What attributes do famous non-college grads have over those students who complete a college degree yet fail to achieve their dreams? Were the factors a nurturing supportive family a positive k-12 learning environment that encouraged curiosity? Since these celebrity non-college grads had what seems the perfect mix for success maybe completing a college degree was redundant. Maybe completing a college was for symbolic reasons did not hold meaning in their pursuit of loftier aspirations.
Comments please.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— Mark Zuckerberg returned to Harvard University to give advice to students who differed from him in one noteworthy way.
They graduated.
The Facebook Inc. chief executive, who dropped out of Harvard in 2005, came back to deliver the commencement address on Thursday. He finally got a diploma, an honorary degree.
“If I get through this speech,” Mr. Zuckerberg, 33 years old, told the assembled, who huddled under umbrellas as it rained, “it’ll be the first time I actually finish something at Harvard.”
Apple Inc.’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, a Reed College dropout, took to Stanford University’s podium in 2005. Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, who left University of Illinois and University of Chicago, donned cap and gown at University of Southern California in 2016.
Ellen DeGeneres addressed Tulane University in 2009, telling grads she didn’t go to college. Kanye West, who titled his debut studio album “College Dropout,” spoke at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015.
“Ironically, dropouts do give some of the best speeches,” said Cristina Negrut, creator of Graduation Wisdom, a website that archives graduation speeches.
Dropouts often take risks, she said, which makes for better stories. At least 10% of the roughly 200 graduation speeches on her site were by people with no college degree.
Microsoft Corp. co-founder and Harvard dropout Bill Gates gave the Harvard commencement address 10 years ago. Mr. Zuckerberg’s college girlfriend Priscilla Chan, now his wife, collected her degree that year.
Dropping out to launch a startup has gained even more allure in the tech industry since then. Snap Inc. co-founder Evan Spiegel, in a 2015 commencement speech at USC’s Marshall School of Business, said he left Stanford without completing requirements for a diploma. Billionaire investor and Facebook board member Peter Thiel, who has Stanford degrees, started a fellowship in 2011 that pays $100,000 to prodigies who have dropped out of school and work on startups.
“The next world-changer could be that annoying student in the back row and working on her laptop—you just don’t know,” said Harry Lewis, a Harvard computer-science professor who taught Messrs. Gates and Zuckerberg. One of Mr. Lewis’s daughters—a Harvard graduate—now works for Facebook.
It’s a message acknowledged by fresh Harvard grads such as Jair Olivares. “Ideally here nobody graduates and everyone makes it big,” said the 22-year-old history major from Chicago. “It would’ve been nice to drop out and make it big too. Now I will have to work harder.”
Some parents attending the Harvard ceremony were grateful their children didn’t follow Mr. Zuckerberg’s dropout footsteps. “If he can do so well as a dropout, my son can do much better as a graduate,” said Lily Hugh, mother of Danny Hugh, 31, who received a liberal-arts and management degree from Harvard Extension School.
Many dropout speakers treat the irony with humor, including Ms. DeGeneres, who told Tulane grads: “I’m not saying you wasted your time or money, but look at me, I’m a huge celebrity.”
Mr. Gates told Harvard grads: “If I had spoken at your orientation, fewer of you might be here today.”
Matt Damon, addressing Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 2016 graduates, said he attended commencement at Harvard after studying there but didn’t get a degree. “So yes, today, for the second time in my life, I am fake graduating from a college in my hometown.”
Students prize fame and gravitas over a degree in a commencement speaker, said Julie Lythcott-Haims, Stanford’s dean of freshmen until 2012 and now an author. Stanford students were “thrilled,” she said, when Mr. Jobs spoke to 2005 graduates—she was on the stage—and told them that dropping out of Reed was “one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Mr. Zuckerberg, whom Facebook declined to make available for comment, left Harvard nearly two years after starting Facebook, which today is valued at more than $430 billion.
“I don’t know, maybe the choice of not getting a degree was the right one,” said Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom, who graduated from Stanford and sold his photo-sharing app to Facebook for $1 billion in 2012.
Mr. Zuckerberg sought advice on the speech from Mr. Gates, who had brainstormed with his friend Warren Buffett a decade earlier about his own speech. When Mr. Gates dropped by Facebook’s Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters earlier this year, Mr. Zuckerberg pressed him for tips. “They know we actually didn’t graduate, right?” he asked in a video posted to his Facebook page. Mr. Gates responded: “That is the best part—they actually give you a degree.”
