Dropping out of college
Stroudsburg, PA · Member since 2019 · 14 posts · 67 votes
I’m a 19 year old freshman in college studying architecture but I’m realizing I’m more interested in the business of buildings and not building them. There’s a real estate program here, but I’d be going 100+ thousand into student loan debt. I’m considering dropping out, getting a job or two, and getting my real estate license. My reasoning is that by the time everyone graduates with debt, id ideally be doing some form of a real estate career with no debt. Is this a good option? I’d also be more happy with this option.
Dude, I would not drop out of college.
Thats just me though. I value education because it is more than just a piece of paper you get.
It is the ambition the discipline, it is aiming high, and your mind is like any other muscle. you need to exercise it for it to grow bigger and stronger.
Hell I am crushing it in my market BECAUSE I am a NASA caliber robotics scientist.
I became a master at SEO because I see numbers. I see patterns. I understand and see the reasons for something before I even know myself why it is.
I am not saying you NEED to go to school, but why drop out? Not only is it a waste, you are training your mind that giving up is an option.
You are young, and you have the energy to do both at the same time. Ask yourself if it is not just lazyness or a shortcut you are after, BECAUSE know this.
Most people fail doing REI. MOST as in 90%+
So many reasons why you shouldn't drop out of college.. but then a gain.. I am biased.
I am extremely educated....
so lets wait for the others before you take my advise too seriously.
Totally agree with @Jerryll Noorden and @Sarah Brown- college is more than a piece of paper. I am not using my degree at all, but I wouldn't change a thing. If you are in an expensive program at an expensive school, then go to a cheaper school and change your major.
Sure, in college I got lots of content knowledge, but I rarely use it. It's the other stuff I learned there that was so valuable and I use every single day in my business:
-How to listen to someone (professor) who wants you to give them a product or information in a specific way, much differently than you might think it should be done. Then you give it to them AND get honest feedback.
-How to negotiate with people who have different goals and motivation than you might.
-How to network, connect and partner with others who have different backgrounds and goals than you do.
This is a simple list and the topics are very broad, but those skills are essential in ANY business, and you don't learn them in high school or working at KFC. You don't have to go to Harvard, but you do need to learn how to thrive in an environment where no one else cares if you succeed or not- just like the real world. College professors and want their students to learn, but they couldn't care less about how you feel or how hard you try- they care about results, just like in the real world.
Whatever you choose, best of luck to you.
Try to not take it all too serious in my opinion. Dropping out now, is taking a break.. it doesn't mean never, ever going to school again.
Personally I think it's a great route to take a break while you're trying to gain more work experience and sort things out. Especially in terms of investing, there are tons of opportunity to get paid to learn real estate, earn a decent income and with little debt you can get investing sooner than later and start your education in real estate.
Don't sweat the decision too much. That's my only advice. Take action either way, if you're staying.. make the most of it and dominate your education. If you're leaving for now.. do it now and take action every day to get real word education and apply the same commitment you need to get good grades, to learning and gaining experience in whatever field you pursue.
You'll figure it out, and whenever you want you can re-focus on your education and be more specific about what you decide to pursue when the time comes. You might find out there is more value in alternative or specific education outside of traditional academia. For example paying someone to allow you to help them in their field, or to have a meeting, or get specific licenses or certificates etc... endless possibilities and you should use your life to try stuff out and see what you like.
I dropped out a few years ago
Reach out or dm me anytime to talk
Best,
Ryan
@Jaden Adams
Maybe just change majors. Many states require a head broker to have a college degree so if you want to do real estate think about this options before just dropping out.
Also, why do you need to pick up a couple jobs and get your license. Plenty of people go to college and get their real estate license. Work as an agent while you are a full time student and just schedule your classes around it. Then you will know it’s something you want to do.
This is that time in college when everyone freaks out and the grass looks greener on the other side.
College may still be not right for you, but I would say get your license now and start working as an agent if that’s what you want to do.
@Jaden Adams my word of advice is this—if you are serious about dropping out of school, you have to understand that real estate is not a get rich quick option. Furthermore, you need to understand the risk associated with real estate—things are great right now, but can you sustain if your investment market goes belly up? Are you are confident that you have the ability to push and persevere knowing that a real estate requires self-motivation and drive, and that (at least in the beginning) while others are playing, you’ll be working? Or are you hoping you get lucky and hit something big quickly so you can be “the master of your own schedule?” I think only you can answer if you possess the ability to stay on course, grind, and put in the work it takes to be successful in the real estate industry. If that’s the case, SEND IT my friend!
