Isn't It Ironic? (Score 1)

I dropped out of college when I was 19 to move to NYC and work for Citibank's trading floor technical support group. Partially inspired by Bill Gates dropping out, I realized I had a sweet job opportunity that I shouldn't pass up. I had to work hard to keep up. But it sure paid off - my resume looks beautiful because of my time there. When I left college I felt I wasn't learning anything. And the things I learned I forgot about within months. My motto became: if you learn something on your own, you know it. If you learn something by having it crammed down your throat, your professor knows it. Now, about six years later, I'm working for eCollege.com. eCollege is an online distance education ASP. We host a plethora of courses ranging from small community colleges to large well known universities. How ironic! And how convenient! I can access the content of these courses offered by the greatest minds on earth at my leisure. I do believe I'm learning a wider range of topics than any college education could offer me. Last point: not having a degree motivates me. It makes me work harder than my fellow employees. It pushes me because I have to prove myself over and over again. I've noticed this in a programmer friend of mine that only has a high school degree. He is super skilled technically - a huge asset to our company. The college educated folks seem lazy compared this friend mine. My opinion: college is an antiquated rite of passage that can be skipped if you're smart enough.