11 yr old college graduate says: video game is waste of time

[MrPopo]

I'm really just wondering what kind of field an 11 year old can get into with an Associate of Arts degree... I think lots of people with Bachelor's degrees and real work experience have a better chance of a career and they are all having a tough time right now. Perhaps someone will take him on because of his celebrity, but I don't think so. Otherwise what is he going to do now that he graduated? If he's such a prodigy why doesn't he go on to get his PhD?

It's great that this kid is putting such an emphasis on education, but I believe we are putting far too much credence into the opinion of someone who decided that going to community college at the age of 11 was fun. I graduated college and I played lots of games throughout my years... And I bet if each and every one of us had given up the hobby we love we all could have achieved what he did.

Wow, I completely skimmed over that part. Who the hell goes to college at 11 and only goes to community college, as opposed to a real college?

Money? Location? Parent's concern for the smaller atmosphere versus the more exposed universities? It could be lots of reasons, not because he's got some flaw that kept him from going to "the big boy" colleges. If he had some flaw, SO WHAT?

Money? If the kid is really qualified for college at 11 I'm sure he can get in on scholarship. Location? I don't think that has EVER been a factor between community college and real college. Smaller atmosphere? There's places like Rose Hulman that are smaller than a big state school but are still real colleges.

The issue is that the facts just aren't adding up. A community college degree just simply isn't as valuable to you as a bachelor's degree (or higher). If you're going to be going to college before the standard age of 18 you should go to a real school. If not, then spend the extra year or two in primary education and then head to a real college. It's much better for your future.

[vejita]

I think the assumption here is that he's got his degree and now he's qualified for work...no, I think he's just starting. I don't think this is the same situation most people have, which is to get in and out with a bachelor's and then move on to the career or possibly a master's degree and then just live a normal life.

...and adding up to what, exactly? A good employee? Lots of job opportunites? Maybe he's just very concerned about getting a good education and practicing disciplines, and the only reason I can see that people disagree with his methods are simply, "Well, that's not how most people/I did it." Just because he didn't go to Princeton or wherever at 8 years old doesn't mean he is any less capable or less intelligent or less WHATEVER.

Location and parent's concern would have ALOT to do with wherever he went to college. It may be that his parents didn't want him to be overly burdened (and they did say he liked sports and family time) with a more demanding institution and it may have been less suitable to him in some fashion, or it could be simply that the other places didn't have what courses he wanted. Why is it such a big deal? Who's to say that getting that kind of degree is worse for his future? It wouldn't be any worse than those who get a degree the "right" way and then sit comfortably the rest of their lives just getting whatever they can.

Y'know, I have to wonder if this would be different if it were an 11yr old girl, a person who is harder to relate to...?

gah, it's too late at night to be ranting

[DCsegaDH]

The only thing I got to say is that kid needs to grow up,whats the point of living life without hobbies,fun and friends.He should enjoy his childhood you only have one.

[arion]

Perfect. Ill get the barrel!!!

And do a barrel roll...

[fast]

Whats all the hubbub, he only got an Associates from a Community College, I know several people who did that at a young age – usually 16 since that is when they could legally drop out of highschool.

The kid doesnt sound like the last few of these prodigies to come through, meaning he probably wont kill himself in his mid to late twenties. But he will be catered to most of his life and will probably never experience alot of the things that make us who we are. I had a chance to go to college early (at 16), I opted to go through with the rest of highschool. Why you might be asking, well I learned things about myself and how I needed to do think during that time. I learned important things like how to repair my car, how to dance, how to navigate through social situations, how to handle difficult or awkward people, how to build a computer, how to repair a rocking chair, and above all I learned how to direct large groups of people - which is something I used professionally for many years. Sure these things might not sound all that important, but they taught me very powerful lessons. College taught me even more.

I know it takes all kinds of people to make the world go round, and by far I do not advocate my way as the best way, but I am not seeing the big deal here. Except that we should feel sorry for the kid.

[isaacsquared]

Well, they say he graduated from college, however, it was with an Associate's degree (only two years) in Liberal Studies.

I don't even think Liberal Studies shuold even be a major. I'm in an engineering program right now. People in "Liberal Studies", "Communications", "Business", and other such majors are the butt of many jokes. Not even by just the students, the professors participate as well.

I could probably go get the same degree that kid's got right now, I'd just have to fill out a form and pay some fee. What's the point of it? It's not good for anything. Why wouldn't his parents just let him stay in school and be with kids his own age and have him not learn anything useful there?

[Limewater]

In keeping with what seems to be the standard reply on this thread:

26 year-old with a Master's in EE (working on PhD), married, drinker of beer and life-long lover of old video games says:

Yeah, the kid's pretty much right.

[dlmvii]

Well, they say he graduated from college, however, it was with an Associate's degree (only two years) in Liberal Studies

Yeah, but he's still 11. I'm pretty sure when I was 11 the only thing I could concentrate on for more than 10 minutes was an episode of Dragonball Z

[molotovwars]

Its not a large issue that it was a community college. I don't think he is going to be ending his education there, and aside from that I know community colleges do a lot to assist students and can often be geared a bit towards non-traditional students, such as those that work full time and go to school part-time, people that take evening classes, etc.

The article said they admitted him on the condition that he started with only 2 classes. I think it is very difficult to get admitted to any institution in his situation (being so young and being home schooled), but now that he has "proven" himself he will be able to use that associates degree to show he is capable and go to any four year institution while possibly transferring some credits.

[Hatta]

Then of course there's this kid, who got an Associates at 13 and still likes to play some Runescape. In this case, it's the kids parents who are total douches. He graduated from college at 13, and his father still thinks he's wasting too much time on the computer. Let the kid have some fun for fucks sake, hasn't he done enough already?