Jager is a lesson to US kids- don't go to college

Abbey is a lesson on why you want that college degree. Shout out to her.

Jäger is one tough runner.

redux wrote:

Not to veer off course too far, but there are not a lot of jobs where your resume is reviewed by the CEO unless that company is small. Neither of the two CEOs I have "worked" for now who I am. My CIO is a different story.

True, but it wasn't intended so literally except to make a mental image for the teenagers that the good jobs aren't easy to get and there's a lot of competition for them.

Same Goes wrote:

How about people like Rupp who go to college, their free ride ends, and they choose not to graduate because they have to pay tuition themselves?

Galen did graduate.

It just amazes me how you guys make things up here.

Remember German Fernandez? Can't help but imagine if he would have gotten with schumacher right out of HS

TwistedFister wrote:

Run Pun wrote:

Success stories like Jager are the exception and not the rule. The numbers are clear, an education is still THE best way to succeed and find financial security across the lifespan. Yes, you can find success without college. College is not for everyone. However, watching the infinitesimally small number of runners who make a career out of it and thinking you can do that can be misleading. I can't tell you the number good runners (Olympic trials level or just below) that I've seen forgo an education and then regret it.

This sounds like advice from the 80's. You need to get out more.

Looks like the unemployment rate among folks with PhDs and other professional degrees is about 1/3 of that among folks with no college education.

Oh, and the earnings of those with PhDs and other professional degrees is nearly 3 times that of folks with no college education.

Seems maybe you should get out of your mom's basement a bit more.

Run Pun wrote:

Success stories like Jager are the exception and not the rule. The numbers are clear, an education is still THE best way to succeed and find financial security across the lifespan.

You haven't looked at the cost of an education lately.

Run Pun wrote:I can't tell you the number good runners (Olympic trials level or just below) that I've seen forgo an education and then regret it.

Regret what? You can always go back to school. You can't always run, or try to run, at an elite level. If one goes the NCAA route, lots of national-level potential wasted in the NCAA. Lots.

Out and About wrote:

http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

Looks like the unemployment rate among folks with PhDs and other professional degrees is about 1/3 of that among folks with no college education.

Oh, and the earnings of those with PhDs and other professional degrees is nearly 3 times that of folks with no college education.

Seems maybe you should get out of your mom's basement a bit more.

I agree, all of you Mensas should not go to college. If you all went to University, who would mow my lawn while I was at my doctor/law/engineer practice? Oh, and my pool needs cleaning--chop chop, GEDers!!!

College running worked for our other steeplechase medal winner.

Apology accepted.

pop_pop!_v2.2.1 wrote:

Run Pun wrote:

Success stories like Jager are the exception and not the rule. The numbers are clear, an education is still THE best way to succeed and find financial security across the lifespan.

You haven't looked at the cost of an education lately.

Run Pun wrote:I can't tell you the number good runners (Olympic trials level or just below) that I've seen forgo an education and then regret it.

Regret what? You can always go back to school. You can't always run, or try to run, at an elite level. If one goes the NCAA route, lots of national-level potential wasted in the NCAA. Lots.

Umm...real world calling. Anyone home?

Here's a newsflash for you, buddy - PEOPLE GENERALLY DO NOT GO BACK TO SCHOOL. You can say they "could" all you want. But the reality is that most who do not start within one year of graduating from high school never go back. And yes they regret it.

Sorry to shit on your little fantasy world.

Another lesson is to load up on PEDs

Black Lives Matter wrote:

Another lesson is to load up on PEDs

I hope you die in a fiery crash.

sbeefyk1 wrote:

First off, Jager did go to college. He was so good that he decided to turn pro and most importantly, he was PAID to leave school.

The lesson here is go to college, and IF you are great then you can sign a contract and leave. If Ches was already a citizen I can assure you he would have turned pro already. He needs to be in school until he is a citizen.

The key is can you get PAID the big bucks to drop out of school? If so, then absolutely drop out. If not, then you need it.

So why didn't Schmacher take Brandon Bethke with him to Portland as well? Bethke was every bit as great in college as Jager was.

You haven't looked at the cost of an education lately.

Run Pun wrote:I can't tell you the number good runners (Olympic trials level or just below) that I've seen forgo an education and then regret it.

Regret what? You can always go back to school. You can't always run, or try to run, at an elite level. If one goes the NCAA route, lots of national-level potential wasted in the NCAA. Lots.[/quote]

Umm...real world calling. Anyone home?

Here's a newsflash for you, buddy - PEOPLE GENERALLY DO NOT GO BACK TO SCHOOL. You can say they "could" all you want. But the reality is that most who do not start within one year of graduating from high school never go back. And yes they regret it.

Sorry to shit on your little fantasy world.[/quote]

US track and field athletes that dropped out of college to sign a pro contract:

Jeremy Wariner

Sanya Richards Ross

Andre De Grasse

Trayvon Bromell

Marvin Bracy

Jenna Prandini

Jarrion Lawson

Allyson Felix and the Lyles brothers this year turned down full scholarships to turn pro, but they did go/are going to college. There's more but I don't want the list to get too long.

I'm not aware of a single successful USA track and field athlete that DIDN'T go to college at all and became successful. The only possible exceptions I know of are Kaylin Whitney, Ajee Wilson, and Candace Hill, all of whom turned pro out of high school.

BTW, Shaquille O'Neal DID go back to LSU to finish his degree after his NBA career ended.

I think it's fair to say that if you graduate from high school WITHOUT a pro contract and you don't go to college, you are an idiot

coach d wrote:

I think it's fair to say that if you graduate from high school WITHOUT a pro contract and you don't go to college, you are an idiot

What if you learn a trade and make 25-30 dollars/hr two years after HS? Without 100k in debt with 4% interest.

First, I would say each person has a unique situation so telling someone what to do is just wind. You can offer suggestions.

Baseball rarely offers a full scholarship. The NCAA limits scholarships so they are split up. Look at the story about one of the Coastal Carolina kids from this past baseball season.

Nothing wrong with going to college at 26. Lots of military folks do it. In fact, I would be curious to see the numbers on folks who go to a traditional (let's ignore the shady world of for profit colleges--about which I know a bit) college and succeed when starting at age 26. No need to work full-time and go to school at 26 either.

Oh, and I think baseball has a college scholarship program. Yes it does.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/scholarship.jsp?content=guide

College degree is no guarantee, but look at the unemployment rates of those with a college degree and those without. Also lifetime earnings.

Let's say I play minor league baseball for 5 years and never marry and have no kids. Am I really that much worse off than starting school at 18. Also too many 18 year olds go to college because there is a lot of pressure to do so. They have no idea what they want. At 23 and maybe a bit of life experience the student has a better handle on what he/she wants to do.

It sounds like the kids coming out of high school and signing pro contracts with Nike or whomever are getting the college tuition written into the contract. Smart move.

Double Up man wrote:

Running is the kind of career than can provide life long wealth and stability.

This gave me a good laugh.

While I don't think every high school kid should have hopes of going pro in some sport, I think there is a lesson to be learned here.

If you're good at something, don't be afraid to go into the work field young. Every youth shouldn't feel pressured to go to college. It is expensive, and the dropout statistics are scary (seriously, go do some research. You'll be amazed). If you have a talent or a skill, try to find a job in that field. In this case, Evan was good at something, and he decided to go pro. That being said, he still had to work his way to the top.

College is a great thing, and many kids SHOULD go to college. But that being said, people need to be flexible and really think hard about whether college is right for them.