@Jaden Adams I think that’s a really great question and one I am somewhat familiar with. Let me tell you a little bit about my route and what I chose and why. Keep in mind though I am new to real estate investing as well.
I graduated recently (within the last year) with a bachelors in Electrical Engineering, which I had found a way to do so debt free. At the time of graduation, my boyfriend was obsessed with real estate and I didn't know enough about it besides family members who have all failed at REI so I was uninterested. All I knew was that I didn't want to do an electrical engineering job. I loved my degree, don't get me wrong, but I've always had the mindset of working for myself and not getting paid based on the number of hours I work but rather the people I reach. Because I knew machine learning was a hot topic and I have a feeling that machine learning will be applied everywhere you look in the future (it practically already is), I applied to universities for a masters in Computer Science with a focus on machine learning. I did this because I need the foundation of coding before I can really learn more about machine learning. And I only applied to universities that I knew I could do the same as my bachelors and graduate debt free.
I love seeing so much passion about something from my boyfriend and I know he is going to be super successful so I decided I would do some more research on REI and determine if I would want to pursue it as well. Turns out I LOVE IT. It follows everything that I have been searching for.
Sorry this post is long - stick with me if you can.
Graduation Rolls around and I have multiple possible paths to take. I have an offer for an EE position at the same company as my boyfriend for starting at 80k per year and a raise every year. I have an offer for Georgia Tech’s Online Masters of Computer Science, which is less that 10K for the whole thing, so affordable! And I have this new passion for real estate.
Lots of family members told me “Take the job!” Lots of family members told me “get your masters Full time!”
In the end, I didn't do either of those things. I decided to do two things at once. I am working on REI as much as I can. AND I am getting my masters part time. People now ask me all the time why get your masters in Computer Science if you're investing in REI? Well, I still believe that the world is moving so far towards this field it could provide value to my REI. Maybe I create my own program that finds deals for me? Who knows? All I know is that I believe it could provide value.
Even though my masters is not in the exact field of RE, I believe that it has the potential to provide extraordinary benefits, even though that wasn’t the reasoning behind why I applied for it in the first place.
With all that being said. First and foremost, do what you love. I have always believed and told my friends that if you don’t like what you’re doing, then why are you doing it? I do believe education is meaningful and has a purpose. It gives you the foundation to help you later on in life. I don’t think it’s necessary for everyone. In your case, I would suggest looking more into the real estate track at the university or maybe a different real estate track at a different university. Doing this real estate major/track could really help give you a great foundation and I wish I had something like that I could do since I’m learning about real estate itself. As you said if you don’t like architecture, definitely do not do architecture.
If you decided to take the real estate track, you don’t have to do so full time. You can do it part time while getting the agent license or while investing. You could also look for another university. When I applied to my masters I was sure everything would cost 100k +, but after tons of research I found different options below 20k!
I would look more into the real estate track though and see what about the real estate track entails. Is it actually what you’re interested in or is it something else? If it’s something else entirely, maybe you don’t take that track and maybe spend time on your own (cost free) reading books and self-educating yourself on real estate.
I am happy I did my bachelors/masters not only because of all the things mentioned, but also because it taught me how to learn. Probably this is the biggest pro to my bachelors.
Whether you attend a bachelors/associates/masters etc or not, I would still say always educate yourself. Learn as much as you can. If this means becoming an agent, become an agent. If this means get a bachelors, get a bachelors. If this means reading books and watching videos, then read books and watch videos. Only you will know the right path for yourself. But don’t let learning stop you from doing as it’s easy to say (in fact I’ve said it) “as soon as I learn about this/ as soon as I read this book, I’ll start.”
Finally, listen to everyone’s advice and understand that people can only speak to their previous experiences. You know what’s best for you. Don’t be afraid to make any decision because there’s not a wrong decision. It all depends on what you do with that decision that will make it worthwhile or not.
@Jaden Adams do it my man. Looking back I wish I would’ve had the same mindset ~4 years ago. Follow happiness and fulfillment. I wish you the best.
