| I appreciate the youthful energy you have. But before making this decision, you must understand that college is never about that paper they give you at the end. College is about friendships you form, the networks you gain. If you are careful, you learn more from your peers than your professors. As a side benefit, you get a support network for the rest of your life to depend upon. College is about wrapping your mind around a subject, and learning to find relevant stuff whenever you need; and to recognise that you need something, you must be aware of its existence. College is about experimenting and trying to find your preferences before life tosses you somewhere. And no matter how careful you are, life has its tricky ways to interfere with your plans. College gives you plans B, C and D. College is a gatekeeper. Once you pass that initial steps you talked about, you might want to work on mind boggling stuff only PHDs can understand, and you might be shocked that the doors are closed for you even though you are smart and knowledgable. College is investment. If you aren't lucky enough to win the lottery you aren't lucky enough to be the next Bill Gates no matter how studious and smart you are. Investing your four years in college would ease your life afterwards and open possibilities you haven't thought of. If you ask me, given the lower cost of higher education in U.K. it would be dumb to skip college to try to forge a path through sheer will. Go to your college and let the world unfold. College is empowerment. Don't be silly, make lemonades. |