Educate Thyself, Skip School

How to get the most out of your college experience: DON’T GO TO CLASS.

Instead of going to class go to networking events, get involved, start a business, visit office hours if you want to learn something from your professor.  How much can you retain from canned lectures and 100 word power point slides? Textbooks can only teach so much. With textbooks you can be sure of one thing: that what you are reading does not represent the newest thought in your field of study and by the time you get a job it will most likely be irrelevant (unless you’re a history major).   

Why learn from a digital marketing textbook  when its outdated by the time its printed?  Drop the textbook for a night and network where the rich people and business owners hang out.  A 19 year old at a 40+, CEO-only event impresses people whether you know what you’re talking about or not. Trust me. 

If you have to go to class make sure to meet and make friends with all of your classmates. Might as well get used to making friends with strangers, because like it or not, that’s what most undergraduates will find a job in: sales.  Hell, everyone works in sales, something you can’t learn in a textbook, in class, or from your professor.

So who are the ones that get the most out of their college experience? We evaluate performance based on GPA, but what did the Summa Cum Laudes spend most of their college life doing? I didn’t tell my parents I skipped class for client meetings or for brainstorming sessions with entrepreneurial friends because they probably would not have understood. 

For the ones who have already graduated: Which has a higher correlation to success - your graduating GPA or how many powerful people know you? 

Can I get an Amen?

Comments

[Forest Bronzan]

Love it!

[Danielle]

AMEN!

I remember having this grandiose epiphany moment halfway thru my Junior year and deciding then to stop wasting my life in class. Years later, now that the information 'binge and purge' routine has faded into my distant memory and I've relearned (with significant effort) how to ACTUALLY think instead of just memorizing, the only memories of value are those I earned far from class - challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone.

I hope future graduates embrace the real opportunities their education provides and learn how to learn from the best leaders instead of bullet point slides.

Great post, Nick and congratulations!
-D

[Jen Hibbits]

Congrats Nick on graduation, but don't ever tell my kid not to go to class. :) You're a rockstar tried and true.

[Johnny Chan]

Amen my brotha.

This brings up an age-old question that every college student asks which is, "how is this going to prepare me for the real world?" Inherently, that suggests that the real world is different from the academic world. That chasm will only increase with the next generation if the educational system (and I can only speak on the business end of academia) doesn't help foster the application of theory.

Breeding a "don't be afraid to fail" attitude is easier when you're in school but the lack of opportunities to apply theory hinders development. Not developing this business acumen will impede confidence - when real world salaries are on the line, we are more inclined to not take risks or apply new theories. We'll stick to what's safe.

Maybe ivy-league schools are different, but I can only speak to the experiences of our consultants who have come from west coast schools. On this end, our students need more networking opportunities, our students need more business experience, our students need to grow their mental elasticity. All things that you have done yourself by intuition, Nick.

Congrats again, my man. Big things are a-comin' from you, we're sure.

[Ian Grist]

AMEN mofo. Congratulations! I snagged your post, (don't worry, gave you credit)

http://www.techandtonic.com/2007/05/23/from-nsl-educate-thyself-skip-school/

btw my traffic is getting to be insane - need to talk to you.

Ian

[Micha Mikailian]

Awesome Post Nick ... I had a very similar experience in undergrand and it was hard to get motivated to go to class ... heck I lived off A + review and didn't even know my teachers names ... Grad School opened up my eyes that there were other real high caliber people out there interested in learning and the way we learned had a much bigger impact ... ultimately it did boil down to the same thing and that is the contacts and experiences you get out of it ... Congrats again Nick, your on your way to doing great things ... One day you'll be renaming the BAM building "Urbani's Center for Continous Learning" .. although UCCL doesn't have the same ring as BAM ...

[Sharan Tash]

As a mom of 4 GREAT children, or I should say young adults since 3 of them have already graduated college, I applaud your comments.
Some of my favorite audiences to speak to as a professional speaker on the art of "Boomerang Networking" is High School and University students. 85% of your success in business and personal life is due to the quality of the relationships you develop in your life. The sooner you learn HOW to develop quality relationships, the better for you throughout your life.
It is not about taking, but giving, and giving, and giving because it will come back to you. Do they teach you that in school? NO - but it is probably one of the most important lessons to learn.
GREAT post!

[Nick Urbani]

I completely agree, Sharan. Giving is the first step to creating great relationships. Hopefully, your comments will reach the stubborn higher-education employees that need insight into what creates true value when you graduate.

Can you send me any information about your speaking engagements? I hope to hear more from you on our blog!

[Mike Alfred]

Nick, It's fitting that we met at the San Diego Economic Forum in January while surrounded by a sea of 50 something businesspeople. What you've just described is our core beliefs in a nutshell. That's why we are going to be rich and powerful. Congrats on graduation. Mike.

[Nick Urbani]

Thanks Mike. Cheers to being rich and powerful.

[Arlene Urbani]

Nick, As your mom I was speechless at first, all I could think of is that's what I paid tuition for, but after some thought, all I want is for you to follow your dream and passion and use your education (however or wherever you obtained it), honesty and integrity for direction in your life and may you always find your way home. Congrats Son, you done good.

Love always,
Mom