@Jaden Adams I’m a dad of three sons, and my advice to them has always been to follow your passion! If you wake up every morning excited to tackle the task before you, then you’ll be satisfied on a daily basis and that means so much! Plus, you’ll be inclined to do your best work because you’re passionate about it. Now, a practical side, a college diploma is helpful when you enter the market place because so many employers want to see the diploma. However, if you’re an entrepreneur and feel confident this is your interest then by all means go for it! I get so angry thinking about the burden college debt has become to so many families it infuriates me! I lean toward going into real estate but you have to make decision for yourself!
@Jaden Adams maybe consider an associates in business at a community college for cheap money and work while you’re in school. It’s what I wish I had done and if you don’t like architecture you absolutely should not be going into all that debt for that degree.
I have a meeting this Thursday with my counselor about all my options. I also have a meeting during Thanksgiving break with a local real estate agent! Hopefully by the end of the semester, I’ll have everything figured out. However, I believe I have my mind set.
One day during class, I flipped a coin heads being I stay in school and tails saying I drop out and follow my passion. It landed on heads.... and that feeling made me understand what I truly want. I appreciate all the information and advice!!
@Jaden Adams
My 2 cents
leaving college is a BIG mistake...the amount of “way of thinking” you learn in college is well worth it!
Fyi i went back to college 2 times after my BS in Mechanical eng for masters in mechanical eng and then MBA 5 years later.
Now, i am saving lots of money where now its easier for me to invest.
Good luck!
@Jaden Adams This is an outstanding option! Getting your real estate license is much cheaper to obtain plus while everyone else is in college creating debt for themselves you can be making money. Whether it’s selling houses or being a real estate investor you will set yourself up for success by following your heart & dropping out.
@Michael Kindell exactly! My main argument is that when my class graduates, ideally I’ll be experienced enough to have a solid job with no debt! And from there it just keeps building, and I’m happy!
@Jaden Adams You’re on the right track brother! One of my favorites quotes ever is by Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do what you feel in your heart is right for you’ll be criticized either way.” Basically saying no matter what you do in this life someone isn’t going to be happy about but as long as YOU are happy with it then it’s ok. I went to college for a year before I dropped out because I was mainly going for my parents. I always wanted to be my own boss so I had to take a chance on myself & do what I felt in my heart was right to make me happy. If I’m being real, my parents are gonna die & it’s going to be me stuck in this life doing something I never truly wanted to do. I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur & work for myself & college is just not for the person that thinks outside of the box/entrepreneurs. It’s for the worker! Plus there are so many ways to educate yourself! I have gained so much knowledge from books, podcast, & webinars that talk about investing, business, stocks, & real estate. I’ve learned more on my own than college & high school ever taught me. College won’t teach you about money, credit, assets vs liabilities, cash flow, & passive income. I quit college about two years ago & it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Since then I have worked on my credit which is a 780 now, I’ve worked two jobs & have saved a lot of money & now I just made an offer on my first rental property that will bring me passive income so that I now I can quit those jobs & go on as a full time investor. Do what you feel in your heart is right man!!!!
@Jaden Adams
Did you look at a state school close to home? You would save a ton of money in tuition, and commute to save more.
An education is a essential. Solid W2 income also helps with the lending process.
@Jaden Adams I'd say go for it, as long as you have a plan and dedication. I'm an 18 year old in the same boat and dropping after this semester to pursue a trade and real estate because college felt like a waste of time and money for something I didnt enjoy.
@Joshua Estes why not get the license?
@DeAngelo Fletcher I took the test and passed but wasn’t something I was very passionate about and was too young. I had a few offices tell me that no one wanted to buy a house from a kid.
Hey Jaden, it really depends on how much longer you have. If you are only a semister or two into college and really don't like your degree and want to invest in real estate, I would say drop out. If you only have a couple years to finish it out, I would say finish up school and get a job in architecture while you build up an investment portfolio. It is much easier to buy properties with a W2 and from my understanding architects make quite a bit of money. You definitely don't need a degree though to enter real estate, especially if you just started going to school you would be better off droping out. I dropped out after a semester of college and started working a job that paid $8.00 per hour. Now I own over 100 rental units. Experience definitely pays off more than college in my oppinion.
@Joshua Estes oh ok, I'd want to get mine due to being able to buy my own houses when investing
@Brandon Penn awesome! My plan right now would be to find two part time jobs so I can work many hours, since I’m already up so long, and studying real estate to get my license, or even being a free intern for my local business. I have a meeting with them when I get home from break!
