Should I go back to school?

[iMsoLucky0]

Well, school here at the University of Oklahoma started back today, and I have still not decided whether or not I will attend classes this semester.

Here is some background info: I started college 4 years ago on full academic scholarship (plus living expenses/cash stipends) cause I took tests real well . I started out majoring in Physics and was a straight-A student for my first 3 semesters. I then realized that I didn't want to work in a lab the rest of my life and started exploring other majors (this was also about the time that I started playing a ton of poker). So I took 2 semesters of econ classes, then last semester, I started making a substantial income through poker. At this point, I stopped attending classes and basically flunked. I still recieve a full tuition waiver, and if I made up the 12 hours I lost I would recieve all the other scholarships back too (although, I am not worried at all about the money).

Also, I got married this summer, and my wife is a second year pharmacy student. Our plans all along have been to purchase a hometown pharmacy when she graduates and I run the business part while she does the pharmaceutical stuff. This, combined with the fact that I have made so much money from poker, leads me to lean towards not going to school for now. Also, I understand that poker may not be there for me in 5 years, BUT SCHOOL WILL. I am investing alot of my money right now, and would have no trouble footing the bill in a few years if I do try and go back. It just seems like an undergrad degree is so worthless these days, and I really can't think of a postgrad program I would be interested in.

Thoughts?

[FlFishOn]

If you pass on school now you are a huge favorite to blow it off forever.

[tinga81]

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If you pass on school now you are a huge favorite to blow it off forever.

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Unless you're serious, this statement couldn't be more right.

[Sponger15SB]

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.

[iMsoLucky0]

I play 215 SNGs, and step 5s. I also play 109 and larger multis.

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

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.

[Jaquen H'gar]

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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.

[TomR]

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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...

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Very good point.

I wonder how much experience the OP has with pharmacies. I have quite a bit of experience with various aspects of the pharmacy industry. I would not consider a hometown pharmacy to be a good long term investment. You will be stuck between two very important and powerful players: the drug companies that set your drug costs (which continue to climb) and the insurance companies that set your reimbursement rates (which continue to decline). A sole proprietor has very little negotiating power with either. I am not a fan of the big pharmacy chains but one of the primary reasons they continue to grow and consolidate is to have greater negotiating power with the drug and insurance companies.

[jb9]

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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...

[ninjageek]

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....

[dogmeat]

You have some college, made $200,000 this year, but want a bunch of poker players and pro-wanna be's that you don't know to advise you? Good idea.

Dogmeat [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]