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Skip College: Launch Your Career Without Debt, Distractions, or a Degree
Tens of millions of Americans owe a combined $1.5 trillion in debt for student loans. Much of this staggering expense has been unnecessary; attending college is more of a tradition -- a cultural rite of passage than a necessary step towards a successful career, justifying its steep cost. As countless entrepreneurs and creative hustlers have shown, there is a path to success outside of the institutions of so-called higher learning. Allow us to show you the way. Filled with practical advice and action steps for teenagers and young adults, Skip College is a must-read for those looking to launch their career.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2019
68 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Connor Boyack
95 books262 followersConnor Boyack is founder and president of Libertas Institute, a libertarian think tank in Utah. In that capacity, he has spearheaded important policy reforms dealing with property rights, civil liberties, transparency, surveillance, and education freedom.
Connor is the author of several books, including the new Tuttle Twins series that teaches the principles of liberty to young children. Other books include Latter-day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government and Politics and its companion, Latter-day Responsibility: Choosing Liberty through Personal Accountability.
Connor's work has been publicly praised by former Representative Ron Paul, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Tom Woods, and other nationally recognized figures. He is a frequent commentator on current events and has appeared in local, national, and international interviews to publicize and comment on his work.
Connor is the author of several books, including the new Tuttle Twins series that teaches the principles of liberty to young children. Other books include Latter-day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government and Politics and its companion, Latter-day Responsibility: Choosing Liberty through Personal Accountability.
Connor's work has been publicly praised by former Representative Ron Paul, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Tom Woods, and other nationally recognized figures. He is a frequent commentator on current events and has appeared in local, national, and international interviews to publicize and comment on his work.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 17, 2022
Excellent book that explains how the need for everyone to get a degree is outdated! I loved his research into how college professors are taking advantage of their role and pushing political agendas on students- we need to be aware of this. He also explains how to create a brand for yourself and start the path to being an entrepreneur and gaining marketable skills that are needed in the work force!
August 16, 2020
This has a lot of great ideas worth thinking about. I think they may have under estimated the value of a college education in many fields. Not that there can't be a better way to learn than a classroom, but there really aren't other viable options in my field - engineering. Most of the authors of this book are in computers, marketing, politics, and journalism. You may be able to start small and learn as you go in those fields, but that method doesn't translate as well to engineering. Although if college weren't subsidized we probably would have more practical learning options available by now.
August 15, 2023
Great book. It shows that there’s more opportunities than just doing what everyone else does.
July 17, 2019
This book is useful for anyone who is thinking of going to college, in college, has graduated college, or has already dropped out of college.
The first part of the book is devoted to the decision to go to college. John Taylor Gatto writes a chapter showing how our system got to where it is. This would turn out to be the last thing he wrote for a book before passing away. They also write about how Education took a back seat to a lot of other things in college to the point where it is both a bad experience and has little to do with learning the topics that students are allegedly on campus for. This echoes my experience in the 90's only magnified.
The early part of the book is useful for establishing something is wrong, but they don't stop there. They then go onto alternatives. These alternatives are how the book can be valuable to any reader, not just people in their early twenties.
The three main things college is supposed to do for you is signal competence, build a network, and learn your subject.
The authors in this book show how to get a lot of the purported benefits of a degree by using several alternatives.
They show how to assemble a portfolio and use it to signal suitability for employment. This is valuable information, even with a degree, to keep your prospects current.
Doing work for free to both get a job and learn a job. An approach popularized by Charlie Hoehn's Recession Proof Graduate book.
There is plenty of information on building skills outside of college and using them to get work.
They show how to build a network outside of school.
This book is great for the self directed learner who wants more. Honestly, even a graduate with a degree should do most of the things suggested here. An excellent way to thrive in the 21st century if your education happened mainly in the 20th.
The first part of the book is devoted to the decision to go to college. John Taylor Gatto writes a chapter showing how our system got to where it is. This would turn out to be the last thing he wrote for a book before passing away. They also write about how Education took a back seat to a lot of other things in college to the point where it is both a bad experience and has little to do with learning the topics that students are allegedly on campus for. This echoes my experience in the 90's only magnified.
The early part of the book is useful for establishing something is wrong, but they don't stop there. They then go onto alternatives. These alternatives are how the book can be valuable to any reader, not just people in their early twenties.
The three main things college is supposed to do for you is signal competence, build a network, and learn your subject.
The authors in this book show how to get a lot of the purported benefits of a degree by using several alternatives.
They show how to assemble a portfolio and use it to signal suitability for employment. This is valuable information, even with a degree, to keep your prospects current.
Doing work for free to both get a job and learn a job. An approach popularized by Charlie Hoehn's Recession Proof Graduate book.
There is plenty of information on building skills outside of college and using them to get work.
They show how to build a network outside of school.
This book is great for the self directed learner who wants more. Honestly, even a graduate with a degree should do most of the things suggested here. An excellent way to thrive in the 21st century if your education happened mainly in the 20th.
August 26, 2019
I would love to get a copy of Skip College for every person I know, for all the people in high school preparing for their careers, for every voting American. Shoot! I just want everyone to read this book!
As someone who has been looking into completing her Bachelor's Degree, I found myself asking "Why?". Essentially, I think it has to do with my love for learning. While my insecurities crave "the paper", it's really my love of education and the whole process of learning that is inspiring to me. But guess what! Those things don't have to be so costly (either monetarily or morally). I know adults (older than me!) that are STILL paying their college loans. WHAT?! It makes me so ashamed of the travesty that is the American school system.
