"A mind is a terrible thing to waste...unless you strike it rich with certain .coms"
Classic quote from Big Daddy…Anywho, I noticed that Asians tend to put high emphasis on education. Largely, because the perception is that if you have a great education, you’ll have a great job (Doctor, Lawyer, etc.) and make a lot of money…which we all know seems to be really important in asian and asian American culture.
Look at Japan for example, entrepreneurs are frowned upon and it’s expected that you work for a large company (e.g. Sony) for your whole career. Contracting is viewed as a “lesser job” (I know because I tried to find some for a project recently) and it’s ultra-competitive.
However, I this doesn’t really apply in the states. Afterall, look at some people who didn’t finish or go to school…Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Kobe Bryant 
Don’t get me wrong, all of these people have some sort of genius that didn’t require them to get a “normal” education, but imagine if they were asian…specifically a stereotypical SAM where the parents determined their destinies. They probably would have finished undergrad, gone to grad school, and lived out their lives in suburbia with their subservient wife and 2.5 kids.
I actually didn’t go to grad school. I got into a top 3 MBA school a few years ago but opted to stay in the workforce. Mainly because it was during the dot com days and I thought I could get rich, but I also knew that having solid overseas work experience would inspire me to things beyond what a textbook could teach me. However, to this day I get questions from my parents or their friends about going to get my MBA…even though I have a competitive compensation package and have managed a few in previous companies…
Anyway, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get an education, but I am saying that if you have a passion that you don’t think you can pursue with a formal education, give it a shot. You can always defer your start date with a school/colllege/university.
Related posts:
you know what? education is overrated. we already have to go through elementary school, then high school and by the time you get to university, I’m not too fond about going into grad school, another 4-6 years of education. You only get to be young once, and life is too short to be wasted on studying for exams or getting a high GPA. IMO
I agree with the last point that Well Adjust makes…I.E., if there is a talent/skill that you possess that can’t be taught in school, then you should pursue your passion.
Too many times, Asians/AA parents force feed their kids into the Accounting/Doctor/Lawyer path when the kids hate it.
Well Adjusted makes an example of Kobe Bryant. Kobe with the other players who went from High School to the NBA are extreme examples.
However, I feel that Asian/AA parents should let their kids pursue their athletic passions as well and see how far it gets them. If the kids got talent, people will find them. I havne’t seen a ton of AA kids go from high school to college in sports but they have to have a shot first!
Too many times, Asian parents will either NOT let their kids participate (“SCHOOL IS MORE IMPORTANT”) or let them participate but keep telling their kids (“IT’S A WASTE OF TIME”).
Perhaps I am biased since sports was a huge difference maker in my life. It gave something to look forward to and I did somethings while participating in high school to let me have some pride in myself because school was never a positive thing for me.
Did it make me any money? Heh, not really as I pay money to play in b-ball leagues these days. Though, indirectly, playing sports has led me to officiate basketball games around here in SF.
I easily make a few thousand a year from reffing kids, adult and high school games around here.
Ivy league is useful, especially MBA programs, to network not to be educated. If you go to higher level ivy league graduate programs and stay in your room and study,(unless you are science deg.) You’re just wasting your money.
MBA is where future business networking structure is being created for that generation of people. (guess how things are perpetuated….) I had HBSP (Harvard) as one of my clients for over ten years. It is a world of connections, and their MBA program is where the names get other names….Something to think about.
Other than that, I would say that you can always go back to school at that level. It might be more effective as education to try your hand out there in the wild.
I never used my education to make money. (How would I do that in the top management world, with an art degree and a music degree….) But now I want to go back to school…..for bio.
I agree 10% that getting a MBA is great if you’re looking to enhance your business network or get into a new field. I was already in management and technology, and I wasn’t looking to get into investment banking…therefore, I opted out.
I have considered an Executive MBA though. I could hone up on my accounting skillz.
Mangohare, are you looking to go pre-med or somethign?
Is the passion that Well Adjusted talks about something you are born with?
I read the following article earlier today, it’s about why Tiger Woods and Warren Buffett and careers:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391794/index.htm?postversion=2006101715?
In some fields, education is a necessity. For example, to become the most brilliant brain researcher, you need to go to school. But I agree that in sports and business, many succeed without a traditional education.
Well AD,
I wan’t to grow oysters and blue fin tuna.
