Bill Gates is known as one of the richest people in the world, and for good reason. In fact, it’s estimated that his net worth is approximately $90 billion. But what most people don’t know is that Bill Gates almost didn’t graduate from high school. It might be surprising to some to know that he only has an equivalency diploma from Lakeside School. According to Business Insider: “In interviews over the years, Gates has mentioned dropping out of college a few times—usually when explaining why he trusts fellow billionaires who also dropped out of Harvard University to manage their own wealth.” So what exactly happened with Bill Gates and his graduation? Keep reading to find out!
Did Bill Gates Graduate High School?
Bill Gates graduated from high school at age 15. He was the first person in his family to attend college. Bill Gates was not the smartest student in high school, but he worked hard and was able to graduate early. Bill Gates went on to attend Harvard University and dropped out after one year, before completing a degree in computer science.
Why Did Bill Gates Drop Out of College?
- Bill Gates was not the smartest student in high school. He worked hard, but he was not a good student.
- Bill Gates wanted to attend Harvard University, but he did not have enough money to do so.
- Bill Gates enjoyed working with computers and had no desire to attend college for anything else.
- Although he dropped out of Harvard University, Bill Gates went on to become one of the wealthiest people in the world.
- The dropout rate at Harvard University is very high and it is difficult for a person with Bill Gates’s level of intelligence and drive to graduate from such a prestigious school without taking at least one course each year for four years.
- Had Bill Gates attended Harvard University, he would probably have been bored and never would have dropped out of college because he found it boring (and perhaps too easy).
- Had Bill Gates gone on to complete a degree in computer science from Harvard University, he may have been able to create a computer that would have revolutionized the world.
- Bill Gates dropped out of college to work full-time on his business and to continue on with his philanthropic projects.
- Bill Gates dropped out of college at a time when many people did not even finish high school because they found it boring, too easy, or both.
- Had Bill Gates graduated from Harvard University, he probably would have been bored and not worked as hard on his business ventures as he has over the last 20 years since graduating from Harvard University.
How Is The High School Equivalency Diploma Different From A Standard High School Diploma?
- High school diplomas are usually issued to students who have completed high school. However, the High School Equivalency Diploma is issued to students who have met a set of requirements and standards that vary from state to state. In some states, the High School Equivalency Diploma is equivalent to a standard high school diploma. In other states, it is not.
- The requirements for the High School Equivalency Diploma are different than the requirements for a standard diploma because they are set by each state and not by the federal government.
- The requirements for the High School Equivalency Diploma include passing certain standardized tests, as well as having certain grades and credits in specific subjects (such as math).
- The requirements for the High School Equivalency Diploma tend to be more rigorous than the requirements for a standard diploma because they are more difficult to meet and more difficult to pass than basic skills such as reading or writing.
- The High School Equivalency Diploma is often used as a stepping stone to get into a four-year college or university.
- The High School Equivalency Diploma is not always accepted by colleges as an equivalent to a standard high school diploma. For example, some colleges will only accept the equivalency of the High School Equivalency Diploma if it was earned in another state. In other colleges, the High School Equivalency Diploma may be accepted but it is not necessary for admission, and students may still be required to take college preparatory courses before being admitted to college.
- When the High School Equivalency Diploma is accepted by colleges as an equivalent of a standard high school diploma, it does not provide any additional benefits beyond what would normally be available from completing high school or obtaining a standard high school diploma in that particular state. For example, if you have completed 10 years of schooling and passed all the requirements for your state’s High School Equivalency Diploma, you will still be able to go on to college and continue your education without any additional requirements.
- The High School Equivalency Diploma is not always accepted by colleges as an equivalent to a standard high school diploma. For example, some colleges will only accept the equivalency of the High School Equivalency Diploma if it was earned in another state. In other colleges, the High School Equivalency Diploma may be accepted but it is not necessary for admission, and students may still be required to take college preparatory courses before being admitted to college.
- When the High School Equivalency Diploma is accepted by colleges as an equivalent of a standard high school diploma, it does not provide any additional benefits beyond what would normally be available from completing high school or obtaining a standard high school diploma in that particular state. For example, if you have completed 10 years of schooling and passed all the requirements for your state’s High School Equivalency Diploma, you will still be able to go on to college and continue your education without any additional requirements.
- The High School Equivalency Diploma is not always accepted by colleges as an equivalent to a standard high school diploma. For example, some colleges will only accept the equivalency of the High School Equivalency Diploma if it was earned in another state. In other colleges, the High School Equivalency Diploma may be accepted but it is not necessary for admission, and students may still be required to take college preparatory courses before being admitted to college.
Summary
Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world, and for good reason. In fact, it’s estimated that his net worth is approximately $90 billion. Gates was taking a lot of math and science classes, which he says he liked but found difficult to manage. He wanted to focus on computer science, but he needed more credits. He ended up taking a lot of the credits “in a haphazard way,” instead of following a structured curriculum. After a meeting with Harvard’s dean of admissions, Gates decided dropping out of school was the right choice. Gates was a member of the school’s honors society, wrote for the school newspaper, and built a computer with a friend for a science fair. The reason Gates didn’t graduate from high school is that he didn’t finish the necessary credits.