If you are looking to further your education or are unsure of the careers open to you without a college degree, search for other options. Look into CLEP, DSST, etc. Consider apprenticing. And READ THIS BOOK!
As someone who has been looking into completing her Bachelor's Degree, I found myself asking "Why?". Essentially, I think it has to do with my love for learning. While my insecurities crave "the paper", it's really my love of education and the whole process of learning that is inspiring to me. But guess what! Those things don't have to be so costly (either monetarily or morally). I know adults (older than me!) that are STILL paying their college loans. WHAT?! It makes me so ashamed of the travesty that is the American school system.
If you are looking to further your education or are unsure of the careers open to you without a college degree, search for other options. Look into CLEP, DSST, etc. Consider apprenticing. And READ THIS BOOK!
April 8, 2024
This was a mixed bag. Lots of good points, but the authors tend to over-play the benefits of tech jobs and downplay the liberal arts. The two don't have to be opposed to each other. We need tech folks who understand philosophy. Just because you can design the latest AI, doesn't mean that you should! Their critiques of the exorbitant costs of most colleges should be taken seriously. College is not for everyone, and in these crazy days of DEI, and Woke witch hunts on many college campuses, young people should have reasons to go to college, and not just do it because that's the way it's always been done. Let me also take a moment to plug Christian Halls International here (which I also work for). CHI reduces costs, expands educational options, and returns educational agency to parents, churches, and communities. The CHI model addresses many of the concerns of this book: https://christianhalls.org/
February 26, 2024
Not everyone can or should skip college, but don't just assume it is the essential next step after high school. A must read for every parent and high schooler.
1. Key history/background on our modern education system and why it's important to know.
2. How the landscape has changed in higher education over the recent decades and why more are choosing to skip college. The price has skyrocketed while the value has plummeted, but why and what does this mean for students?
3. How to think critically and decide if college is the best choice economically for your career path.
4. Debunks myths and assumptions and points out some key fallacies we are taught along the way about careers, education, and life.
5. Tangible and practical alternatives to the higher education route.
1. Key history/background on our modern education system and why it's important to know.
2. How the landscape has changed in higher education over the recent decades and why more are choosing to skip college. The price has skyrocketed while the value has plummeted, but why and what does this mean for students?
3. How to think critically and decide if college is the best choice economically for your career path.
4. Debunks myths and assumptions and points out some key fallacies we are taught along the way about careers, education, and life.
5. Tangible and practical alternatives to the higher education route.
January 25, 2020
⭐️ My favorite online Latin teacher recommended this book. ⭐️This copy was loaned to me so I had to get right to it, but I’m thinking I need my own copy. IMO it’s worth reading especially if college aged kids are in your nearish future. ⭐️ My family already does a few things that are outside of the box, so I found this book to be inspiring and challenging. ⭐️ Since it’s a collection of articles/essays, it’s easy to read a chapter, think it over, chat with folks about it, etc and then pick up later. ⭐️
June 16, 2021
I LOVE this book!!! Each chapter is written by a different person so you get many perspectives, many ideas. It's a great catalyst to thinking about many subjects, not just education. It helps broaden your perspective and think about ways to do things in an unconventional way. I really loved reading this!
September 28, 2021
I love learning about both sides of an issue or idea and this book does exactly that. I think that nothing is sacred about college and it benefits nobody to refuse to admit that for some people it may not be the best choice and can even be harmful when compared with what they could otherwise be doing with that time. This book gave lots of food for thought and was an enjoyable read as well.
January 25, 2023
An interesting argument that most people should at least consider before they choose whether to attend college or not. My main takeaways here are: 1) going to college should be a deliberate choice, not a default and 2) for many young people, taking initiative in learning about and creating value in their field of interest can be more valuable than a degree.
September 20, 2021
A must read for everyone who has an opinion on education
Wish this was in publication when I was a teenager. But even as a guy in his mid 30s who is now trying to navigate the covid landscape, this book is invaluable, thought-provoking, and hopeful.
Wish this was in publication when I was a teenager. But even as a guy in his mid 30s who is now trying to navigate the covid landscape, this book is invaluable, thought-provoking, and hopeful.
Read
June 6, 2023This book really surprised me. It is compelling, and does a good job explaining their position.
October 10, 2023
Interesting. Going to have my homeschooled kids read in high school. Wish there were more practical ideas.
December 30, 2022
A lot of the book's content is contributed by many different people and I like this method for a book like this. Boyack seems to have been inspired by Robert Kiosaki’s ideals and I love seeing that connection since I’m also reading the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series right now.
The gist of the book is in its title. It's directed toward teens/young adults, but can definitely be beneficial to anyone embarking on new endeavors. The book focuses on those not attending college (or dropped out), but I have to say that a LOT of what is written is absolutely applicable to someone graduated (or graduating) from college. Because even though the paths taken may be completely different, the desired outcome is the same and I felt like this book could still benefit a person with a college degree.
The gist of the book is in its title. It's directed toward teens/young adults, but can definitely be beneficial to anyone embarking on new endeavors. The book focuses on those not attending college (or dropped out), but I have to say that a LOT of what is written is absolutely applicable to someone graduated (or graduating) from college. Because even though the paths taken may be completely different, the desired outcome is the same and I felt like this book could still benefit a person with a college degree.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews