In a recent study, we investigated how many of the wealthiest and most influential people graduated college. We studied 11,745 U.S. leaders, including CEOs, federal judges, politicians, multi-millionaires and billionaires, business leaders and the most globally powerful men and women.
We found about 94 percent of these U.S. leaders attended college, and about 50 percent attended an elite school. Though almost everyone went to college, elite school attendance varied widely. For instance, only 20.6 percent of House members and 33.8 percent of 30-millionaires attended an elite school, but over 80 percent of Forbes' most powerful people did. For whatever reason, about twice as many senators – 41 percent – as House members went to elite schools.
For comparison, based on census and college data, we estimate that only about 2 to 5 percent of all U.S. undergraduates went to one of the elite schools in our study. The people from our study attended elite schools at rates well above typical expectations.
Why waste $150,000 on an education you could get for $1.50 in late fees at the public library?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 21 2017, @03:18PM (4 children)
Wow. And here I am a college dropout who slings code for a news/finance orientated megacorp that gives above industry standard vacation. I also get paid more than most of my friends with CS degrees. It's not much, but it's enough to live pretty comfortably in the midwest US.
Maybe you need to move, or up your game. Back when I used to work with our clients directly, I used to get job offers from them (Wall Street companies) on a regular basis, but I had no desire to move to NY, and I enjoy keeping whatever tiny bit of my soul I have left still intact.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday April 21 2017, @03:53PM
Not a dropout, but I can relate to writing code, big company, above standard vacation, decently paid. I won't die rich, but I have a decent life.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday April 21 2017, @04:36PM (2 children)
How long vacation is that?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday April 21 2017, @05:32PM
You may not believe it if I tell you. Five weeks paid vacation. Five personal days to take anytime without notice. (What some companies would call "sick" days.) But I seldom get sick. And if I do, I sometimes work. (Yes, really)
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 24 2017, @02:41PM
AC back again. Was gone for the weekend.
For me, 4 weeks vacation, 4 "personal days" that can be used interchangeably as vacation, and 6 sick days (that i infrequently use). Last time I checked, there were also 9-10 paid holidays.
I get up to 5 weeks eventually, but that takes another few years. Would have had it already, but I got screwed during our last merger.