. If I'm missing anything in my analysis, please let me know. I know you, as a community, are older and wiser, and I trust that you understand the burning passion I have for entrepreneurship. I value your perspectives on this important decision.

I've spent countless hours researching and soul-searching, but I still haven't found a definitive answer. That's why I'm turning to this community for advice. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a college graduate, or someone facing a similar dilemma, I value your insights.

Do you believe that a college education is essential for success in entrepreneurship, or have you found success through alternative paths? How did you navigate this decision, and what advice would you offer to someone in my shoes?

I'm open to hearing all perspectives and grateful for any guidance you can offer. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me.

hmm i think i can comment on this as i also have a bit of Indian background

So well im 16 and even my parents just say go to iit and all tht but if you see in depth like indian colleges even iit then well its not good like their research and things are absolutly trash.+ there facilities and staff are also not good and curriculam ahhh yk . all the reservations make it even worse.

I say you shouldn't go to an Indian university and try for a better abroad college idk if you reside in India or not if you reside outside like me then it makes 0 sense to go back to India. JEE is also not worth it

there are many way better options outside if you see 20-30k $ like in New Zealand and if you learn Finnish or German then Finland and Germany are ideal option as education is free and you can work on your business as well as have some fun at universities maybe you can find like minded individuals and can start a business together

So that's what my opinion and trust you are not alone even i go through this everyday but we all get out of it.
just let me know what you think,
cheers

 

[Kanchan Mehta]

hmm i think i can comment on this as i also have a bit of Indian background

So well im 16 and even my parents just say go to iit and all tht but if you see in depth like indian colleges even iit then well its not good like their research and things are absolutly trash.+ there facilities and staff are also not good and curriculam ahhh yk . all the reservations make it even worse.

I say you shouldn't go to an Indian university and try for a better abroad college idk if you reside in India or not if you reside outside like me then it makes 0 sense to go back to India. JEE is also not worth it

there are many way better options outside if you see 20-30k $ like in New Zealand and if you learn Finnish or German then Finland and Germany are ideal option as education is free and you can work on your business as well as have some fun at universities maybe you can find like minded individuals and can start a business together

So that's what my opinion and trust you are not alone even i go through this everyday but we all get out of it.
just let me know what you think,
cheers

I completely get your perspective as you are outside India.
I live in India and being from a lower middle class family I don't have enough money to go abroad.
Well, never found someone saying iit or jee isn't worth it... It's maybe not worth it for you.. or I would suggest double check your information about iits.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts !

 

[ErickMendez]

the loneliness of being misunderstood by everyone

Just curious about loneliness in general since you seem to have some experience about this.

Was wondering How’d you handle it? Or what gave you the motivation to keep working while experiencing a sense of loneliness? Was it to prove someone wrong? Was it a goal you really wanted?

Just curious how people push forward with a sense of loneliness behind there back.

 

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[Satoshi]

Just curious about loneliness in general since you seem to have some experience about this.

Was wondering How’d you handle it? Or what gave you the motivation to keep working while experiencing a sense of loneliness? Was it to prove someone wrong? Was it a goal you really wanted?

Just curious how people push forward with a sense of loneliness behind there back.

In many cases, if you know too much and end up learning what the ruling class does not want you to know, not only will you feel lonely, but in many instances, you will also be condemned by the masses and burned at the stake. I was born into a middle-class family in China, a country that in many ways resembles North Korea, yet is not exactly the same. Around the ages of 8 or 9, I often liked watching TV, and the daily broadcasts were filled with anti-Japanese dramas, which I greatly disliked. I preferred Japanese animations and movies, so I began teaching myself Japanese. Around the age of 13, I started working on video game text translations, and I used the money I earned from translations to hire two of my classmates to help me with my homework.

 

[Satoshi]

Meanwhile, my classmates were receiving an education at school that increasingly demonized America and Japan, which made me question what school education really is. The more the school promoted these narratives, the more I began to think independently. Why must students wear red scarves? Why must all students wear the same uniform? Why are the contents of the textbooks all the same? The more I sought to understand everything, the more I felt the loneliness of being alone in this quest, as I was the only one in the entire school trying to figure out these issues.

 

[Satoshi]

I began extensive research and soon realized a fundamental issue: ordinary people simply 'cannot resist' the official ideology. For example, when your teacher tells you that learning the knowledge in textbooks is your only way out, how do you resist? If you absorb what the ruling class has prepared for you, you are being irresponsible to your own thoughts because you are allowing the ruling class to rewrite your cognition at will. If you choose not to learn, you lack the knowledge to even graduate from school, which leads to the reason why the vast majority of students are unable to resist.

 

[Satoshi]

During my student years, I escaped the indoctrination of school education through a very special method. Besides Chinese, Japanese was my strongest language, so I managed to obtain Japanese textbooks and enrolled in an online Japanese school. Using the content from these Japanese textbooks, I was able to pass the exams in my Chinese school during the mandatory education period (from junior high to high school). I barely learned anything from the Chinese curriculum, but I just managed to pass the exams because I was educated through the Japanese online school. Additionally, I used the money I earned from translation work to hire my classmates to help with my homework, allowing me to reclaim my time and escape from the burden of those assignments.

 

[Satoshi]

Today, the vast majority of Chinese people harbor animosity towards the United States and Japan, a result of years of indoctrination by the school system, as I previously argued. If you only understand one language, you as a student will never escape the fate of being indoctrinated by the ruling class. A truly good student is not one who scores perfectly on exams, but one who questions the textbooks and begins to conduct independent research and study. If you decide to go it alone, it is not to prove anyone wrong, but out of necessity, because there are those who wish you to continue making mistakes. Your correctness is a threat to the system.

 

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