Are there alternatives to college?
Yes, there are alternatives to college.
And in today’s world, depending on your situation, they might actually be the better choice.
Let’s get this out of the way:
College is not evil, nor is it a bad thing.
But pretending it’s the only respectable path forward?
That’s becoming dangerous.
We live in a world that is moving at breakneck speed. AI is reshaping industries. Builders and operators are rewriting the rules. And yet — higher education is stuck in the past, still handing out paper credentials like they’re golden tickets.
Spoiler: they’re not.
Some Companies Are Actively Avoiding MBAs
I personally know high-velocity companies - venture-backed, scaling fast - that have stopped hiring MBAs altogether. Why?
Because they don’t want someone who just sat in a classroom for two years while the world evolved around them.
One founder told me:
“If you leave the battlefield for two years to study the war, don’t be surprised when you come back and we’ve built drones.”
That’s the judgment now:
Two years out of the game is two years behind.
Legacy MBA programs are struggling to keep up with the actual tools, frameworks, and mentalities needed to thrive in modern work. They teach theory. But startups and high-performing teams? They want people who build. Simple as that. Can you get over the mountain, or can you not?
Credentials Don’t Matter. Proof of Work Does.
In a ruthless world, what counts isn’t your diploma — it’s your ability to ship, execute, and learn fast.
No one’s asking where your degree is from if you:
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Built something that went viral
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Shipped code that runs at scale
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Closed deals, launched a product, led a team, solved a real problem
The resume gets skimmed.
The work speaks louder.
College Is Becoming the New Delay
Let’s be blunt:
For many students, college isn’t a launchpad anymore — it’s a delay mechanism.
They’re told to spend four years learning from tenured professors about business models that peaked in 2008…
… only to graduate into debt, with no portfolio, no network, no momentum — and no clue what to do next.
That’s not progress. That’s a trap.
Now, I will be very clear on one thing. Most 18 year olds will not know what they want to do. They need time. A sandbox of sorts, to mature emotionally, socially, and professionally. This is absolutely critical, and why I'm still supportive of the college experience... if modified.
What Should Students Do Instead?
There are better ways to learn. Faster, cheaper, more effective ways to grow. If you're dead-set on college, which I still do understand fwiw, then you have to supplement it and treat the college experience as a sandbox for immersion - in and out of the classroom.
Oh and by the way, please reconsider that 80k/year price tag for your freshman year. It's not about the shiny campus, it's about immersion. Consider an affordable state school where you can manage the four years in a way that won't leave you with crippling debt. Nothing smothers energy and ambition more than a debt load that puts you into survival mode. Your 20s should be about taking risk and learning to move with autonomy. That's hard when you've got an extra $2,000/month in loan bills.
Here’s what we coach students to pursue:
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High-agency coaching — to build confidence, initiative, and clarity
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Project-based learning — where they launch ideas and test reality
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Real-world exposure — to founders, builders, creatives, and technologists
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A strong network — without the $150K tuition price tag
These are not second-rate alternatives.
They’re the new gold standard for people who want to learn by doing — and move fast.
Final Thought
The world no longer rewards people who play it safe.
It rewards people who move with urgency, curiosity, and initiative.
If your kid wants to learn how to think, build, and lead — there are better paths than sitting in a lecture hall racking up debt.
College is optional.
Agency is not.
Let’s raise a generation that knows the difference.
