More "Is College Worth It?" Debate

The recent economic downturn has generated some prickly fallout, especially in the world of college admissions planning. One of the more interesting (and confusing) areas of debate comes from the "Is college really worth it?" crowd. Of course, we can easily find examples of men and women who have not graduated from college and who have made a considerable mark on the world, both financially and achievement-wise. One of the most notable examples of that is Bill Gates of Microsoft fame. If you're looking for specific examples and want what could be the world's most exhaustive list of people who have made it "big" without that college diploma, look no further than The College Dropouts Hall of Fame. The list there is mind-boggling.

For example: James Cameron, Oscar-winning director, producer, and screenwriter. Dropped out of California State University, Fullerton. Then took up street racing while working as a truck driver and a high school janitor, eventually getting a job building models for Roger Corman's New World Pictures. Another example: J.D. Salinger, novelist, Catcher in the Rye (with over 60 million copies sold so far). Briefly attended Ursinus College and New York University before publishing short stories in Collier's and Esquire. And the list goes on . . .