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Billionaire offers college alternative

May 17, 2012 10:14 AM

Billionaire Peter Thiel's program to pay students with promising ideas to drop out of college is attracting students and critics. Morley Safer reports on Sunday, May 20 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Billionaire offers college alternative
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by pstan26 July 11, 2012 12:50 AM EDT
I'd really like to hear everyone's opinions on whether or not you think that college is overvalued and if we are in a bubble. Here is the link to the poll where you can vote and comment: http://linkd.in/OwC8eL
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by MSantanaUSNRet May 20, 2012 8:14 PM EDT
If this guy offers my kid a this opportunity I would tell her to take it and run with it. She could always go back to college. I agree with him 100%. I could not agree with him more. I wish he would offer it to me I have a few ideas some of which I have already see out in the public. Where can I meet with this gentlemen. I still have a few ideas that I think can make millions I need this opportunity to knock on my door.
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by CTLLC May 20, 2012 8:01 PM EDT
I'm did my master's from a good school just not an Ivy ( no way to pay), while working full-time running a consulting business. This scares the Elite.Or should I say people born on third base and thought they hit a triple.

There are plenty of jobs I interviewed and have been qualified for experience and skill wise, but I din't go to an Ivy so I didn't get the job. I've had to make my own. You take the institutionalization/$$ out of the equation and rest on actionable laurels instead, no doubt this scares the crap out of people and their families vested in the prior system. This and Coursera changes everything, and I think for the better.
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by econ930 May 20, 2012 7:33 PM EDT
Obviously Mr. Theil is wealthy and has never been hungry. I'd like to see him fill our an application for a job and submit an application that shows no education. So many applicants are passed over for jobs because someone else has a higher degree of education. In the words of my parents and their parents before them, "If it sounds too good to be true than it probably is not"
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by pegasuswindows May 20, 2012 7:28 PM EDT
I dropped out of high school and own a company www.pegasusinchicago.com
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by goinghome11 May 20, 2012 7:23 PM EDT
hes making money off this he is out of touch what a scam my son will get his degree in nursing which the medical field is in demand not alot of student enterpernauers suceed get down to reality mr theil wish I had your money
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by DDGresham1 May 20, 2012 4:00 PM EDT
Key words "students with promising ideas." What percentage of the population do you think has a promising idea? I know that I didn't and from what I could tell, the thousands of people around me when I went to college didn't either. This piece might mislead a few young men and women to think that they can use their "great idea" without having done the work that will give them the brain power to implement the idea. There will always be a few exceptions that can go out and do it without college but they will be a small percentage of the population.
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by DDGresham1 May 20, 2012 3:58 PM EDT
Key words "students with promising ideas." What percentage of the population do you think has a promising idea? I know that I didn't and from what I could tell, the thousands of people around me when I went to college didn't either. This piece might mislead a few young men and women to think that they can use their "great idea" without having done the work that will give them the brain power to implement the idea. There will always be a few exceptions that can go out and do it without college but they will be a small percentage of the population.
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by Eliteoomph May 19, 2012 4:37 PM EDT
I left school at the age of 17. I never had a desire to go to college even though my entire family constantly pushed the issue. I have always had an interest in business, technology and the evolution of the internet. About 3 years ago I went out completely on my own and started my company. Life is well, I am doing what I LOVE and I didn't need college to get where I am today. I do not think college is a necessity for all but certainly understand that for others it is needed. I had a rough time in school because I was constantly questioning my teachers. To me most educators see the world in black and white. I can look at anything, absolutely anything and tell you how you can improve upon it... I wasn't a good fit for the education system, but I would never discourage my children from college. It is simply not for everyone. I do however feel there should be more focus on post secondary and technical education. Lets face it, not everyone is cut out to own there own business. It takes a tremendous amount of will power, focus and energy to make it work. The key is, find out what makes you happy and spend your life doing it.
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by AllAboutThe$$ May 19, 2012 12:50 PM EDT
I am a college grad with post grad, doctorate, post-doc training. Given that most kids these days get their advice from rappers, the internet, and can see videos on everything known to man----I cannot see how a kid can pay attention to the mountains and years of boring material you have to endure just to get to a "traditional job". All along the way, these kids will find all sorts of sniveling idiots attempting to be judgmental. Now there, kids need that experience of rejection and they also need to know how to deal with it and learn from it. That kind of experience doesnt come from a classroom. Oh wait, there's J-Date!!
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