How much would it take to get you to drop out of school?

How much would it take for you to drop out of college?

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downtown

downtown

Crafternoon Delight
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Now that the NCAA basketball season is over, several high profile college basketball players need to decide if they are going to remain in school, or pursue careers in the NBA. Once a student "declares' for the NBA, he loses his college scholarship. Many sportswriters blast kids for leaving school early, especially since many of them are not in a position to get academic scholarships should they want to return to school, and could face limited employment prospects should the NBA not work out. However, if a player is competent enough to remain on an NBA roster for even a year or two, the min. salary is over 200,000, and benchwarmers who stick around the league can still make millions.


That got me thinking...what kind of money would it have taken me to drop out of college early? Posters, please read and consider the following hypothetical:

You are 20 years old, and about to enter your Junior year in college. A recruiter comes to you, and offers you a job in a different city, that is mostly related to your field, for X amount of money..but only if you take it in the next two weeks. You will not be able to attend school part time, or continue your education in any way during your employment. If you are exceptional at this job, you can expect to remain in it for at least 20 years, with salary hikes, but if you are only competent, you can expect to have it for at least 2-3 years. Should you take it, you will have all the life skills and maturity of a 20 year old, but will be working with older professionals. Lets also assume that you will be not be able to reenter school for at least one full year after your employment ends, and there is a decent chance that the school you re-enroll in (should you chose to do that), will not be as strong, academically, as your previous school.

How much money would the job have to be for you to take it? Poll coming.
 
Regardless of money, if I knew it gave me something beneficial long term I'd take it. Work experience in a job in your field to me seems more beneficial than college or university because really that's all employers care about - that you have experience to prove you're good enough. Plus if you know those are the stakes you'll put your all into it and stay there for 20 years!
 
My experience after searching for jobs after ended education is that relevant work experience is extremely important. So with what I know now, I'd take it, as long as I could support myself on that pay.

And how strong my school is academically? Come on 2+2 equals 4 no matter which university you're on. It's your grades that count.
 
Lillefix said:
My experience after searching for jobs after ended education is that relevant work experience is extremely important. So with what I know now, I'd take it, as long as I could support myself on that pay.

And how strong my school is academically? Come on 2+2 equals 4 no matter which university you're on. It's your grades that count.
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Depends where you are and also what grades you got. Also say I had a first from the Uni of Manchester and you had a 2.1 from Oxford/Cambridge and we went up for the same job you would get it hands down.
 
I wouldn't give up the college experience for anything. It's only money and the experiences can't be replicated in work life. The money would be made regardless so the security means nothing in comparison.
 
Whomp said:
I wouldn't give up the college experience for anything. It's only money and the experiences can't be replicated in work life. The money would be made regardless so the security means nothing in comparison.
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Of course not. I wouldn't either. But you can still have the job for two or three years, and take college after that. 24 isn't too old for college.
 
Lillefix said:
Of course not. I wouldn't either. But you can still have the job for two or three years, and take college after that. 24 isn't too old for college.
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You assume I'm only competent. My objective would be to become a linchpin not competent.

The only case where I would skip college and the experience is where my age determined my skill level like sports.
 
Yeah, sure, a research job that doesn't require college. That's a good joke.
 
250K at least, and even then, it would have to be something I was competent in.

That said, the "Different city" part matters too. I most likely will NOT be in the same city when I'm 20 as I am now. And I may want to stay where I am then. So that is also a factor.
 
$100k.

*complicated math and indifference analysis went into this point estimate*

(I'm neutral to location. Why is everyone so darn tied to place? My mind boggles.)
 
Integral said:
(I'm neutral to location. Why is everyone so darn tied to place? My mind boggles.)
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The South has the most miserable weather in the United States.
 
Like 4 million dollars since if I recall that's the average lifetime income from the highest education levels.

If I already have the moolah what's the point?

---

Or, over time, a job that pays 100K + is nice.
 
Godwynn said:
The South has the most miserable weather in the United States.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's because I live in a neutral location, that I am neutral to place? :D

(I'm going about as far north as possible for grad school)
 
I think there's quite a disconnect between the hypothetical "you" in the OP and posters' own responses.

For the "you" in the OP, I'd have to say that going for it at the point of a six figure salary is worth it. And yes, sports stars are plenty justified in these decisions the way those careers work, it really is a "blame the system" thing if you want to blame anything.

When we consider the hypothetical person, a six-figure salary really any is more than most college graduates and people of average talent or skills anywhere will make. And even if you lose that job after the stated 2-3 years you'd still have options and quite a bit of money. For your average liberal arts major or something, assuming the job itself will be neutral in "I like/hate this job" status - not necessarily their pure passion but something average and bearable for a job, then the money's awful tempting.

If you consider different fields then the money has to adjust somewhat, 100k doesn't mean the same to a potential doctor, lawyer, engineer as a sociology major. Giving up a degree that will be harder to get later and as stipulated at a different institution, for a 100k job that could be cut off after a couple of years isn't smart, and you'll be making almost that much anyway if not equal chances for more with your degree. Though bump the money up to a few 100k's and that's a salary so high almost anybody should be tempted given neutral external concerns.

So that's the hypothetical situation and I don't think I have too much to add regarding my own choice but if someone has something to ask, happy to respond. Obviously I would finish my bachelor's degree and the OP hypothetical is just too entirely unrealistic to me at this point but that's ok. A real choice would be esssentially be the choice between taking a job with such a guaranteed high six figure salary or continuing education for a master's or phd, and really I think that could be a solid choice to make, worth giving up direct academic education and a change in specific line of work for such an opportunity.
 
It would depend entirely on the quality of the job. Let me put it this way: I went to university because it was the best way of getting a leg-up on the career ladder. If I could skip that and move straight to a good job, I would do that instead. I can always get educated at a later date if that didn't work out.

I totally understand young sports stars deciding to follow their dream.
 
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