Those who dropped out of college or highschool, do you ever regret it?

Question

PeachyPie93 · Accepted Answer

I always dropped out of school I quit in grade 1 because my teacher was a bitch, went back in grade 2.. dropped out in grade 7 didn't go back until the school and government let me go back to my old school that wasn't in my district.. Dropped out in grade 11 for a year and a half cuz I was just tired of dealing with mean people in general. Went back and graduated with my diploma then got a job.. Friends at work all wanted to go to college together so I went with them then dropped out after the first semester lol Then when I broke up with my ex I went back to college and took a year law course and got a diploma.. I never regret dropping out cuz my mental health is most important. Then considering both my parents like me and would want me to live with them even when shit fails I always have one of them to land on for a place to stay.. and money always comes easily to me since people enjoy giving me money, even my ex, you just have to be nice and likeable.. I never regret anything since life is always happening at the right time lol

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

Nope. I went from living on pennies to earning excellent money for a 16-year-old, living in a shared apartment with my man at the time, and buying my first car. Now, 20 years later, I'm in the same line of work, but in a managerial position with all the benefits that come with it.

SeekerOfTruth007 · Accepted Answer

I dropped out of college and I don't regret it. I actually disproved about half the crap they used to teach us in the math and science classes. I've definitely disproved the entire theory behind Vector Spaces, as has Alan Guthe, and that means General Relativity and QM are both flawed theories at best. I actually got the professor to ADMIT that it didn't work that way in real life, but he kept right on teaching what he had just admitted did not work in real life, and expected me to actually stick around and finish taking the course too. I dropped out of college about a week later.

I actually regret going to college in the first place. I should have dropped out of college earlier and should have focused on finishing my Black Belt in Karate and Japanese Ju Jitsu. At least then I could have been a trainer for pro fighters. I could do that now, but the clowns don't know enough to recognize someone who knows more than them.

InknKink · Accepted Answer

I dropped out of high school. Then got a GED. Went to college. Dropped out of college. Worked a lot of shit jobs. Eventually went back to college and graduated in a field completely unrelated to the first time I entered college.

Now, do I regret it? Yes. No. Maybe?

In an ideal world I would have walked through life on the straight and narrow. I can only imagine how much further I'd have been in life if that were the case.

But I'm actually not sure I would have advanced so quickly in my current job had I not had the life experience I got from suffering through life until that point.

Learning to tolerate pain and suffering has offered me a unique vantage point in life and has proven extremely useful. I might have gone down the hard path in my educational journey, but in turn, I received a different education.

I answered the poll as yes, but after writing my response, I think my real answer is no.

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

I’ve coached many people who left school early, and the pattern is similar:

Some don’t regret it because:
- They found a clear path (trade, entrepreneurship, tech)
- They learned fast on the job and built a strong network
- They later got credentials (GED, certificates) when needed

Others do regret it when:
- They feel blocked from career options needing a diploma/degree
- They struggle with confidence or “imposter syndrome”

If you’re asking yourself this, you can still:
- Get your GED or finish part‑time/online
- Build a skill stack (coding, design, sales, trades)
- Use mentors to shortcut mistakes

It’s less about the past decision, more about what you do next.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Dropped out of college to start a business and never regretted it. My life completely changed and I'm really proud I took that risk.

LifeHitMeandRan · Answer

Finished high school. Joined the military after. Attempted college, but realized midway through I didn't need it for my goals in life. I HATED going to college everyday. Most people in the military know what the true value of our country is and CANNOT stand hearing people who have no idea what they are talking about bash the very nation we put our lives on the line for.

That and most of my classmates were morons. Dropping out of college was the BEST decision of my life. While those peers wasted years of their lives for mostly useless degrees and debt, I gained work experience, networked and now have landed a $30 per hour job with the highly likely potential to nearly double the income in less than 2 years from now.

molonski2 · Answer

I didn't really drop out so much , I stopped a degree and went back and completed it with life experience and exemptions , and then did another.

But , yes I did regret it , at the time I was not taking it seriously , I also regret my Initial career choices , although they did give me a work ethic and confidence.

Calyptomaniac · Answer

I don't think my parents would ever have allowed me to if I tried to. I barreled through college in 3 years to get it over with though... only to go back to grad school a whole bunch of years later lol

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Where can you drop out of high school? In my state it's illegal, and the parents will get in trouble.

I only dropped out college for a semester. I went to Aruba during this time, so I don't regret it. I more regret going back, as it's made no difference in my life.

LiamJHayden · Answer

I dropped out after freshman year in college. My income from my business was and is  substantially  more than that of any degree I would have been qualified to get. Also started three years earlier and acquired zero student loan debt. No regrets whatsoever.

emeraldsaphire · Answer

I didn't but my husband dropped out of college. He had a rough early life. He's glad he did. He taught himself how to code and now he's doing great!

Retief · Answer

Sometimes, but then again i feel people are getting brainwashed in a way to be workers and think they are free. Where if you dropped out of school you get forced to look at life and money differently, some people make it in life some dont with or without any education, you can learn something yourself if you want to.

NathanDavis · Answer

I do not... I did quit college half-way, simply because I did not want to end up in that career or field

I made a bad decision going with it... so, in a way... I did rectify that choice

I'm more than happy in business nowadays

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I didn't "drop out". Anyhow, one can always seek an excuse of trying a challenge - and the have failed. I have refused a few 'challenges'  BEFORE  I bit off more than I could chew.

strateguy632 · Answer

drop out of high school is dumb and risky. people in my 12th grade dropped out with peer pressure. after investing eleven years! but drop out of college those were millionaires!

Lesbologist · Answer

eh, doesn't apply to me. I finished High School and College... but with that done... wish I just didn't. Wasn't worth the effort. It's a lie.

MrChinaski · Answer

I dropped out first year of uni. I was 16 when I started, still a kid really. Went back the next year though. It has turned out okay.

Anonymous · Answer

After I finished Highschoos, I went to college, and I dropped out... but I finished it many years later. I do regret it, I should have finished it much earlier.

exitseven · Answer

I dropped out of college twice. mostly because I ran out of money. I regretted it and finally finished.

RingOfFire · Answer

I did regret dropping out of college after a while... until I went back years later and graduated the highest rated college in my field. It changed the trajectory of my life.

AngryCarl3 · Answer

No, a lot of my friends finished school, some did college, and where are they now? Stuck in dead end jobs and bad marriages. Fuck the system, man.

Anonymous · Answer

I didn't drop out but id be just as well off if I did. A college degree doesn't mean what it used to

Oldschool1981 · Answer

I majored in Useless Nonsense and would have wasted a lot of time and money only to end up a bartender.

Anonymous · Answer

i had a friend who dropped out of high school. they ended up getting their GED because they were so stuck in life.

msc545 · Answer

I dropped out of high school to go to college and I've never regretted it. High school was a nightmare and college was a joy.

Anonymous · Answer

well, yes. adult life is arguably far more stressful challenging than sitting at a HS desk would be

robocop666 · Answer

I wish I dropped out of school to be a plumber

Godihateyou · Answer

Saved myself almost 100 grand in debt.

Tomislav7 · Answer

no not at all

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

Very much so

Those who dropped out of college or highschool, do you ever regret it?

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To those who decided not to go to college did you regret it?

Those who dropped out of college or highschool, do you ever regret it?

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To those who decided not to go to college did you regret it?

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