Mr. Zuckerberg, returning to campus Tuesday, visited his former dorm, where as a sophomore in 2004 he started the social network. In a live Facebook video, he reminisced about scheming to pass a Roman history class, which he said he didn’t attend because he was too busy coding Facebook.
He joked about a classmate who promised his father he wouldn’t work with Mr. Zuckerberg after they built Facemash, a predecessor to Facebook that compared students’ pictures and let people pick the “hottest.” The classmate turned down Mr. Zuckerberg’s offer to help run Facebook, he said.
On Thursday morning, Mr. Zuckerberg, dressed in a crimson robe, was one of 10 recipients of honorary degrees, along with actors James Earl Jones and Judi Dench.
Mr. Zuckerberg opened his afternoon commencement speech with a few jokes and then urged graduates to “create a world where every single person has a sense of purpose” at a time when jobs are declining due to automation and social safety nets are wearing thin.
Today’s great struggle, he said, is between the “forces of freedom, openness and global community against the forces of authoritarianism, isolationism and nationalism.”
Mr. Zuckerberg that day posed with his beaming parents for a photo with his new diploma and immediately updated his Facebook page to say that he holds a Harvard degree.
“Mom,” he wrote, “I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.”
What I learned is that all successful people struggle and failed sometime in their lives and they never lose hope or faith in themselves. They learned how to cooperate with their lives and learned how to master and show their talents and techniques on how to achieve long term goals.
The celebrities or the billionaires are the people who have the natural talent and the people who usually stands out in a crowd and is not afraid to use their voice or stand up to something. Like Dr. dre he did alot and didn’t go to college for example he made beats, he’s a producer, he was in a group that almost everyone loved which was NWA. Kanye west seems like he has a mental issue but he did great things like made music that some people like, made clothes that you can honestly make your self, and he , married kim khardasion and the khardashions have a curse because look what happened to their ex’s but kanye did good things in his life and he also made shoes which cost a lot.
Some parents are happy to know that if Zuckerberg dropped out and became well known, then their children who graduated will also have a better chance as well. Students who drop out are more likely to have better stories because of the risks they had to go through. Celebrities who dropped out stated that it was the right choice to drop out. The famous drop-out celebrities had the advantage over students, because their originality and creativity brought them to their own success.
Dropping out of school to launch a business has become very popular. Some people do not agree with people dropping of out school to start a business, like Mark Zuckerberg for example. Some parents attending the Harvard ceremony were grateful their children didn’t follow Mr. Zuckerberg’s dropout footsteps.
Excellent counter-point to the drop out of college attitude.
The most important trait that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as well as any other entreprenuer had was being determined and a risk taker. Being able to fail yet still pursing their dream. I’m sure they faced plenty of obstacles and felt like giving up but they didn’t and it was worth it in the end. Dropping out of IV league universities just to do what they love and change the world.
Super answer from a budding entrepreneur like you.
In this article it shows you in how successful individuals who did not proceed with the proper education system would advice college graduates. Such examples of people like this include Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of The social network pad, Facebook. Although they are non-college graduates, they are advising college grads to continue pursuing what they desire and are passionate for along with receiving an education.
These success stories are rare but an instrumental piece of popular intellectual culture. These stories popularity allows the mentality that “all dropouts” will make it big however that is not the case. While we should take from the hardworking, dedicated outlook of these successful people, we should attempt to develop our own unique success stories without following an example that may not suit us.
This proves that the mindset that college is mandatory is ultimately destructive. Going to college is a great way to further your education, of course, but it is by no means the only path to success. Contrary to popular belief, college is not a guaranteed place for people to survive and thrive. Some people were not destined for college, and college would only take time away from what they were truly meant to do.
At this stage of the modern world, you basically need a college degree for a decent enough job and the reason that most of these people are so successful without a college degree are due to innovations attempted at a time of more opportunity. The fund by Peter Thiel to people who dropped out of college just seems like a waste of money. Overall, 4.9/10 IGN
What I learned is most successful people struggle but they rise from failure and learn from their mistakes and become more successful. They know how to cooperate with others.
Struggle then success; rinse and repeat. Super answer.
The most successful people in this world take huge risks and start their own businesses. Jobs dropped out of school to pursue his dreams and develop the Macintosh. You don’t necessarily need to obtain higher education to become rich. The only thing that is 100% necessary is determination.
Awesome answer-Art Lewin would agree with you-Determination.
People who take risk and create their own business are the most successful people. Pursuing a high education isn’t always necessary in becoming rich. It takes hard work and dedication.
Right on the spot answer-taking risks can bring success.