I am currently working on an MA in sociology and will continue on to the Ph.D. path. I started college as a bio major and finished with bio and medical sociology. However, not taking the MD path as I had originally thought I would, my parents were upset. I did social work for a bit to get applied work experience and then went into the research field. Although my field requires a lot of academic training (entry level is considered at completion of MA) but it is looked down upon.
Asian people do not consider sociology to have any prestige. I have two three AA faculty in my department and I am the only AA grad student. Needless to say, they are thankful that “one of their own” is continuing on the lineage.
My only redeeming factor among older AAs was that I was planning to become a univ. professor after my Ph.D. It is funny how people do not consider sociology with high regard but it is a different story if you are an “educator” teaching it at the univ. level. No offense, but getting a Ph.D. requires tons more work than getting a teaching cert. and becoming an elem., jr. high, or high school teacher but AA seem to rank lower level teachers higher than a sociology major.
Having had several friends that been through the Ph.D. route I feel for your girlfriend….LOL.
The thesis time is scary…..I’m really kiddn’ but you get it right?
Sociologists are macro-doctors as far as I’m concerned. If you guys don’t do it who’s gonna fix it?
Please save us…..
Thanks for the note of sympathy.
I am surprised that I want to teach, as well. If someone told me I would be on this route even ten years ago, I would have laughed.
I am planning on finishing my thesis by the end of my first year (before summer break starts) and then take GRE and do teaching in fall and winter quarter. I will probably present my thesis in the fall while I complete my Ph.D. apps. I barely started this year but I already have everything planned out. Hectic.
Bio can be fun. I lost my romance with it but if it makes you happy, go for it. I found my joy in research methodology (statistics, regressions, quantitative and qualitative analysis). Yeah, I am a nerd. Maybe that is why I am an SAF.
Oh. You got me.
I just want to take enough to master organic chem and microbio enough to start a tuna hatchery…I don’t think I wanna stick around for a degree but you never know….I don’t think I could self educate myself with text book on real time organic chem…..
I’m trying to get in B school mainly for social and professional networking’s sake. I’m not even sure what I would really do with an MBA, but I know from various school visits and other social experiences I get along well with MBA-type people. At least I look forward to going into massive debt and taking a risk on my future than continuing on with my currently droll existence.
If someone is too good for school, by all means, don’t waste your time buried in books. Some disciplines, like mine, require schooling. However, some – such as the arts, computers, etc. do not require as much school. If one can be at the top or a pioneer without formal schooling, please do not waste time and money but go forth and just expand on your talents.
I know many Asian parents who would be furious about my saying this. I got in trouble with my dad for telling my cousin’s daughter to take her time with school and grad studies. Don’t go to grad school right away if she is not sure of what she wants to do with her life. Her parents and my parents felt that she should know exactly what her career path would be and go directly. You cannot know these things at 18.
DEA,
When you network, think long term…and think “do I want to work with this guy over 20 years time”….(work together meaning being a business connection not employed together.)
Make several levels or categories of connections according to how much you like them or get along with….and be aware of your own categorization when you start a relationship.
Then you don’t have to sort it out in a confusing maze, when you actually start using them.
Way later in your career those that were on the top list will be family….I’m telling you this from what I’m experiencing right now.
I’m back in touch after a quite many years has gone by…..The ones I’ve known for 15 years or longer are now in key positions in the society. They also trust you at the level that makes you feel welcome and protected. ( I certainly do.) They act kinda like a family.
80% of energy you put into the network you should not expect any return of anykind (immediate return anyway.) 15% you poke and prod. The remaining 5% you put to work. (you gotta eat.) 10 years later you have a healthy tree.
If you manage to do it without stabbing anyone in the back, no one will stab you if you just make sure you’re balanced and consistant.
Overly ambitious people will always end up stabbing some one. Before I refined my people judging skills, I let a few of those in a little too far up the list…..I didn’t get stabbed but some on my network was effected. I concider myself very lucky because non of the introductions I stood in the middle.
Introductions are the well of life in networking.
When you go to the MBA arena, go for the shy smart ones…The guy that’s shaking everyones hand at the party is gonna end up being a pawn somewhere.
Be the reserved thinker and go for the reserved thinker type. It will be solid.
I’m asian so I have to appologize for the length of this one but this is what I got paid for so I get excited when I’m able to just share.