“This type of work won’t be accepted in college…Your professors will expect much more of you in college… You’d be kicked out if you tried something like that in college..” I’m sure we’ve all heard the empty threats given by our teachers over the years. They seem to unanimously agree that college is the end goal we are all working towards. And for many people that may be true; college may be the logical next step on our journeys.

But for others, the piles of debt and years in a classroom aren’t worth a degree you won’t use? There is not one road to success; there are thousands of opportunities and decisions that can lead you to a fulfilling life, so why is it that school only seems to recognize one? Is the college path really worth the hassle? 

Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Lary Ellison, Michael Dell, Ralph Lauren, Beyoncé, and Oprah Winfrey are just a few examples of successful people who led promising careers and made lots of money without a college degree. But don’t let them fool you; people who aren’t world famous can just as easily make it without that diploma. So before you decide on the college path, consider your other options and ask yourself, is college really worth it for me?