Dropping out of school to launch a business has become very popular. Some people do not agree with people dropping of out school to start a business, like Mark Zuckerberg for example. Some parents attending the Harvard ceremony were grateful their children didn’t follow Mr. Zuckerberg’s dropout footsteps.
Something that I learned is that there are many successful people who dropout but what one has to take to consideration is that you cannot take back the money that you wasted, and that you have to know that you are responsible for your actions. If you dropout, you are not going to automatically be successful. If I went to a top school then I definitely would not want to dropout because it is really expensive and to just basically flush it down the drain is pretty stupid.
I wouldn’t drop out of Harvard because its hard to get into and you have to do a lot to go there so I wouldn’t drop it.
People that take more risk in life are more successful,but you do not need an education if you want to become rich.Many just save money to build a business to start off.
Many people, like Mark Zuckerburg and Kanye West, dropped out, yet were successful. Just because people droppout of college, that doesn’t determine their future. College does not ensure a stable life.
when people take risk on there business are usually the most successful. Most people know how to fix there mistakes. Pursuing a high education isn’t always necessary in becoming rich. It takes hard work and dedication.
The most successful people in this world take huge risks and start their own businesses. Although they are non-college graduates, they are advising college grads to continue pursuing what they desire and are passionate for along with receiving an education. we should attempt to develop our own unique success stories without following an example that may not suit us.
Something that I learned is that there are many successful people who dropout but what one has to take to consideration is that you cannot take back the money that you wasted, and that you have to know that you are responsible for your actions.You don’t necessarily need to obtain higher education to become rich. The only thing that is 100% necessary is determination.
Something that I learned is that there are many successful people who dropout but what one has to take to consideration is that you cannot take back the money that you wasted, and that you have to know that you are responsible for your actions.You don’t necessarily need to obtain higher education to become rich.The most successful people in this world take huge risks and start their own businesses. Although they are non-college graduates, they are advising college grads to continue pursuing what they desire and are passionate for along with receiving an education.
Well thought out organized writing and answers. Superior detail.
I learned that you don’t always have to graduate college to be successful. You also don’t need to get a higher education to become rich. The most successful people in this world take huge risks and start their own businesses.
Super observations and writing.
Something that I learned is that there are people out their having a successful career without going to college. Also people that drop out of high school and still have great jobs. Also that successful people have to take huge risks to become rich.
Impressive answer and writing.
1. Steve Jobs
2. Bill Gates
3. Mark Zuckerberg
all of these people are people who drop out of high school of high school, but are known as the people who innovated in the technological space.
Very true all were innovators.
The most successful people in this world take huge risks and start their own businesses. Pursuing a high education isn’t always necessary in becoming rich. Kanye West and Mark Zuckerburg both dropped out, and yet they were both very successful in their careers.
Superior writing and answer. Risk-taking is important.
What I learned is that you don’t need to go to college to be successful . You can experiment with trial & error . Going to college is a benefit , it’s not mandatory .
Super well written answer.
A lot of famous people have dropped out of school. This is now a common thing to do.
A lot of famous people have dropped out of school. This is now a common thing to do. Mark Zuckerberg is famous for this action.
What I learned is that everybody has a voice. As well as anyone can be successful. Lastly you taking risks can lead you to achieve a lot and you should always stay positive.
Super advice: Stay positive.
Money is not happiness but you do live easier when you have the financial support. People like Mark Zuckerburg have found a way to take a harder path and not pursue an education. Completeing college is a huge benefit when you choose to apply for jobs that pay higher.
Excellent answer and reason to attend college. The research supports your answer.
At this stage of the modern world, you basically need a college degree for a decent job and the reason that most of these people are so successful without a college degree are due to innovations attempted at a time of more opportunity. The fund by Peter Thiel to people who dropped out of college just seems like a waste of money.
I learned that a lot of successful people drop out of college. For example bill gates dropped out and he never went back to get his degree. I think,as you can see from these famous people, that you don’t need a college degree to be successful you just need to be hard working and believe in yourself and you can become successful in life.
Motivating answer! Happy to see you read the article.
The famous non-graduates don’t regret dropping out of college. Dropping out of college can be very risky for people if they change their mind, and want to become famous. College is not mandatory but it still can help those who don’t want to be famous or an entrepreneur.
Outstanding answer yes college is good insurance.
College are for those who want to study or they’re interested in something. Not all college graduates become ‘rich’. It’ll get them a good career yeah but even those who didn’t go to college can be successful.
Attending college doesnt always mean that you will be rich and earn a lot of money. Most people who drop out of school or dont go to college still are successful and even earn a lot more money than a person with a degree.
