Are IMers DOOMED in Academic Careers?

[Joak]

So I've been thinking how many of us IMers have actually attended college and graduated with flying colors? The reason I'm asking, is that I continously keep struggling at college because I just don't have the motivation. From where I come from, in order to have an opportunity to get even a semi-decent job, you need to be a college graduate.

If you're not, you're pretty much done. The problem is, knowing that I'm currently spending 5 years in my life in college, struggling, just to graduate and gain this "social respect" and possibly a job, isn't enough motivation for me at all, simply because the "dream job" of a good graduate from my college would pretty much pay a quarter of what I do in IM.

My parents use to say oh you're good with computers and all, go to the faculty of engineering, computer science! Now I'm there, and I'm thinking, this is not where I'm supposed to be..lol.

So how do you guys see attending college? Did you go to college / graduate? If yes, did you go because it's some kind of a "social requirement" or just because you wanted to? And how do you manage your IM career with it and set the priorities?

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[dannym954]

From where I come from, in order to have an opportunity to get even a semi-decent job, you need to be a college graduate.

There's your motivation

 

[rugbyjack2005]

I went to uni and graduated and now i make a full -time living out of IM. I thought uni was a waste of time while i was there there as I had no money but looking back i am glad i stuck at it.

 

[OldSalt]

Completing a Bachelor's in Network Security in December - straight As and starting my Master's in January. Then again, I am generally one of the oldest students in most of my classes - I take my edumacation very seriously.

 

[Neo240]

Both lead to the same goal really. Get job - better life- better wife etc etc. And IM- A bit faster better life- *no comments on wife* etc etc.

I was in the same position as you. I took a decision against the normal society and till date I haven't regretted it. Although I am relatively new to IM as well. But do remember one thing, if you do leave college, you need to learn your entire life to improve yourself as you don't have the so called security of a job.

But these are just my views. It depends on yours as well. I am assuming you are from India/Pakistan??

 

[frazgta]

I am in Uni right now. Wouldn't exactly call it struggling but I'm neither the student of the year. The toughest part is prioritizing. I always give priority to my studies no matter what. I'm just going with the flow

 

[rippy]

I have MBA, thinking about Doctorate.

 

[Gogol]

As for myself, I Got admitted to Honors in Chemistry. Struggled for 4 years and dropped out Then got admitted to Bachelors in Computer Application and passed like a breeze, coz I almost knew it all(except for the dbms thingy)...
As for the jobs, I get 1-2 interview calls a day for web development and I get more salary than anyone in my office (though it's a small team really)..
Moral? Your academic education is bullshit (especially if you are into IT)...

 

[janist]

Finished my Diploma (equal to a Master's) in International Economics with focus on International Financial Markets. If I will ever need it? Hopefully not! Yet, it's nice to know that I have a decent degree as a safety net, if the IM world ever collapses. Graduated with 1.9 (Grade Average for all students is around 2.5-2.6) - so overall I'm quite content with it.

 

[Joak]

There's your motivation

Well can't exactly agree as this applies to the "average joe". Having me already making a living off of IM makes this point rather useless.

I went to uni and graduated and now i make a full -time living out of IM. I thought uni was a waste of time while i was there there as I had no money but looking back i am glad i stuck at it.

Why were you glad? Have you made use of its knowledge? Landed a job? Or just makes you feel better? I'm trying to find anything to hang on to so that I would keep going.

Completing a Bachelor's in Network Security in December - straight As and starting my Master's in January. Then again, I am generally one of the oldest students in most of my classes - I take my edumacation very seriously.

So you're taking it slow, eh?

Both lead to the same goal really. Get job - better life- better wife etc etc. And IM- A bit faster better life- *no comments on wife* etc etc.

I was in the same position as you. I took a decision against the normal society and till date I haven't regretted it. Although I am relatively new to IM as well. But do remember one thing, if you do leave college, you need to learn your entire life to improve yourself as you don't have the so called security of a job.

But these are just my views. It depends on yours as well. I am assuming you are from India/Pakistan??

That's a negative. I'm from the land of the Pharaohs.

I am in Uni right now. Wouldn't exactly call it struggling but I'm neither the student of the year. The toughest part is prioritizing. I always give priority to my studies no matter what. I'm just going with the flow

Going with the flow is the easiest thing to do. It's really hard to go against everyone else's views.

I have MBA, thinking about Doctorate.

Glad to hear

Finished my Diploma (equal to a Master's) in International Economics with focus on International Financial Markets. If I will ever need it? Hopefully not! Yet, it's nice to know that I have a decent degree as a safety net, if the IM world ever collapses. Graduated with 1.9 (Grade Average for all students is around 2.5-2.6) - so overall I'm quite content with it.

My GPA is currently 1.9. According to policy, if I don't go above 2.0 soon, I get expelled

 

[Deleted member 300520]

Studying mediatechnics at university of applied sciences. I'm quite motivated because it's pretty interesting and a lot of the stuff is actually useful for IM too.

 

[janist]

My GPA is currently 1.9. According to policy, if I don't go above 2.0 soon, I get expelled

In Europe it's the other way around (GPA 1.0 = best, 4.0 = worst)

 

[ferma231]

High school now, i domt think i need it and atm i have awful grades lol, IM is better .
And school is for those who need and want to waste their life in 9-5 job and get pennies, im not one of them

 

[PureBlack]

i go to an online school, and I have 9 - 5 job, + my IM career.

 

[jazzc]

The most important thing I learned from my university years was how to learn. The subject was "hard" and that made us build gradually the ability to properly analyze an unknown problem and figure out the steps to tackle it.

That 's invaluable because it can be applied everywhere. The actual things I learned in the university? Never got to using them in the business path I took

I don't believe one has to be a millionaire by 25. I believe it 's easier to do it if you build up your skills first.

Regarding the social pressure, I don't give a damn about what other people think about my choices - that said, I always listen and weight everyone 's input because as someone said a few thousand years ago: "The only thing I know is that I don't know shit".

Remember though, to choose is to accept responsibility for your actions. Never judge lightly.

Finally, not all schools are equal. If you go that route, get into the more demanding one you can. Hard work will pay off.

 

[Deleted member 198715]

Completed My Bachelors Degree.. [Bachelors in Media Sciences (Film & TV)]
Now planning for LLB.

 

[nubcakes]

I dropped out of school :/ School is for weak people like you

 

[antsaoo]

I have done high school but i think ill go to college or w/e of it equals. Getting into uni might be bit difficult without taking some classes in math fysics and such since i have not needed to use those really in many years. Im not really interested in being millionaire or anything close to that, so getting a degree in something interesting might bring good change once in a while and possibilities to get to known to new people. But for the pain of waking up every morning i still want good pay, while still having IM business.

 

[Zak_A]

I got a master degree from a business school (Master in management).

What I've learned surely helped me build and run my company (web agency) that I started alone and from scratch.

 

[SocialMediaManager]

I got a Masters Degree from a University ( Masters in Political Science )

Doing LLB