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Article: College or Poker?

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  1. CardXFactor CardXFactor is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 11:31am)

  2. pkalevar pkalevar is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 12:21pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>i thought heavily about this the past 4 months, and i agree with everything you have said. I am in 3rd year engineering at UWaterloo, and desperately wanted the easy way out and to drop out and just play poker.</p>
    <p>It may be a lot harder to be successful in both, but if you can succeed in both im sure it will be a lot more satisfying.</p>
  3. SaDuke SaDuke is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 1:06pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>I actually totally agree with what you are saying, as i am currently a student in the UK and have found it actually very difficult to manage both poker and school initially but however with time, it proved easier as I grew more mature(supposedly or maybe just older! ) But I definately recommend going to college, or university as us UK students say, if only for the experience you will quite frankly never get anywhere else.</p>
  4. LXAchopper602 LXAchopper602 is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 1:17pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>Wow great article sir. I have 18 hours left on my degree and even though it has been pretty hard the last 3 years I am really glad I stuck it out and cant wait to finish my last year. At the same time I'm sure  I'll miss the college lifestyle and atmosphere and it something I know I would regret missing out on if I never attended. Its also great to hear that poker was an aide in securing a job in the real world.</p>
  5. JC_Saves JC_Saves is offline

    Tacoma, WA
    United States

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 2:00pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>As someone with a career that plays poker a lot, I agree with you as well that if you care able to go to college it would be foolish to stop going to college just to play poker.  You can do both and when you graduate, you can then decide what you want to do.</p>
    <p>Too many people think that being a professional poker player is a walk in the park, when in reality there will be times when it is very trying on one's mental makeup.  Having the knowledge that you completed your degree and have something to fall back on is a great comfort when times are tough.</p>
    <p>Good luck to all of you pursuing higher learning, it will translate to the poker world.  You will have increased confidence in yourself, not to mention all the lessons that you will have learned in how to think and reason in class.</p>
  6. tcstunna tcstunna is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 2:20pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>Agreed. good article.  I dont think I would have the job i have now if i didnt kick ass at poker while i was in college...the prople that hired me were into it.</p>
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  7. TheGfactor TheGfactor is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 2:21pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>you miss out on far too many life experiences at college not to go for at least 2 years.  I met some of my best friends that ill have for the rest of my life at school, so if your considering not going to school for the lack of interest or motivation in academics, you miss out far more on the social experiences that you'll remember for the rest of your life while gaining lifelong friends along the way.</p>
    <p>Hattrick wrote a fantastic 2 part series a while back on this topic, if someone would throw up the link it would be great.</p>
  8. stsitron stsitron is offline

    Henderson, NV
    United States

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 3:49pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>Wow great article bro.  I have my piece of paper hanging on my wall in my poker office.  As it collects dust, but honestly a lot of the things I learned in college help me to be a better more disciplined poker player and money manager.  It is like any other business so I recommend getting a degree in business FTW!</p>
     
  9. stsitron stsitron is offline

    Henderson, NV
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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 3:50pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>Also, I'd go thru college again just for the partying and girls.</p>
     
  10. apeter20 apeter20 is offline

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 4:24pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>poker monies > college social scene</p>
  11. grapsfan grapsfan is offline Head Curmudgeon

    Rosemount, MN
    United States

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 7:49pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>The only thing I disagree with is the initial assessment that most people have a "valid argument" for dropping out of school.  I've seen these threads hundreds of times on P5s over the years, and the argument is rarely anything more than "I'm bored, I don't like going to class."  These people are rarely making enough to be a reasonable post-college salary.</p>
    <p>But that point just makes CardXFactor's article all the more valid, and well communicated.  WP sir.</p>
     
  12. AlexB81 AlexB81 is offline

    Bologna
    Italy

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    Jul 22nd, 2008 (7/22/2008 7:56pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>I dont agree.Here in italy you finish university and get junior degree at 22 then u can get a crap job for 1000euros month if lucky and when u are old jobs that get you like 3000 each month aren t many and u need luck to get them anyway.Then most works are determined time.</p>
    <p>I quit university and grind midstakes rolled 100x for 5\10 and 1 year of expensis paid. if poker ends i will have collected more money than people who worked  a life.</p>
    <p>Then what if u lose job?I m sure I can give my future family a better life gaining 10k month than 2k month for example...i ve more time to stay with them also.</p>
    <p>Poker isnt easy but if you are skilled (play at least 1 year 60k hands\month) you should try at least.</p>
  13. I_Blade_U I_Blade_U is online now

    Tampa, FL
    United States

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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 2:51am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>^^^^^^^^^^ if u play 1 year for 60khands/month that makes u skilled???? im sure u didnt mean that</p>
     1
  14. hoosier hoosier is offline

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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 3:58am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>College is a freeroll!  Your parents, family, friends, and community will put up with you, help you out, and support you while you are in college - they are basically paying your entry fee, and 'cashing'  is almost guaranteed with a huge upside payout potential.  Stay in school, poker will be there, going back to finish a degree on your own time and dolllar is much harder.</p>
  15. AlexB81 AlexB81 is offline

    Bologna
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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 4:27am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>I mean you should play 1year at least with 60k hands\month to understand if you are a winning player at a certain level before giving up school.Variance is really sick.</p>
  16. mathclub mathclub is offline

    New Zealand

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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 7:25am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>I'm so glad i found poker after i finished college.  It was hard enough finishing college with a Nintendo 64 in the living room, let alone making money playing poker!</p>
    <p>Mario Kart FTW!!</p>
    2
  17. davester davester is offline

    Washington, DC
    United States

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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 8:10am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>really great article.  no one has ever wrote about quitting school to play cards</p>
  18. bluedevils825 bluedevils825 is offline

    Boone, NC
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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 8:59am) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>very good article,  epitomizes my thinking </p>
     
  19. krhpoker3 krhpoker3 is offline

    Anchorage, AK
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    Jul 23rd, 2008 (7/23/2008 1:06pm) in reply to CardXFactor

    <p>I also strongly agree with this article. I failed my freshman year at the engineering school at colorado at boulder, and wanted to change majors, so i could continue playing poker. I took a year off, moved to alaska to work on the pipeline, and am now in the engineering school in anchorage. I am balancing the 2 much better now. Solid article sir.</p>
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