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Charles Wheelan, Ph.D. The Naked Economist

Charles Wheelan, Ph.D., The Naked Economist

A Well-Rounded Education Doesn't Have to Start with College

by Charles Wheelan, Ph.D.

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Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008, 12:00AM

I'm going to step back from economics for a moment and write about teaching economics to both undergraduates and graduate students. Based on that experience, I have some advice for talented high school students: Don't go to college.

And advice for talented college graduates: Don't get a job.

A Complete Education

Of course there is a caveat. You should do both of them eventually, just not right away. Take a year off, either after high school or after college.

Use that year to do something interesting that you'll likely never be able to do again: write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, live with your grandparents, trek in Katmandu, volunteer at a health clinic in India, or serve your country in the military.

Just do something that will make you a more complete person. I suspect that it'll also make you appreciate your education more (and, ironically, make you more attractive when you do apply for college or enter the job market).

Rules of Engagement

I have two rules. First, you have to support yourself. If you're writing that novel, then you need to be waiting tables when you're not at the keyboard. If you're traveling across India, then you've got to earn the money before you go. This isn't about Mom and Dad funding leisure travel. The time will only be meaningful if you have to work for it, literally.

And second, this experience can't be one of those uber-competitive kinds of programs that are designed as a means to get you somewhere else -- like NASA physics camp or 14 hours a day of intensive gymnastics.

The World a Classroom

Why should an 18- or 22-year-old head for Nepal instead of the University of Illinois or Wall Street?

For three reasons. First, because you can. Because the world is an interesting place, life is short, and there just aren't that many opportunities to take long stretches to do really cool things.

Second, and perhaps more practical, it'll make you appreciate your education more, whether you do it before or after college. I remember the first time I saw terraced rice paddies in Indonesia. I'd taken a course on monsoon Asia in college but the concepts seemed remote and academic. But when I was standing in Bali, staring up at the remarkable green fields carved into the mountainside, I finally understood all the facts that I'd memorized for the exams.

Book-Smart, Life-Ignorant

Last, it'll impart perspective and maturity. I've encountered a small but growing number of students -- amazingly smart and talented people -- who just seem intellectually immature and even emotionally unhealthy. They're obsessed with grades more than learning (because good grades are necessary to do the next hypercompetitive thing).

Despite enormous talent, I fear that these students aren't prepared for a world in which the best path isn't always the most competitive one; where failure is a precondition for success; where there are no letter grades to signpost success. They are smart but not wise -- and more life experience, both the waiting tables and the trekking in Nepal, would help that.

I imagine this kind of immaturity is an inevitable part of growing up, but it feels more common to me these days. Perhaps this is what comes of a generation characterized by parents who made extraordinary efforts to get them into the right preschool.

Hitting the Road

In any case, when it comes to taking a year off, I write from experience. When I was a senior in high school, I told my principal that I wanted to take a year off before going to college. He talked me out of the idea, but to his eternal credit he persuaded me to do it after college.

So I did. After graduation, I spent four months working at a law firm where I was paid a relatively large hourly sum to put 50,000 production documents in chronological order. I lived at home and caddied on the weekends. (In one of life's little ironies, the last guy I ever caddied for -- after a 13-year looping career -- was George W. Bush. Go figure.)

When I had enough for the trip, I left for Colorado, then California, then Tahiti, then Australia and New Zealand -- and so on, across Southeast Asia, China, India, Europe, and home. People often tell me how lucky I was, which is true in a broad sense, but not when it comes to having done this trip. The whole journey -- with a budget of $20 a day -- cost roughly as much as a Honda Civic at the time. Have you ever told a college graduate that he was lucky to be able to afford a Honda Civic?

Meeting Resistance

Curiously, most people -- including my college peers -- thought that taking a year off to travel was a terrible idea at the time. One relative told me that I would be "a year behind," a comment that only makes sense if you believe that life consists of checking off a series of boxes -- job, kids, house, vacation home -- and then ringing a bell.

There are two common arguments against taking time off to do something off the beaten track. The first is that "you can always do it later." I find that kind of sad; to quote Langston Hughes, a dream deferred is a dream denied. How many people do you know who have hiked the Appalachian Trail, volunteered at a clinic in India, written a novel, or done any of the things I mentioned above? These kinds of things don't get easier when you have kids and a mortgage.

