Re: Should I go back to school?
 

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I do have some business knowledge. My father owns his own businesses, and will be helping me run the pharmacy til I get everything under control. It's not that complicated to run the business side of it anyways.

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Businesses run by knowledgable people fail every day. What happens if online poker falls through and you get divorced (I know,I know. You're in love). What's your fallback? Having a backup plan (i.e. a college degree to fall back on to obtain a job) is like having insurance. Nobody hopes they need it but if you do...

It doesn't really matter what your degree is in, only that you have one. Most jobs require a degree, not because a degree proves competence but because the lack of one usually means lazy ass bastard to a potential employer. Given your future plan, I would think a business or accounting degree would be an excellent use of your time.

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

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I really disagree with everyone who is saying go back to school.... I think way too many people go to college because they are supposed to, rather than because they want to.

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I think way too many people obey the laws [pay their taxes, be nice to people, don't steal from other people, etc] because they are supposed to, rather than because they want to.

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

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I have made a little over $200,000 this year.

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Why run a small business if you have results like this from playing poker? Just curious...

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

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You might get better responses if you tell people the stakes you're playing so they don't assume you're grinding $3-6 or something.

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either way, if you've been in for 4 years, might as well finish up. How about take some business classes so you actually know how to run that business. What if the business fails and so does poker? Seems like it would be good to have that fully paid for degree....

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

Do what makes you happy. If your wife supports your desire to play poker for a living and you can run the business side of the pharmacy, then give that a go. You can always go back to school if it doesn't work out.

"We don't choose our destiny, it chooses us" - Professor Petrovsky, Rounders

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

I don't think you should go back full-time. Your heart is obviously not in it, and I know from first-hand experience that if your heart isn't into University, you'll have almost no chance of succeeding. If you're making $200,000 a year playing a game, it's hard to motivate yourself to take the time required to obtain a degree. School becomes less of a priority in these circumstances.

I *would* recommend taking 1 or 2 credits each semester, though. It'll keep you moving towards your degree (albeit slowly) and it isn't very hard to do well when you are only taking 1 or 2 credits, even if you have other priorities in your life at the time. When the time comes for you to finish off your degree, the 1 or 2 credits you took each semester will mean that you are that much closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, and might make it more likely for you to go back full-time to get it done.

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

If you are not going back to school now and choose poker + Rx business...

Why not save up enough money to add on top of your emergency fund so you can go back to school and get a degree in something you enjoy later.

Making 6 figures playing poker should be more than enough to fund your E-fund + future school costs so that if poker or the business falls through you have the backup money to go back to school.

You said it yourself that school will be there for you to go back to if needed. Just make sure you have it funded just in case if you decide not to finish now.

A bonus will be if your business venture succeeds the money you banked for school could be used for many other ventures:
retirement fund, school fund for little you's, another business, add to your bankroll to move up in stakes....

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

A few things...

First, it's not like running this business is going to be a full time, or even difficult or dangerous job. We are going to purchase an already started, successful pharmacy from a friend of ours (he's over 60 and getting ready to retire). He clears a large amount of money from this pharmacy every year, and the business part of it is minimal at best. There is a very small chance of it failing, and I still plan on playing poker for a while.

Also, it seems most people agree that I should have a degree, but what I don't understand is why I should get it NOW as opposed to later if/when I need it. Someone said "finish school now, you'll have plenty of time to play poker later." Well the problem is that poker may not be here for me in 5 years (it could dry up), whereas school will be there forever. I am saving/investing alot of my money so that I can go back later if I need to.

School just seems so pointless for me right now, and I really enjoy poker.

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

The two shouldn't be as exclusive as you are making them, especially with the scholarships you have. PLay poker, make 125k/year, and finish school.

Gabe

Re: Should I go back to school?
 

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The two shouldn't be as exclusive as you are making them, especially with the scholarships you have. PLay poker, make 125k/year, and finish school.

Gabe

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Why? What advantages does getting a degree now have? Obviously it will make me less happy, so what are the reasons for getting a degree NOW?