[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

Or, any older people who didn't go to uni, particularly after passing that usual stage of going at age 18-21?

I ask this in my continuing quest to find out whether uni really is the be-all-and-end-all of life that so many people claim it to be. And also because I'm just curious.

I suppose there probably wouldn't be many on TSR, due to this forum being very university-orientated, but I just thought I'd give this thread a try, just in case. I'm aware that there are some famous people, like Sir Richard Branson, Sir Alan Sugar, and Simon Cowell, who rejected the uni route, but still managed to make a few billion pounds in their careers. Not that these are very common cases, I suspect?

Anyway, I'm more looking for opinions and stories of more 'normal' people. I'd like to know, what alternate routes did you take, and why? And has the outcome been sufficient enough in you achieving a fulfilling enough life?

[Yawn11]

Bill Gates - the riches man in the world also dropped out of Uni/College.

The only one you're gonna find on here is TheCurlyHairedDude - or something like that.

[IlexBlue]

Just to clarify, you are on The Student Room.

[TheCurlyHairedDude]

(Original post by Yawn11)
Bill Gates - the riches man in the world also dropped out of Uni/College.

The only one you're gonna find on here is TheCurlyHairedDude - or something like that.

Oh hey, yes you spelt it perfectly. Well yes I've dropped out of college and I'm on a training management programme, I've witness people progressing really fast and being successful, so I shall see where this takes me, and see where I am in a years time.....

I have no other choice, I'm not an academic person, passed GCSEs, but was failing A-levels, I just wanted to get out into the real world tbh, didn't like the prospect of studying for another 5 - 7 years. But I don't think uni is the be all or end all, far from it, there's so many opportunities for people! of course if you get a job in a huge retail store you're going to be earning £7 for the rest of your life, but trust me there's so many hidden jobs on recruitment agencies !

[TheCurlyHairedDude]

(Original post by IlexBlue)
Just to clarify, you are on The Student Room.

Well I take student quite ambiguously actually, you learn something new everyday, and you might not just be learning in an environment like a college/uni/school so....

Besides there's so much **** on here that's not to do with students...

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by Yawn11)
Bill Gates - the riches man in the world also dropped out of Uni/College.

The only one you're gonna find on here is TheCurlyHairedDude - or something like that.

Oh yes, I am aware of Bill Gates' story, as well as several other well known people who did well without uni. But I'd like to know more about what happens to the average person who doesn't go to uni

[TheCurlyHairedDude]

(Original post by CherryCherryBoomBoom)
Oh yes, I am aware of Bill Gates' story, as well as several other well known people who did well without uni. But I'd like to know more about what happens to the average person who doesn't go to uni

Full-time dead end job, no motivation or ambition and no goals...is my guess...

[Intensity]

I'm not.
I did when I originally joined this forum in 2006, but life happened.. I lack the motivation anyway. I don't have A-Levels either.

I have big plans though I fully intend to earn more than 90% of people on this forum.

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by IlexBlue)
Just to clarify, you are on The Student Room.

(Original post by TheCurlyHairedDude)
Well I take student quite ambiguously actually, you learn something new everyday, and you might not just be learning in an environment like a college/uni/school so....

Besides there's so much **** on here that's not to do with students...

Very well said . Googling for university-related topics does often lead you here, but I've found that so does Googling about learning to drive, finding jobs, and some other things. Plus, some people do change their minds about uni.

[Schleigg]

Me!

I joined the RAF with my A Levels and am pretty happy with my lot.

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by TheCurlyHairedDude)
Full-time dead end job, no motivation or ambition and no goals...is my guess...

OK . But that's not gonna be you though hopefully, right?

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by Intensity)
I'm not.
I did when I originally joined this forum in 2006, but life happened.. I lack the motivation anyway. I don't have A-Levels either.

I have big plans though I fully intend to earn more than 90% of people on this forum.

So what do you do now instead? If you don't mind me asking. Your post sounds interesting

[Psyk]

One of my friends didn't go to uni. Completely his choice, I'm sure his grades were more than good enough. He's now a web developer of some sort. He's pretty successful. Another one went to uni but dropped out after the first year. He's now a builder (self employed together with his brother) and also seems to be doing pretty well. He always has plenty of work.

I really wouldn't be surprised if both of them made more money than me.

[TheCurlyHairedDude]

(Original post by CherryCherryBoomBoom)
OK . But that's not gonna be you though hopefully, right?

No of course not, it's mandatory that I complete what I'm doing, so I will complete it, I never give up on anything I'm passionate about and I'm passionate about money.

[Linweth]

(Original post by Intensity)
I'm not.
I did when I originally joined this forum in 2006, but life happened.. I lack the motivation anyway. I don't have A-Levels either.

I have big plans though I fully intend to earn more than 90% of people on this forum.

Good luck.

[Madjackismad]

(Original post by Yawn11)
Bill Gates - the riches man in the world also dropped out of Uni/College.

The only one you're gonna find on here is TheCurlyHairedDude - or something like that.

I think she means people not going to uni in the first place. Bill Gates left university with his brains intact though. Mark Zuckerberg is another who dropped out of university.

[Anoodles]

(Original post by TheCurlyHairedDude)
Oh hey, yes you spelt it perfectly. Well yes I've dropped out of college and I'm on a training management programme, I've witness people progressing really fast and being successful, so I shall see where this takes me, and see where I am in a years time.....

It is interesting to hear about the alternate routes people take...out of curiosity, what is the training/management program centred around?

*excuse my nosiness *

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by Madjackismad)
I think she means people not going to uni in the first place. Bill Gates left university with his brains intact though. Mark Zuckerberg is another who dropped out of university.

Oh, I don't mind dropping out stories as well. Since they didn't get the degree at the end, and apart from the little uni experience they would have got before leaving, I'd think it's essentially not much different to not going at all.

[The_0001]

(Original post by CherryCherryBoomBoom)
Or, any older people who didn't go to uni, particularly after passing that usual stage of going at age 18-21?

I ask this in my continuing quest to find out whether uni really is the be-all-and-end-all of life that so many people claim it to be. And also because I'm just curious.

I suppose there probably wouldn't be many on TSR, due to this forum being very university-orientated, but I just thought I'd give this thread a try, just in case. I'm aware that there are some famous people, like Sir Richard Branson, Sir Alan Sugar, and Simon Cowell, who rejected the uni route, but still managed to make a few billion pounds in their careers. Not that these are very common cases, I suspect?

Anyway, I'm more looking for opinions and stories of more 'normal' people. I'd like to know, what alternate routes did you take, and why? And has the outcome been sufficient enough in you achieving a fulfilling enough life?

If I don't get into LSE, I ain't going.

[LandyJon]

The majority of my friends have gone to University but I'm not going down that route. Apart from the fact my A-Levels were ****, I'd also have biiiiig issues with being away from home for so long; I'm a massive home orientated person.

Instead I've turned my attention to my passion for cooking. Been working part time in a nearby pub-restaurant as a commis chef for a while now but I decided back in July that I needed some sort of qualification under my belt/apron if I wanted to progress. So as a result, I'm now at the local College of Further Education doing a Diploma in Professional Cookery.