The second is that this is some kind of elitist boondoggle. That's just nonsense. My wife (who as my girlfriend at the time) made the around-the-world trip with me. She graduated from an Ivy League school with a full load of student loans. She worked as a waitress on Nantucket (living in a bunkhouse behind the country club) until she'd earned enough to travel around the world for nine months and pre-pay her loans for a year. Then she came back, got a corporate job, and paid off the rest of the student loans. Not bad for someone with three siblings, all raised by a single parent who taught preschool for a living.

A Leg Up

The irony of taking a year out is that it's a pretty good career move, too. You get a unique life experience, and a year later, should you so choose, you can still apply to Harvard Law School.

Only in that pile of applications, you're the one who wrote a book or went around the world. That's who I want in my classes.

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164 Comments

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  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 7:08AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Good article. Thank you. To find Ethan David Burda and his videos, go here: http://www.youtube.com/EthanBurda Ethan David Burda on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/burda Ethan David Burda pictures, on Fotki.com: http://fotki.com/EthanBurda/

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 11:37PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    i'm just so glad i read this article! it was to confirmed that i'm on the right track. I agree 100% experience which leads to maturity is what can actually get you somewhere! haha

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, October 10, 2008, 8:21AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I think every student should read this.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, October 10, 2008, 7:55AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Bravo!!! I am married to an Air Force officer and our children ages 6,7 and10 are seeing the world. They are getting so much culture and real life experiences that school could never teach them. We live on the tiny island of Guam and plan to travel to China, Japan, Australia and the phillipines while we are stationed here. We plan our trips around education. No law degree from Harvard can touch that!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, September 25, 2008, 6:30PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    resorting to repeats? is yahoo undergoing financial difficulties too?

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 11:43AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    We homeschool our kids. Excellent advice. School is way over-rated. Our own kids and their other homeschool friends are now sought out by universities because of their real world experiences. Doing it is tons more effective than merely reading about it, when learning.....

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, September 4, 2008, 1:42PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I can definately be a witness to this article. I graduated high school at 16 years old, I did not and could not take out ANY student loans. I did a year of college while working PT in the mall,then decided to do an AmeriCorp internship at a health clinic in Peekskill, NY. I learned so much during my 11-month service, (including CPR training).During the end of my term the company (Hudson River HealthCare) offered me my first FT position in charge of 15 Peer Advocates at the age of 18. For anyone who doubts this article I am a witness...IT WORKS, BE SMART!!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 11:28PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    You speak from my heart with this one (not sure I agree with all your other stories, but that is for another entry). I will forward this story to my 11 year old daughter now, just in case I forget to remind her of this in 7 years when she graduates from High School. Well spoken, Charles.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 4:56PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    What I find funny is the only people bashing traveling are the ones who have obviously not traveled. I learned more in 3 months in Asia than 5 years of school. True, some people just go off and party, but the majority of travelers and locals I met were amazing people that helped me grow in so many positive ways. This doesn't mean you have to travel to be a well-rounded person, but it definitely does not hurt. Please don't bash the idea if you never tried it.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 6:57AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Hike the trail, life is very short.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 3:46AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Great advice. The one thing that I would add is not to be in too much of a hurry to graduate from university. If you go to a big school there will be so many interesting classes available. Don't be afraid to stay an extra year to develop your interests. There are ways to alleviate the costs. I did it by getting a job as a Resident Adviser in a dorm. If I hadn't have had that extra year, I might have graduated "on time", but I would have only been cheating myself of a better educational experience.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 12:30AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    This guy is crazy. The military can be a lifetime commitment and he must work for a credit card company. Dont use a credit card to fund your year off.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, September 1, 2008, 1:24PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Intelligence is gained from many facets and is one of the most valuable attributes you can ever possess. It cannot be measured in GPA alone (aka Einstein and our own Bill Gates). Remember Solomon asked God in humility for only for wisdom and gained an entire nation....!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, September 1, 2008, 3:20AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    What's with all the India love? Haven't we already done enough for that country? There are other countries in the world we can volunteer for, yet you mention India twice. Why is that? We already sent hundreds of thousands of our jobs there. Isn't that enough? Hey, I got an idea. There's this country south of the border. I think it's called Mexico. They're poor. Maybe instead of going to the other side of the world, just maybe we should help them out a little.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, August 31, 2008, 6:48PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    Street smart isn't that what it all boils down to. And business you need tonnes of it, not just the books. You learn the difference between "difference" and "wrong". You also learn patience, tolerance and respect for others. It adds a measure of meaning to life and teaches you what you can never learn from any book.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, August 31, 2008, 6:31PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I have never understood how some people go to college, learn all about how things REALLY work, and become incredibly worldly (conceited) without ever going anywhere or paying their own way. I think Wheelan puts forward sound advice here.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, August 31, 2008, 7:22AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I agree wholeheartedly, as I took a year off after both high school and university and it was amazingly rewarding, and continues to be so years hence. The problem with going away after university is that, that is when your quarter life crisis begins. Definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_life_crisis Someone (me) who has got over it: http://www.monkeykings.cn/2008/08/i-think-i-am-over-my-quarterlife-crisis/

