In our culture going to school is given a lot of respect. Dropouts face a sharp negative stigma. They're quitters. They're losers. They'll go nowhere in life. But is this really true? How big of a factor is college on success?
Everyone knows how important it is to stay in school, get a good education, and graduate with a diploma. But it may be hard to stay focused after reading about the success of these famous drop-outs. Hard work, drive, natural talent, and sheer luck helped them overcome their lack of education, but many still returned to school later in life.
In this article, you will learn about notable people including inventors, politicians, and In our culture going to school is given a lot of respect. Drop-outs face a sharp negative stigma. They're quitters. They're losers. They'll go nowhere in life. But is this really true? How big of a factor is college on success?entertainers who dropped out of school before their rise to fame.
Everyone knows how important it is to stay in school, get a good education, and graduate with a diploma. But it may be hard to stay focused after reading about the success of these famous drop-outs. Hard work, drive, natural talent, and sheer luck helped them overcome their lack of education, but many still returned to school later in life.
In this article, you will learn about notable people including inventors, politicians, and In our culture going to school is given a lot of respect. Drop-outs face a sharp negative stigma. They're quitters. They're losers. They'll go nowhere in life. But is this really true? How big of a factor is college on success?entertainers who dropped out of school before their rise to fame.
Michael Dell
Dropped Out: Michael Dell started a computer company called PCs Limited while attending the University of Texas at Austin. He dropped out of school to operate it.
Accomplishments: Dell’s company was later renamed Dell, Inc., which reported revenues of over $61.4 billion last year.
He enrolled as a biology major at University of Texas but spent more time fiddling with stacks of computer parts in his dorm room than hitting up the library. Instead of studying, he started selling new computers through advertisements in local papers.
It was a lucrative distraction. By the end of his freshman year, Dell was selling about $80,000 a month in computers. With the money rolling in, Dell decided not to return to school.
Dell explained his attitude to University of Texas grads at a 2003 commencement address: "Circle the pitfalls and highlight the opportunities. Then build a vision of how it could all be better and work like hell to make it happen."
Dropped Out: Michael Dell started a computer company called PCs Limited while attending the University of Texas at Austin. He dropped out of school to operate it.
Accomplishments: Dell’s company was later renamed Dell, Inc., which reported revenues of over $61.4 billion last year.
He enrolled as a biology major at University of Texas but spent more time fiddling with stacks of computer parts in his dorm room than hitting up the library. Instead of studying, he started selling new computers through advertisements in local papers.
It was a lucrative distraction. By the end of his freshman year, Dell was selling about $80,000 a month in computers. With the money rolling in, Dell decided not to return to school.
Dell explained his attitude to University of Texas grads at a 2003 commencement address: "Circle the pitfalls and highlight the opportunities. Then build a vision of how it could all be better and work like hell to make it happen."
Bill Gates
Left Harvard during his junior year to work on a little company he'd started called Microsoft. He recently testified before Congress on the importance of improving the U.S. education system.
"Too many of our students fail to graduate from high school with the basic skills they will need to succeed in the 21st-century economy, much less prepared for the rigors of college and career," said Gates.
School has other benefits too, like who you meet. In 2000, billionaire Steve Ballmer took over the role of chief executive of Microsoft from Gates. The two lived down the hall from each other while they were both students at Harvard.
to edit.
Left Harvard during his junior year to work on a little company he'd started called Microsoft. He recently testified before Congress on the importance of improving the U.S. education system.
"Too many of our students fail to graduate from high school with the basic skills they will need to succeed in the 21st-century economy, much less prepared for the rigors of college and career," said Gates.
School has other benefits too, like who you meet. In 2000, billionaire Steve Ballmer took over the role of chief executive of Microsoft from Gates. The two lived down the hall from each other while they were both students at Harvard.
to edit.
Steve Jobs
Dropped Out: Steve Jobs attended college for just one semester.
Accomplishments: He’s the founder and CEO of Apple Inc. He became Disney’s largest shareholder after selling it Pixar. Fortune has described Jobs as America’s most powerful businessman.
Dropped Out: Steve Jobs attended college for just one semester.
Accomplishments: He’s the founder and CEO of Apple Inc. He became Disney’s largest shareholder after selling it Pixar. Fortune has described Jobs as America’s most powerful businessman.
Ralph Lauren
Dropped Out: Ralph Lauren studied business for two years at Baruch College before dropping out.
Accomplishments: He founded Polo Ralph Lauren. He’s why you have the pony on your shirt.
Dropped Out: Ralph Lauren studied business for two years at Baruch College before dropping out.
Accomplishments: He founded Polo Ralph Lauren. He’s why you have the pony on your shirt.
Mark Zuckerberg
Dropped Out: Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard after starting a social networking site in his dorm room in 2004.
Accomplishments: The social networking site he founded is Facebook. In 2008 Forbes valued his net worth at $1.5 billion, though reports say he may have to scrape by with only $1 billion for 2009.
Dropped Out: Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard after starting a social networking site in his dorm room in 2004.
Accomplishments: The social networking site he founded is Facebook. In 2008 Forbes valued his net worth at $1.5 billion, though reports say he may have to scrape by with only $1 billion for 2009.
Paul Allen
Dropped Out: Paul Allen attended Washington State University for just two years before dropping out.
Accomplishments: Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates, who he convinced to drop out of Harvard. In addition to his stake in Microsoft, Allen owns a dozen professional sports teams, seemingly endless tracts of real estate, and has stakes in dozens of technology and media companies such as Dreamworks Studios.
Dropped Out: Paul Allen attended Washington State University for just two years before dropping out.
Accomplishments: Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates, who he convinced to drop out of Harvard. In addition to his stake in Microsoft, Allen owns a dozen professional sports teams, seemingly endless tracts of real estate, and has stakes in dozens of technology and media companies such as Dreamworks Studios.
Richard Branson
Dropped Out: Richard Branson left school when he was only 16.
Accomplishments: Branson has built his brand Virgin—which includes Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and hundreds of other companies—into an international powerhouse that has driven his personal wealth into the billions.
Dropped Out: Richard Branson left school when he was only 16.
Accomplishments: Branson has built his brand Virgin—which includes Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and hundreds of other companies—into an international powerhouse that has driven his personal wealth into the billions.