As for my degree, dropping out has crossed my mind several times, but it seems good to have a backup plan just in case. ;)

As a recent college graduate and current high school teacher, I am very intrigued by the idea that “college will change” because the realities of the marketplace will make a degree obsolete in the face of ability and a great idea. However, I don’t see a dramatic change happening in colleges coming any time soon. The “degree” is still all-important for the 99% of us going the conventional route. Even yourself, someone who can’t be pigeonholed into one conventional profession or interest, still finds a graduate library degree to be worth the effort and time.

Our economy just won’t support a large minority of startups and “idea” businesses. The vast majority of high school and college graduates are going to be cogs–or should I say “vital cogs”–in larger organizations and companies. And to compete for those jobs, they’ll need both a degree and the drive/ability/character/personality to sway a interviewer.

Mary: See my next post. :)

Janssen: Good to know. Hopefully the pre-meds in the audience are paying attention. :) Myself, I could never be a doctor because of the icky nature of it, not to mention the high stress levels. But God bless those who do it, especially those who do it because they want to help humanity out.

Bart: You two must be on the same wavelength or something. ;) No, really, you’re right — business management skills are important even for those who aren’t in business. And I think everyone should learn business, or at least the rudiments of it. We all have to deal with it to one degree or another, and the more we know, the less likely it is that we’ll be taken advantage of. (Not that I think everyone’s out to get me. :)) And, in general, we’ll be better prepared for life.

Ryan: If Graham is right about more and more people not going to college, then hopefully we’ll be able to get rid of the stigma that not going to college makes someone a failure in life, doomed to flipping burgers at McDonald’s for eternity. I’d love to see it presented as an equally viable option. (Not going to college, that is, not flipping burgers. :))

In real life, my friends took the same route they always took in the game, and so did I. Both routes have proved successful, just as in the game.

As for business, I’m starting to realize more and more that all organizations, be they nonprofits or corporate giants, need good “business management” to survive. Even the Church needs savvy people running its finances, operations, “marketing,” etc. Libraries need cash to buy materials, pay workers, and pay the bills, so they have people making sure they request and receive every grant and donation possible, and they have people keeping account of all the money that comes in and out.

I’m not saying that everyone should love business or even learn business. I’ve just been interested to find that what we commonly call “business” is in everything.

(Also, if you were in a career just for the money, I would SO advise against the medical route. The money just isn’t that amazing, especially when you consider the time you spend to 1) getting through med school and 2) being a doctor for the rest of your career.

I dated a guy in high school who’s dad was a heart surgeon (he made quite a bit of money, obviously) but he told everyone who would listen not to go into medicine.

You want money? Go into business).

I have no idea why I felt the need to make this rant. Excuse me.

check it out http://www.nanowrimo.org

It’s amazing.