The celebrities or the billionaires are the people who have the natural talent and the people who usually stands out in a crowd and is not afraid to use their voice or stand up to something. Like Dr. Dre he did alot and didn’t go to college for example he made Beats, he’s a producer, he was in a group that almost everyone loved which was NWA. Kanye west seems like he has a mental issue but he did great things like made music that some people like, made clothes that you can honestly make your self, and he , married kim khardasion and the khardashions have a curse because look what happened to their ex’s but Kanye did good things in his life and he also makes expensive shoes.
All successful and not successful people have to go through very common stuff with each other. Attending college doesn’t mean you’re going to get more money compared to someone who only has a high school diploma. Colleges are for people who want to get a degree for something they enjoy doing as a profession in the future, not to make more money.
Having successful people who do not poses a college degree give a speech to college grads I find absurd, I would have to blame the members of the university for mocking the students by showing them the great accomplishments of these people, after they had spent the last four years, and outrageous amounts of money, studying to get the degree that they were told was supposedly very important for them to have a successful future, and then showing them what others accomplished without a degree, during the time when they were learning.
Some of the speakers who attended these graduation ceremony, should not have been invited, I am referring to the celebrities who did not deserve the honor of giving the speech, since they did not finish their degree, but instead of doing something productive with their time, they spent it on entertainment; however, other like bill gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs are successful in subjects that require a developed mind, and contributed to complicated fields after drooping out, meaning that THEY do deserve the honor, even if it is not the best idea to present them in front of a crowd.
Something that I learned is that there are people out their having a successful career without going to college and they have a good job . They even earn a lot more money than a person with a degree.
Good answer.
While there quite a few stories of people becoming successful without going to college or even dropping out of college or high school. For example, Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard in 2005 (but later came back to receive his degree) and later launched an app that made history in the social media industry: Facebook. Thus; many people, including the young adults, cite Zuckerberg and other prominent figures as living evidence that you don’t need college or even a complete high school education to become successful. However, the reality is that it varies for everybody. The road to success has no single formula to be followed; and in all honesty you could go to the best college and try your hardest to make big money or find the right person to marry, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out and that’s life. So, everyone reaches success in different ways, it’s just up to the individual to determine whether or not college is anywhere in the picture for it.
Brilliant observation and superb writing.
You are correct a top college does not guarantee success up to the individual on pursuit of success and happiness.
The people who drop out of college and stumble upon fame and fortune would have been successful no matter what. College exists to help facilitate peoples’ individuality and teach them how to problem solve and be innovative thinkers. People like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs all have one thing in common: a great idea. These are the people who have the qualities (perseverance, charisma, networking skills) to thrive in any environment they are placed it; they realized that their full potential would be hindered by spending more time in college because they already had the life skills that college teaches. For a regular person like me, it is wiser to stay in college. I would rather spend the time in college learning about myself and how to become an irreplaceable asset in a workplace unless I will miraculously be struck with the idea for a multi-billion dollar idea.
Sharp precise analysis on staying in college to grow and branch out into your interests.
In order to be successful you need to put yourself out there and make many risks to become the person you want to be. Dropouts tend to make more risks and can be just as successful as people who graduate college. The decisions you make change your life for the worse or for the better.
Yeah love that answer put yourself out there let the market decide your product or service.
The most important trait that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as well as any other entreprenuer had was being determined and a risk taker. Being able to fail yet still pursing their dream.
The most important trait that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as well as any other entreprenuer had was being determined and a risk taker. Being able to fail yet still pursing their dream.
Highlighting individuals such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates who dropped out of college and made it big, this article attributes their success to the risk they took and how it payed off. The movement has gained even more appeal as more affluent people give their support, such as Peter Thiel who started a fellowship that grants $100,000 to dropout prodigies for their startups. While the article gives much acclaim to those that took the initiative to drop out and turn their efforts to create something successful, it seems to focus on the select few that were prosperous and fails to portray the majority of dropouts who do not experience the same triumphs.
Nailed it! The realistic grim conclusion to celebrity college dropouts.
I think its important to understand that college isn’t for everyone. Although many people suceed without a college degree, I personally think if you like school or if you like learning, then its importantto go to college. However, college is not necessary in order to suceed and to feel acomplished. Hapiness comes in many forms.
Not everyone needs a college or even high school degree to be successful in life. All you need is hard work and dedication.
What I know that even though you are famous and even getting the diploma it still counts all together that why it not bad because it is only a diploma from school and you could go anywhere too that why is this important for them.
Wow this article was very informing. I learned that college isn’t necessary.