The Truth: Why Some World Changers Should Skip College

College Equals Success… Right?

College is expensive. Four years at an elite university like Stanford or Harvard will set you back $160,000-$200,000.

That’s a lot of money, but consider the benefits: The professors, the coursework, the people you’ll meet and the invaluable experiences you’ll have. And, of course, the bottom line: You’ll earn more money afterward. In fact, on average, the holder of a four-year college degree will earn 62% more over their lifetimes than a typical high-school graduate. And that’s just on average. The return on investment for attending one of the nation’s 25 or so most selective colleges is far more impressive. Money well spent, right?

Well, not necessarily…

Although there is clearly a correlation between earnings with and without a four-year degree, studies have revealed that the primary reason this group earns more, is not because they have a degree or even because they are more intelligent, it’s because they are an elite group of dedicated, driven, and self disciplined individuals. To take this further, after a study was performed between 100 college students at top universities and 100 elite “non” college students over an eight year period. The two groups shared all the same or similar key characteristics including age, IQ, up-bringing, GPA, income level, and personality test scores, the difference in success was incredible…

There was hardly any difference!

This conclusion had brought a paradigm shift for our generation. Its findings are now forcing people to ask the question,

Don Jacobs from Harvard University says, “Yes, many probably are.” He estimated that about 30% of the students who attend Harvard will be no more successful than if they had not attended. That is crazy! This means that thousands of students actually spent $160,000+ on schooling to ensure a better life in which they already would of had if they had skipped it all together.

So how do you know if you’re part of that 30%?

1. They work hard! Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.

2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn. They study, ask questions and read – constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!

3. They network. They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They don’t have to be “the life of the party”, in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. These people have a rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.

4. They work on themselves and never quit! While the “over-night wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, this group of elite people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. This group doesn’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!

5. They are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, “Why not?” They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, “I’ve got it!” They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. This group of people create stuff!

6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility. This group of people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes – Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase and a President “shouldn’t” do that! These people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.

7. They are confident in God’s calling for their life. They have a strong relationship with their creator and have the faith of a prophet. They trust in God and His promises. They move with confidence and a fanatical desire to achieve Kingdom impact.

If you’re still not sure, here are 3 more reasons to push you over the edge.

1. You’ll be losing four working years. There’s an opportunity cost associated with going to college: Not only will you lose the money you’ll have spent on tuition, you’ll also be out the amount of money that you could have made if you’d worked during those four years. And if your family isn’t wealthy enough to pay for your education on their own, you’ll also owe a hefty amount in interest payments for your student loans. Perhaps more importantly, with four years of experience on your resume, you’ll be far better off when looking for work than the average 22-year-old college graduate.

2. In fact, you could probably make more money if you invested your tuition. Put $160,000–the approximate cost of a Harvard education–into municipal bonds that pay a conservative 5%, and you’ll have saved more than $500,000 in 30 years. That’s far more than the average college grad will accumulate in the same amount of time.

3. You don’t need to be in a classroom in order to learn something. Truly motivated learners can teach themselves almost anything with a couple of books and an Internet connection. Want to learn a hands-on skill or trade? Consider an apprenticeship.

So the question is… Are you going to college and spending thousands of dollars without really needing to do so? If so, leave a comment to discuss.