Originally Posted by rock3656

Whenever you make a drastic decision in your life there is almost always going to be adversity coming at you from one angle or another. You simply can't make everyone in your life happy, you got to do what you feel is best for you. If you love poker and believe in yourself, go for it. If making a decision for yourself means dissapointing your loved ones, so be it. Theres always going to be people in your life telling you that you dont have the ability to achieve your goals, and that you should play it safe and not take big risks. The people who listen, may be successful within the realm of american society, but do you think they are truely pleased as individuals? and do you believe that they gained any sense of individuality living life through the desires of others? All i know is if I listened to everything that even the "successful" role models in my life wanted me to do, I'd be stuck in college working at a degree I had no interest in, living a life that I didnt choose. Who wants that? Not everyone has the balls to break away from the norm and succeed unconventionally.

When i made the decision to drop of out of school there was not one person in my life that supported it fully, but you gotta make choices to maintain passion for something. Soon after I made my choice, i felt a drive within me that I hadn't experienced. I was free, I was willing to put myself on my back and take a shot. I remember when my dad asked me if I really thought I would make it, under the contingency that he would no longer be supporting me whatsoever, and that I was on my own financially. I had just turned 18 and the question hes asked next will never be forgotten. With a tone of impossility he asked "You really think your going to make it in this world Michael, playing poker of all things?" I'll never forget staring back it him directly in the eye and saying "Yes". I remember having doubts quickly after, when his facial expressions offered nothing but a painful look back at me, just hoping he could change my mind. Oddly enough the emotion that enabled me to answer my fathers question was hope as well, hope of something bigger then what was possible on the surface. I wish you luck man, and I think you should go for it, you seem like a smart guy. Even if you fail, you'll still have a story :-).

http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-for...68?pageindex=1

Sweet post. Bet it feels good to go back and look at that thread now.

Not to derail the thread but are you on good standing with your parents now? Do they have more faith in you.

Your crushing $3.00-$15.00 MTT.

You can't make a living on the $13,000 that you made this year.

this thread didnt really have too many asshole replies. im surprised to see some bigger names on board with this decision. grinding tournies is a sick way to try and make a living, esp if you dont have that much saved up.

but the people who arent on board arent just saying uninstall the software and get a job at initech... but halfway through your 3rd year of college, youve already put so much time and im sure someone's money into getting a degree, not doing it to take a shot like this seems silly. it's not like you cant continue to play while at school.

my only thoughts about staying in school and finishing:

1) loads of free pussy
2) loads of free pussy
3) loads of free time (poker time?)

just spent a weekend in gainesville, made me realize how much I miss the college degen lifestyle

You're all major D-Bags for calling anyone who says, maybe finish school first when you're close, and "have you really though about it?", an asshole. Grow up. . . OP comes on here and asks for advice and people give it to him, he made 13k last year. As for my original post, like I said, if the kid was a semester into school or just starting I'd say go for it if you think you can do it and have honestly thought it through. But he's in a situation where it's -EV to drop out and start paying back those loans as well as live on his own (w/ a roommate) and then have to pay for his own car/health (optional) insurance.

 

Originally Posted by eman2188

Yeah, I have done the appropiate research, I've gone through some minor downwings, and I have enough saved for expenses. And to be honest, I really cannot see my self working in an office and getting the most out of a Finance degree, which I am actually 4 semesters from. I am just not motivated by school anymore. When I go to class, I think about poker, when I should be reading something for class, I'm playing online. So yeah, I could force myself to graduate half-ass, but I just don't see the point of that. This post wasn't really about whether I should go pro or not, cuz for better or worse I have made that decision.

I really just wanted some input from guys who have made a similar transitions on how to justify this move. It seems like the consensus to just go an do it and show some results later. Guess thats what I'll do.

Appreciate the responses

It sounds like you are just obsessed/addicted. Just cause I love football and played in high school, does not mean i'm gonna drop everything to become a professional football player.

3 years from now when your without a degree and burnt out, and want a steady income, it's gonna be that much harder to go back and get your degree (if you even can), and without one, good luck getting any moderately paying job.

I was going through the same thought process at the end of my college career and I had one semester left!

I actually did take the plunge and I did not make anywhere near the amount of money I hoped for. Everyone told me how dumb it was, but I did not care because I knew (thought) that I was better than everyone else.

I am sooooo glad I finished my degree and now I have a great job and plenty of free time to play poker esp in the summer. The extra monies I make off poker part-time are sooooooooooooooooooo clutch. There is no stress anymore and I do not have to worry about paying my bills EVER.

I agree for every Rock story there are prolly countless others of those who never made it.

I wish you would stay in school, because just having a college degree opens up so many doors for you and without one, you really have nothing to fall back on. Yes, you can go back to school, but keep in mind you are going to have a lot of explaining to do when companies ask you about why it took you so long to graduate and why you haven't been working. Even in the financial industry, "professional poker player" is not the greatest of things to put on.

Finish school if you have 2 years left. Poker isnt going anywhere. You still can play while in school poker is alot funner when its not played as your job trust me.

My advice is finish school keep growing as a player and see where your at. You dont have to do go get a job right away you can get your degree and play poker pro if thats what you want to do. This way if poker doesnt work out you have something to fall back on.

Playing poker for income while getting degree is the way to go. Stack money while in school and living with parents. Ez game.

1. what game are you going to play? what is your winrate/hourly? how many hours do yo intend on playing?

2. what is your BR? do you realize life expenses will eat at that BR now? Are you properly rolled for the buy ins your playing?

3. what leaks do you have that you have to improve on? what are your plans on improving your game?

if your not 100% on those 3 questions then its better to stay in school for now

Not to many 10.00 tourny's in vegas I would not quit school and move to Vegas. !!!!!

This is a way bad Idea. You will need a minimum 50k as back up. You could just try it over the christmas break and see how that goes for ya.