Thomas Slatin Quote On Credentialism
If your motivation to get a degree is based solely in the popular parlance of credentialism, you are going to be disappointed when you learn that a college degree has nothing to do with intelligence or success in life. The most interesting and successful people I’ve known in my life never finished college.
Thomas Slatin


25 Comments
Laura S Putman
I agree 100%, I’ve always believed that. My son achieved a degree later in adulthood but he never used it, instead he chose to work doing where he enjoyed his work. My career was surrounded by degreed people who had no idea how to be a human being. They all taught me that life experience is much more valuable than a degree.
AMAN
I agree to it and it’s a nice quote for me as I am presently a college student. Skills are always ahead of degree in any field.
gaurav
This is cent percent correct because almost every person who is successful is due to their skills not degree.
Wilson Jake
Education is important but not the most important criteria for intelligence and success. This is a really touchy quote, I love it.
King
You are right and well stated. Destiny plays a bigger role in one’s life than a paper certificate.
laura
I can totally relate with this quote, even in Nigeria here some of the wealthiest people didn’t complete college. They are doing excellently well
Maury Cheskes
Yes, this is true that a lot of people turn out successful even with limited schooling. Does not hurt to get a degree though. It just depends on which career path entices you, or the level of education you’d like to receive.
glad
It really amazes me to know that some of the successful people are not so educated. Being educated makes you knowledgeable and does not necessarily make you succesful.
Prince
Finishing college or degree is good for the people that has the brain. But it’s not the only thing that makes success….even people that hasn’t been to the 4 corners of the classroom are making it better. It all depends on the individual
Alex
I agree this is why when taking a course take what you want or what your heart tells you. In my country there are people who is forced to stray from their dreams. They end up successful sure but they end up sad in the long run. Heart matters not just money.
amanda
Agree. I get my degree later on after working and it suits me well.
David Mureithi
Good point to note. School is where you go and learn.
Margareth
That’s right, having a degree is not a warranty to be successful in life, I wish schools could go farther and teach students skills that they will need to achieve their goals.
Roy
This is so true. Indeed the school of life is more important than any college.
Meg W
Very well said Tom. Success has nothing to do with college.
Patricia
I think our educational system has failed us. It is such a sad state of affairs.
Oliver
A college degree has nothing to do with intelligence or success in life. You hit the nail on the head with that one.
Daphne
Most of the world’s billionaires never finished college. Mark Zuckerberg is a good example.
Teddy
A degree is only but a piece of paper. There’s so much more to life.
Louis
Despite all this, so much importance is still attached to college degrees. Such is the society we live in.
Shantel
I wish I knew this years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time.
Anderson
This is the hard reality of life. It is sad that many people realize it too late in life.
Storm
The best skills are self taught. College is only a formality.
Sylvia
I learnt this the hard way. College degrees are useless in the real world.
esgyll
Sadly, where I live, going to the best university, getting a diploma from said university and landing a high paying job is all that matters so your friends and your own family can say that you’ve really been successful at life. We still have a very long way to go to shake off that mindset.