Did you attend college/university?

[GPWA Gary]

As editor of the GPWA Times Magazine, one of my favorite parts of the job is conducting our Affiliate Interview Series and Affiliate Manager Interviews. It's always fun to meet our members, hear about their background/personal life and get to know them more. They become a real person, rather than an avatar in the forums.

One thing I've noticed while interviewing our members is that while it seems many of them mention that they attended college or university, there are certainly plenty who did not earn a degree. After dropping my oldest child off at college earlier this month, I was so excited for him to be back on campus because I remember my college days as some of the best years of my life. But I also realize that you don't have to have a degree on your wall in order to be successful in life.

For this week's poll, we ask if you went to college/university and earned a degree? We asked a similar question five years ago in which 44% said they earned a four-year degree, but we have plenty of new members and times have certainly changed since 2016, so it will be interesting to see the difference, if any, in the results.

If you didn't go to college, or didn't earn a degree, in addition to voting in the poll, please let us know why. If you did earn a degree, please tell us what you studied and if it's been a benefit to you working in the iGaming affiliate business.

[chaumi]

Interesting poll, Gary.

I went to a college, but that was to do 'A' level exams (for some - at least back in my day - going to a college instead of staying on in the 6th form in a UK secondary school was seen as a way out of the stricter environment in schools and into the more 'free' type environment of the college).

So my 'intention' on finishing 'O' levels at school (going into that summer) was never to not go into the school 6th year. I knew no different, didn't know there were other options, hadn't ever even questioned it. It was a given.

But stuff happened that summer, which changed it. New friends, new outlook, new perceptions of what's important at that age etc etc (it was the summer of punk rock and the Sex Pistols, which may explain slightly for anyone oldish enough to know). At the last minute - and I'm talking 2 or 3 days - it all changed. Almost a snap, instinctive decision.

So that never morphed into a degree, I got offered a job after the A levels and took it.

You might say some of this is not really relevant to the question. But it illustrates a point (and specifically related to the non adult aspect of degrees, university, colleges etc, of course)...and that's that at that age, everyone is changing in multiple ways. Hormones, testosterone, late developers, early developers, family influences, external influences, personal commitments, opportunities, lack of opportunities, and many more. All shape you, and/or have an impact on decisions made...which at that time you (as in a youngster) could never begin to appreciate the full and long term affects of.

Of course, as you allude to, the value of going to college/university is not just in the degree (assuming you complete). It's about the social aspect, learning some life skills, beginning on your steps to personal reliance (rather than that of protective parties). And I do recognize here that many don't have those protections, and have to fight harder for everything, and with the odds against them.

Do I regret not following the degree route? Regret would be the wrong word. Mindful that it may have led to a different type of life and opportunities, possibly. But it is what it is. At different ages of life the answer to that question would probably be different, as it would be if you were or weren't 'happy' in your current position. For me, I don't think it would have made any real difference to where I am now or what I'm doing, but who knows! Certainly it would have likely opened other options and eyes to other possibilities, but whether I'd have taken them is another question.

Would it have helped me in doing what I do now? I don't think so, but again you could never be sure. Maybe I'd be better at it. Maybe I wouldn't be doing it at all. But...I've been lucky to have lived in a 'privileged' society, where the upbringing and options were sufficiently strong enough for it all not to matter (too much). Or, you could say, to 'overcome' the fallout of potentially wrong choices. Many couldn't say the same thing, and hence their experience would be entirely different.

[TheGooner]

No. By 16 I'd had enough traditional "education". I was into the workforce. This was 1980, and back then HR departments didn't rule, and technical jobs (especially computing jobs) did not have required degrees that were any use.

Practical aptitude and experience mattered far more than any sort of degree. Opportunities abounded.

I tried and failed at football, got into computing, did some very cool technical stuff, and now run two related businesses
I'm very comfortable with my life path.

So - No - I don't regret it at all.

Perhaps I could have used the knowledge out of a STEM degree - but at 16 who knows what they want to do.
I do suspect that further education would have pushed me down a far more conventional career, and being a wage slave is far less lucrative.

[gil.langelaan]

Yes, I went to college and earned a bachelor's degree. It was a great time)

[ocreditor]

I was not so keen to go to university from the first stages since I hated school and going to university was for me back then like continuing school which was not an option! So from day one I start working and now I can look back and can say with confidence that for me it was the best choice!

