Entrepreneurs don’t need degrees like lawyers and doctors do. They are credentialed by virtue of their track record. The first startup is hard but if they make that one work, they end up with something much better than a college degree. They have a notch in their belt. They’ve got a track record of success. Even if the first one is a failure, I’d say that they’ve got something more than a degree. They’ve shown they can start something from nothing, build a team, a product, and maybe even a business.

Fred Wilson – principal of Union Square Ventures / (Read The Whole Article Here)

What a great excerpt taken from a recent post on Fred Wilson’s popular A VC Blog.  In the last decade, college has been touted by many as a “ticket to success”.  The funny part is that many of today’s most successful entrepreneurs either dropped out of college or never attended.  Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, & Michael Dell all dropped out of college to start businesses.  Looking back now, I’m sure that each of them did not regret that decision!

Many high school graduates are pressured to go to college before they have any clue of what they want to do with their lives.  In the process, they rack up thousands and thousands of dollars in debt and graduate with a job that pays peanuts.  I believe that the shift has already began where employers/VC’s are starting to spend more time looking at experiences rather than an alma mater.  Starting a company, military experience, world travel, and community service are all interesting accomplishments that, in my opinion, far outweigh a college degree.

If you are passionate about accomplishing something, dont think you need a piece of paper to achieve your goal.