Is going to college/ university a must, in order to be successful?

Let's define successful. The Cambridge dictionary defines it as: "achieving the results hoped for, having achieved a lot, become popular and/or make a lot of money." Pretty general, ha? Mozart, Mother Teresa, Madonna, Michael Jackson are (in the light of this definition) successful people, but none of them finished school. My opinion about success is closer to the first of the successful definitions of Cambridge. Like, for example, I can be successful today, with no degree, if my cake comes out sweet enough and my friends like it. Or if I decorate my house in such a way that I'm pleased each day when returning home. But we should also take into account that "a lot" (from the other definitions) is a very general term and means different things for different people. For me, a lot of money doesn't mean the same thing as to Madonna, but that doesn't stop me from being already successful, in areas that have nothing to do with my university degree. And I am a lot more popular than Obama (and all his university degrees) among my friends. Like anything in life, the most important thing is the point of view from which you choose to look at success.

Actually, I go with the research results totally. Or I believe it to be so. There are lots of rich and successful people whom don't have a degree to start out with. And there are those people with degree and successful. I think success is pure hard work and a bit of luck. It can land on anyone's lap at all and it is really anyone's game.. good topic here.

It's both yes and no. It depends on what chosen field of interest you want to go into. If you want to be a doctor, an airline pilot or a teacher then it's a must and you are left with no other choice but to study and get a degree. Again, a degree will not guarantee success but you can't even start without it. Most people who became successful are either in marketing or real estate business, where good interpersonal skills is a primary asset. This is one examples of the many fields were most college drop out excel. We don't exactly need a degree to be able to sell things. cheers!

I think that anyone can be successful with or without a college degree to show off. Bill Gates is a great example and those before him who were billionaires without a degree. It was released in a magazine that out of the millionaires they surveyed, 14% of them haven't had a college degree. I believe that if a man desire to be financially successful, he can with the right attitude and action.

As long as Society recognises education and gives jobs to those who are educated you cannot get away from it but frankly speaking with the kind of exposure one has to learn outside of a portal of a school or college it hardly can be a place of learning. But unless you venture out on your own and start your own business - many do it - you have no other alternative but to go through the grind of having to acquire a degree!!! and satisfy your bosses!!

In my opinion,going to college or university is a better way to be successful,but not must be.You should have a good education that would help you be success.The more you learn,the better you will do.Many successful people do not graduate from university,but you know they have earned many acknowledges in other way.So,you can do things well ,but you may do them better if you go to college.