[datstheguy]

Never ever went, left school at 16/17 years old and never looked back. I hated every second of it. No, I was not bullied, yes I have ADHD and I was just drawing my flowcharts to code stuff when I got back home.

I don't hate on people doing more education because I can see the void not doing any left in me. I don't know how to manage projects, how to structure my days, I'm extremely freestyle which initially was fine but as I try to scale I do struggle oftentimes.

Side story: Funnily enough... I was young and silly but I wanted to create a parimutuel betting site so I bought a domain when I was 15 or so. Never used it. It expired. And bought it again few months ago for my new website. It's a pretty good domain so I was surprised to find it available again after a almost two decades.

[Former Member 14]

I had plans to be a Vet. But all that came crashing down when I bombed out in the English-literature exam. Could have re-done year 12 (HSC), but when your 17 (1978), 12 months is a life time away. Had ample marks to take up Medicine, but unlike Vet, being a GP didn't interest me.

Did a few things here and there, for a couple of years, finally got into the fashion industry. Then in 1996, realised the internet wasn't just a fad, it was going to go places. So taught myself coding, and the rest is history.

Like TheGooner said... HR Depts., didn't rule back then. If you had the skills, you could get jobs in IT.

Am I happy with how things turned out? Yes, I can't complain. Life in generally has been very kind to me :)

[Sherlock]

You still can get a job in IT without degree. I was always intentionally hiring people without degree and without any university, because they are not spoiled.

I have MA in macroeconomics. After high school I worked with hands (in fact with legs as a messenger). Then I went to university because of FOMO and social convention. Looking backwards it was lost time and pure cowardice. I rightfully suffered between students, who cared only about title and well paid jobs, and bored teachers, who already had their well paid jobs. If this was not enough I was indoctrinated by shallow right wing ideology, which neither helps to understand reality nor is able to produce money (theory of effective markets is bigger evil than Marx's capital).

Between BA and MA I jumped from high building, which was easier by the time than simply stopping attending the brainwashing.

University is just brainwashing, which is hidden to many lucky people who do not go there. The people skills and routines were already formed much sooner. University can only destroy that if it is not challenging enough. I respect that universities must exist, so the majority of young people are indoctrinated, so they became the good citizens and taxpayers that share the same ideas.

But from individual standpoint it is a bad decision to go there. Especially at young age the highest value is to see the world (not through Erasmus). Maybe makes sense to study later, once one knows what he really wants: e.g. my sysadmin with 5 children at mid 30s is now studying a law school. The title itself gives a fake assurance, which is de facto a stop for thinking out of box.

The value is to learn and see things that are not a common knowledge. Just what the grandpas from GPWA did in 90s.

[davisjohnson]

I did attend 4 year college but I am certain that it does not prove anything to the potential employer. Some of the degrees out there you can cruise through and get a diploma at the end. And some get your soul crushed by the amount of work pressure they put on you.
I believe at the end it is really about how much you actually learn from the program.

[Former Member 14]

You still can get a job in IT without degree.

Answering the phones at an IT company, isn't exactly a job in IT

[casinostation]

I chose not to go to college, but to earn my own money.
That was more than 10 years ago, but I have never regretted that choice.

[Pokerface]

Sure did however found the best was the school of life. Really learned more working and gathering the work and interpersonal skills needed.

[baldidiot]

I went to uni with a fellow GPWA-er, do I get bonus points?

[Mattbar]

I went to uni with a fellow GPWA-er, do I get bonus points?

When you say you went to Uni you mean occasionally went and never to a 9am lecture

[baldidiot]

Still counts

[Dsquared]

No I finished secondary school and then went to college to do my A levels but I couldn't wait to finish and leave. I felt it was a waste of time, but was drummed into me that I needed to have 3 A levels (at least) to get anywhere in life .

So I left college completing all 3 and without even a thought for uni I spent the next 7 years working in the Alps. Don't regret a thing!

For me I made my own way to where I am today but I'm sure had I have known what I wanted to do in my teens I would have probably opted for uni back then.

[nsa10]

high school japan

[SergeK]

higher education, master's degree in economic cybernetics

[Jacob-itai-s]

interesting that more than 70% have a higher degree but doing affiliate marketing

[BCGame Affiliates]

I went and got a BA. It was a good experience but pretty useless!