@Jaden Adams, full disclosure here: I’m an educator—a K-12 college prep school administrator, actually—so I’ve dedicated my life to schooling, both personally and for a career. I can’t say I’m without bias, but I can also say that your points and concerns are valid. I’ve argued for a while now that students can get a better education spending 8 hours a day in the public library for four years than they can get at many modern colleges. Still, I think I would probably frame the challenges you face a bit differently than you may be seeing them.
There was a time in this country when education was less about the training of a man (or woman) and more about the making of a man. Where higher education went wrong was when it started focusing so much on creating social cogs in the workforce rather than on forming thoughtful, winsome, wise, well-rounded, and engaged husbands, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, citizens, AND workers. In the twentieth century, schooling became a social tool for an industrialized society or, worse, a perceived panacea for social injustice, crime, and poverty. There was a form of education that predated these cosmic shifts. It was another form of education that was responsible for the thoughtfulness of the founders of our country. It was this paradigm that formed the original curriculum of institutions like Harvard, Princeton, and other Ivy League schools—institutions to which I wouldn’t send my own children today. We’ve fallen so far.
I would not advise you to abandon education as a whole, but to abandon it in the form you are presently pursuing. Look for a college with a strong liberal arts base—one that teaches thinking and expression; one that gives as much time to wrestling with ideas and questions that matter as it does to teaching you how to be a cog in society. There are still some great schools out there that do this, though they are fewer and fewer. Likewise, some do it at a more reasonable price than others.
Search for liberal arts colleges and then evaluate which ones offer a ripe core curriculum that focuses upon well-roundedness. By keeping their eyes on the main things, these are the schools that are in fact preparing a workforce—the kind of people that know how to think, solve problems, lead, and collaborate.
In brief: Don’t neglect the training you need, but don’t neglect what it means to be fully human and get the most out of life either.
Cheers.
@Jaden Adams
You sound extremely disciplined & knowledgeable for your age. Going 100k dollars in debt is probably not worth it if you already have a plan in place to be a real estate investor. As someone who went to college & graduated with a degree in computer Science and 80k student loan debt, & now is seeking to become a full time RE investor I truly understand.
For example, because of my debt I need to have a high paying job in order to show a bank that my debt to income ratio is decent. If you have little debt, banks aren’t as worried.
I would go the no school route if I were you just for the fact that the 100k debt may not be worth it... And worst case scenario, after gathering real world experience and if you want to go back to school, it’ll always be there for you.
@Jaden Adams Don’t drop out. College is not taking away your time. I have about 50 hours a week of school and football, and I still have time to run a wholesaling business. You’ll find time for what’s important to you homie!
@Will Clark I’ve been spending about 17 hours a day going to class, homework, projects, going to the gym, and working part time. My day starts at 5 am and ends around 11 with no real free time other than to eat. Instead of spending this time on what I don’t enjoy, I’d rather spend it making money and getting my license. I hear where you’re coming from but I’d rather go all in on real estate.
@Bill F. The problem I see with studies like you shared is that they assume the benefits to somebody graduating college today are the same as they were 10, 20, 30, and 40 years ago. That is just not true. If anything the data points do more to show how different the opportunity has become. The job market and economy simply don't work that way. A degree in 1970 meant something that doesn't carry the same weight today. In the early 2000s when I was in high school, the litigation world was accelerating and there was a shortage of lawyers. Those graduating with a law degrees in 1999-2000 and passing the Barr exam we're almost guaranteed a $90k/year starting salary. I heard it all over the place and many of my peers went to law school. The problem is that the story was over hyped and too many people did it. I know several lawyer peers who had to work retail jobs or unpaid internships while they searched for firms hiring for years. Many of these firms raised their criteria due to an excess of applicants making it a requirement to have passed the California Barr to work in FL or NY. They thought they had it made and did not, needing to aim even higher. What worked for my grandparents did not work for my parents. What worked for my parents didn't work for my generation. So giving advice based on comparing college degrees of 60 year olds today has no relevance to whether a 19 year old will see the same benefits 40 years from today. College once set graduates apart from "the rest". Then it had to be a master's because everyone gets bachelor's degrees, now everyone goes for masters so I know people in their 30s going for PhDs to further distinguish themselves. It's an uphill battle when you follow the masses. These long term studies must be taken with a grain of salt due to the changing economic climate over the decades since the longest case studies graduated...