Don't go to college. What can he teach you

"Except for a high school diploma. Higher education is critical to employment." While Gates was making his point that a high school diploma is not enough to get a good job, Dale Stephens, a 19-year-old American, was busy sharing his upcoming schedule with his followers on his blog.

"I'm writing a book and publishing is being discussed: I have several speaking engagements in August and September, and I'll be in New York next week..."

Stephens, like Bill Gates, dropped out of college. But he and Gates do not share the same view of higher education. Today, he is the founder of the No College movement, the website No College.

"A college degree is not necessary for success." "College is frustrating, and we need to learn skills by doing, which makes us more competitive."

Stephens has been out of school since the fifth grade. So he knew how to teach himself. In 2010, he became a student at Hendrix College. But stephens soon found college frustrating: theory and practice didn't mesh.

During the winter break of her freshman year, Stephens ran into a group of friends who were equally unhappy with college. "Instead of complaining, run your own university." Stephens quickly set up the No College website and began recruiting students, with plans to start classes this fall.

Mr Stephens describes his "No College" campaign as a social movement to strengthen the individual through education outside the classroom. "I'm not saying college is bad, there's no substitute for the classroom atmosphere it provides.

But universities teach theory rather than application, and value achievement rather than knowledge acquisition. In college, imagination and creativity are absent, leaving only conformity and formality.

On not going to college, everything is against tradition. Students who join the "No college" movement can choose their own tutors, even design their own courses and evaluate their own learning results. Not only that, the curriculum also includes traveling around the world to master foreign languages, attending international conferences, conducting internships...

Students who choose to study through the website will pay $100 a month for access to online learning resources and the choice of their own "tutors". "Life is full of lessons.

We don't have to be in a classroom to learn. We can go beyond the traditional teaching model and use the world as our classroom." So far, 16 students have started their online university journey.

Of course, Stephens doesn't encourage everyone to give up on college, arguing that students who are used to traditional teaching methods and want a formal degree may not be the right fit for the "no college" movement.

Two prominent U.S. investors are also prominent in opposing college education. James Altuchel, a hedge fund manager, does not think higher education is worth investing in. "College tuition has increased tenfold in the last 30 years, while inflation has only tripled over the same period."

"There are smart people who say that college teaches you to think, it teaches you to collaborate, it teaches you to write. I would say I learned none of these things in college." Mr. Altucher added, "Like most young people, I learned in college to drink and talk to women."

Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal and the first outside investor in Facebook, put his name to the rejection of college when he launched "20 Under 20" last year. He selected 20 students Under the age of 20 and gave them $100,000 and two years to quit school and start their own businesses.

The average salary for high school graduates in the United States is $33,800, compared with $55,700 for college graduates, the report said. This salary comparison has led many to believe that even a boring four years in college is better than no college degree and never finding a good job.

But big academics are trying to clarify the concept of work. Traditionally, jobs are full-time, and most full-time jobs do require a college degree. But if you want to be a web designer, if you want to be a great business copywriter, with or without a college degree, you can learn how to design, how to write.

When disruptive innovation hits the Labour market, will those who have traditionally educated themselves remain competitive?