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, August 31, 2008, 1:08AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    a well rounded education does not come about by going to places, rather, it comes about by seeing the world..and one can see the world even in one's hometown..i dont know anything about the smaller towns and villages in the USA, but here in india, we have the widest spectrum of people and stories everywhere..to be able to grasp the diversity in india would take atleast a few lifetimes..i've travelled a lot within india, and spent time in villages, where people live in unbelievable poverty..ive spent time in the best nightclubs, where one can see the great contrast between elitist rich folk and the poor kids without shelter...i mean the whole world is here in india..each state has its own language and culture..ive learnt a whole lot and seen a whole lot in my travels within india..it opened my mind and heart up just as much as travel to china did..

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, August 30, 2008, 9:15PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    I believe this. I have a masters degree, yet I have found time to travel the world mostly with the Army. I have seen the Tigris, the Euphrates, the temple of UR, the house of Abraham, the sands of the desert. I have seen men struggle, die, and succomb to despair and the victory of survival. All of these things have made a distinct impression on my life. While in college, I lived in Turkey and Mexico studying. I have traveled the world I have walked in the lands of Alexander, Gilgamesh, and the Greeks. I silently walk by lesser men everyday that have never experienced the ride into battle or the true value and bliss of life's sweetness contrasted with its horrors. I say most of you are literally dead already you are just marking time until the end. Most of you robotically like zombies drive around fat and lazy complaining McDonald's did not get your coffe hot enough and then you drive to work as a zombie never really thinking about the utter blessing you have in this country. I have learned what I have and do not envy others or become dissatisfied with my life. The only moment is the one we live in...but most of you are always looking to the next moment instead of enjoying the one you are in. One day...there will be no more moments!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, August 30, 2008, 10:43AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Such an excellent article! I turned 18 at Navy bootcamp and was trained as a submarine electronics technician. I was able to travel across the world, saw excellent leadership first hand, and learned how to work for a large team. The GI Bill really helped financially with college where I attained a BS in electronic engineering. Although I was a 24 year old freshman, my maturity level and first hand knowledge of how important a good degree allowed me to stick it out much better than if I went straight to college right out of high school. Just like Charles commented about what other people will think, I too received a lot of criticism postponing college for military service.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, August 30, 2008, 8:14AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    This is very real and very practical advice. I completed college with a bfa and went on to an mfa program. During the summers i went off to hike the long trail, midstate trail, metacomet-monadnock trail, a hike for four months through europe (geneva to santiago.) Of course i had to make sacrifices. I lived with my folks because actor wages are abysmall. You have made it in the field if you earn $10 an hour consistently. I took secondary jobs like, landscaping, animal handling, etc. I worked hard, earned money, and went on these treks. The time and space during a voyage allows you to dream about your future, to put a plan together, you have space to forget about naysayers and stay positive. I dont know why i wanted to hike so much but i do know this, when i am on my death bed i will have thousands of visions of fulfillment, of happiness, times learning about other people and understanding our world, gaining perspective. After all this travel (and even more professional experience in theater, dance, music) i came to my original homeland. I understood value in a different way and took a huge risk. I opened a school for performing arts. Without the ability to take to the road and explore, i would not have the essential qualities to take this risk! Now all my friends that played it safe through college are dealing with huge pressure. they realize they arent passionate about what they do. They dont even know what to do and they think they need a masters or a phd. i say think about the opportunity cost! Now that i've opened my school i am getting all sorts of offers from folks i dont know, i seem more attractive now, although i am similar to who i was before, because i have faith enough to open the business people believe in my abilities. Its definately not easy, you may feel like a failure if you take a break from college, you may feel bad if you dont go to college, but if you dont take that chance to do the thing that your heart tells you to do you will be wondering, what if... The best advice i received in my undergrad, "dont wait!" You return stronger, more mysterious, small things dont rock the boat, solutions are easy to spot. All youth needs is time and passion. Take the time while you dont have an everest of bills to go for your passion. Enjoy it now because we never know how many tommorrows there are.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 11:28PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    This idea is good in principle, but, as others have pointed out, it's unrealistic to think that most people could afford to do this after college (and those who said that the average 18-year-old isn't ready for this are probably correct). And there's one area that nobody has touched on yet: What about the people who have specialized skills that are already in place before college (musicians, artists, actors, etc.)? I'm a musician, and if I'd spent a year off the horn after high school, I would have been so far behind upon my arrival at college that I never would have caught up. And once someone in a performance-type area graduates, he or she is already fully vested in the profession (i.e. they've already performed for pay, built up a network of associates, etc.) that would be hard to leave for an extended period of time. Even taking the gap year between undergrad and grad school would be frowned upon in most of these disciplines for the same reason (time spent out of practice). So yes, in a perfect world, Dr. Wheelan's idea would be great. But parents, if you want your kids to do this, you'd better have them start saving for it in middle school, or there's no way the average Joe could afford it.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 5:02PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    i've been told similar stuff many times. but i still don't believe it. maybe i will when i'm older. but i think there're too many lazy , desultory people out there who need to focus and do something productive

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 1:40PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I like your premises, however, if you were really that smart you would have seized the opportunity during tenure of "elitist caddy" and clubbed "dubba" with a wedge and saved thousands of lives, trillions of dollars, and perhaps the future of the United States as we know it (now THERE's the irony). The best education is free - not what mommy and daddy can afford.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 12:24PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Awesome, just awesome. I totally agree that a good education is WAY more than just making good grades. In particular I wanted to comment about your statement about students who are "obsessed with grades more than learning." As a mother of a 6th grader I have to constantly fight the tendency to obssess over my son's grades. He is intelligent, although his grades don't always reflect it. And I'd love for him to be admitted into the "gifted" program. BUT, I've always tried not to push him, and to let him figure things out in his own way in his own time. We travel, go to museums, try new restaurants, attend child-friendly plays and musicals. As a result, he is inquisitive, creative, imaginative, independent-thinking, happy, well-behaved, good-natured, and loves to travel. These qualities will take him much further in life than will straight-As.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 11:52AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    You can say that again......just look at our President.....He had his father pull strings to get him into the Alabama Air National Guard so he wouldn't see "COMBAT" during the Vietnam War..........He ruined a few oil companies before he went on to the Texas Rangers..........and while President squandered the biggest Federal Budget surplus and squander the world goodwill with us after 9/11 by taking us into an unnessesary war in Iraq that had no WMD's, was not an imminent threat and did not attack us on 9/11/01............ ......... Dubya should go on the show "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" When he finally leaves office next January!!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 10:30AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    This is the best advice I have ever read in this column.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, August 29, 2008, 9:35AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Excellent story. As a 65 year old I am still looking for the right job. I too was a single parent who raised 2 children who both have graduate degrees and no loans. My degree was paid in full and I have had a variety of jobs over the years. I was feeling guilty about my unemployment, but now I feel that it is just time to reassess my options. By the way my son went into the Peace Corp after his undergraduate degree (which he loved) and my daughter started a business in her home (which evolved to a studio outside her home when it got to big for the house). Again many thanks for such an uplifting article.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, August 28, 2008, 4:28PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I took the year off when I was thirty. Traveled around the world for a year, including Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Best thing I ever did! You really see how a lot of the world lives, and appreciate hot water as a true luxury.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, August 28, 2008, 2:38PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I didn't take any time off after college and I regret it to this day (20 years later). I will make absolutely no difference in you economic status in long run.

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