Indian Student Enrolment in Oz Halves

Melbourne, Sep 2 : Attacks on Indian students in Australia may have hit their enrolment into varsities here, with new figures showing a slump by almost half.

Turmoil in Australia's international education sector, legislative changes and the global financial crisis are also among the factors for the sharp fall in the intake in the foreign student enrolment, according to a media report.

In 2008-09, 65,503 Indian passport holders were granted Australian student visas across all education sectors. But in 2009-10, the number fell to just 29,721. Overall, 50,540 fewer international students were granted visas to study in Australia in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09.

According to 'The Age' today, global student visa numbers dropped over 16 per cent last financial year. It was also said that the new figures were result was also due to student security issues putting pressure on student numbers.

Stephen Connelly, president of International Education Association of Australia, said the drop was not surprising but very worrying.

"There is so much goodwill we generate from having international students in our country, and we are absolutely shooting ourselves in the foot at the moment," he said, adding the government and opposition had sent negative messages to potential students during the federal election campaign and work had to begin on improving Australia's reputation.

If the problems were not tackled quickly, Connelly said, there would be a further significant drop in student numbers. "Applications being received by agents would indicate that the numbers will go down even further. There's a lot more pain in store, I would say," he added.

However, he played down the significance of student security issues, which flared up in Victoria last year following a series of allegedly racist attacks on Indian students. "[Student security] would be lower down on the list of reasons than the difficulties of getting a visa and the lack of differentiation among providers," Connelly said.

National Union of Students president Carla Drakeford said the drop in numbers was very concerning.

"International student decline is dangerous for the university sector - not only because it creates a hole in university funding, but also because of the innate value international students bring to our community and higher education sector," Drakeford said.

Source:Agencies

Read full history - Indian Student Enrolment in Oz Halves

Indian Student Enrolment in Oz Halves

Melbourne, Sep 2 : Attacks on Indian students in Australia may have hit their enrolment into varsities here, with new figures showing a slump by almost half.

Turmoil in Australia's international education sector, legislative changes and the global financial crisis are also among the factors for the sharp fall in the intake in the foreign student enrolment, according to a media report.

In 2008-09, 65,503 Indian passport holders were granted Australian student visas across all education sectors. But in 2009-10, the number fell to just 29,721. Overall, 50,540 fewer international students were granted visas to study in Australia in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09.

According to 'The Age' today, global student visa numbers dropped over 16 per cent last financial year. It was also said that the new figures were result was also due to student security issues putting pressure on student numbers.

Stephen Connelly, president of International Education Association of Australia, said the drop was not surprising but very worrying.

"There is so much goodwill we generate from having international students in our country, and we are absolutely shooting ourselves in the foot at the moment," he said, adding the government and opposition had sent negative messages to potential students during the federal election campaign and work had to begin on improving Australia's reputation.

If the problems were not tackled quickly, Connelly said, there would be a further significant drop in student numbers. "Applications being received by agents would indicate that the numbers will go down even further. There's a lot more pain in store, I would say," he added.

However, he played down the significance of student security issues, which flared up in Victoria last year following a series of allegedly racist attacks on Indian students. "[Student security] would be lower down on the list of reasons than the difficulties of getting a visa and the lack of differentiation among providers," Connelly said.

National Union of Students president Carla Drakeford said the drop in numbers was very concerning.

"International student decline is dangerous for the university sector - not only because it creates a hole in university funding, but also because of the innate value international students bring to our community and higher education sector," Drakeford said.

Source:Agencies

Read full history - Indian Student Enrolment in Oz Halves

Reaching-out Therapy

By Anuradha Mascarenhas

A sense of desperation was beginning to grip twenty four-year-old Khlangor Nongkhlaw when, two years after graduating in economics from the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong, he failed to land a job. He was ninth of the ten children his parents had and Khlangor sorely needed a job to support his family.

So when he saw an ad for a six-month course in ayurvedic therapy to be held in Bangalore through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), he promptly applied. Six months later, on July 29, Khlangor and 22 other youths from the Northeast received their course certificates at the Institute of Ayurvedic and Integrated Medicine (IAIM) in Bangalore. Even before that, Khlangor had landed himself a job at a Bangalore hospital.

To help students from the Northeast with employment opportunities, IGNOU has also set up a new institute of vocational training in Shillong, says Dr Debjani Roy, Director of the Indigenous Knowledge and Technology section of the institute.

“Initially, this job-oriented ayurvedic course was drafted keeping in mind the unemployment problem in those states and was meant for students from the Northeast. But now, we have decided to open it up for everyone. Students weren’t charged anything for the course. The first batch of students from Meghalaya and Assam got their certificates on July 29 and most of them have got jobs in ayurvedic hospitals and wellness centres in Bangalore.” says Roy.

The North Eastern Council has decided to sponsor the next batch of 17 students from the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Also, the government’s Department of AYUSH has urged that panchkarma therapy should be introduced at all district hospitals in the country.

Twenty two-year-old Palmo Lama, a political science graduate from Shillong, says she took up the course because she wanted to learn something new. “I wish the course was for more than six months,” says Palmo, who wants to work in Bangalore for a while before returning to Shillong.

Renewal Ksoo, a class XII student from Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, says she took up the course because she wanted a “job in the city” “They taught us yoga, nursing and panchkarma treatment for people suffering from low back pain or rheumatic complaints,” she says.

Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, director of IAIM who was formerly director of School of Health Science at the University of Pune, says an experienced team of doctors, yoga teachers and therapists trained the students.

Course coordinator Dr Sheetal Arangady says students for the course were selected by a board in Shillong. The minimum qualification needed was class X and students had to be in the age group of 18-25 years.

Read full history - Reaching-out Therapy

Reaching-out Therapy

By Anuradha Mascarenhas

A sense of desperation was beginning to grip twenty four-year-old Khlangor Nongkhlaw when, two years after graduating in economics from the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong, he failed to land a job. He was ninth of the ten children his parents had and Khlangor sorely needed a job to support his family.

So when he saw an ad for a six-month course in ayurvedic therapy to be held in Bangalore through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), he promptly applied. Six months later, on July 29, Khlangor and 22 other youths from the Northeast received their course certificates at the Institute of Ayurvedic and Integrated Medicine (IAIM) in Bangalore. Even before that, Khlangor had landed himself a job at a Bangalore hospital.

To help students from the Northeast with employment opportunities, IGNOU has also set up a new institute of vocational training in Shillong, says Dr Debjani Roy, Director of the Indigenous Knowledge and Technology section of the institute.

“Initially, this job-oriented ayurvedic course was drafted keeping in mind the unemployment problem in those states and was meant for students from the Northeast. But now, we have decided to open it up for everyone. Students weren’t charged anything for the course. The first batch of students from Meghalaya and Assam got their certificates on July 29 and most of them have got jobs in ayurvedic hospitals and wellness centres in Bangalore.” says Roy.

The North Eastern Council has decided to sponsor the next batch of 17 students from the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Also, the government’s Department of AYUSH has urged that panchkarma therapy should be introduced at all district hospitals in the country.

Twenty two-year-old Palmo Lama, a political science graduate from Shillong, says she took up the course because she wanted to learn something new. “I wish the course was for more than six months,” says Palmo, who wants to work in Bangalore for a while before returning to Shillong.

Renewal Ksoo, a class XII student from Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, says she took up the course because she wanted a “job in the city” “They taught us yoga, nursing and panchkarma treatment for people suffering from low back pain or rheumatic complaints,” she says.

Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, director of IAIM who was formerly director of School of Health Science at the University of Pune, says an experienced team of doctors, yoga teachers and therapists trained the students.

Course coordinator Dr Sheetal Arangady says students for the course were selected by a board in Shillong. The minimum qualification needed was class X and students had to be in the age group of 18-25 years.

Read full history - Reaching-out Therapy

Bihar’s Famed Coaching Institute Now in Assam

By Syed Zarir Hussain

Guwahati, Jul 11 : The famed Super 30, a coaching institute in Patna which prepares 30 poor students for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exam free of cost, opened shop in Assam Sunday.

“We are proud and very happy to announce the formal inauguration of Super 30 chapter in Assam. Super 30 achieved iconic stature because of its success rate,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS after the launch of the Guwahati chapter of the institute.

“We are lucky to have them in our state. It is going to benefit students from the whole of the northeast,” he added.

Like in the past, this year too, all 30 of its students in Super 30 Patna centre cleared the IIT entrance test, the dream of many young Indians.

The 10-month-long fully residential programme is being sponsored by India’s premier exploration firm Oil India Limited (OIL).

“Thirty young IIT aspirants, all from economically backward families in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, will be part of the first batch and they were selected on the basis of a written test followed by an oral interview and group discussion,” OIL chairman-cum-managing director N.M. Bora said.

Super 30 mentor and former police officer Abhayanand headed the interview panel along with other team members of the institute.

“This will be the first of its kind institute in the northeast and we are confident of achieving the same success rate like our Patna centre,” Abhayanand said.

Super 30 is a highly ambitious and innovative educational programme running under the banner of “Ramanujan School of Mathematics”.

It hunts for 30 meritorious talents from among the economically backward sections of the society and shapes them for India’s most prestigious institution – the IIT. In the last seven years, it has produced hundreds of IIT graduates from extremely poor background.

“We had students from families of brick kiln workers, rickshaw pullers, landless farmers, roadside vendors and the likes. Today, most of them are doing well in life,” Abhayanand said.

Read full history - Bihar’s Famed Coaching Institute Now in Assam

Bihar’s Famed Coaching Institute Now in Assam

By Syed Zarir Hussain

Guwahati, Jul 11 : The famed Super 30, a coaching institute in Patna which prepares 30 poor students for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exam free of cost, opened shop in Assam Sunday.

“We are proud and very happy to announce the formal inauguration of Super 30 chapter in Assam. Super 30 achieved iconic stature because of its success rate,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS after the launch of the Guwahati chapter of the institute.

“We are lucky to have them in our state. It is going to benefit students from the whole of the northeast,” he added.

Like in the past, this year too, all 30 of its students in Super 30 Patna centre cleared the IIT entrance test, the dream of many young Indians.

The 10-month-long fully residential programme is being sponsored by India’s premier exploration firm Oil India Limited (OIL).

“Thirty young IIT aspirants, all from economically backward families in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, will be part of the first batch and they were selected on the basis of a written test followed by an oral interview and group discussion,” OIL chairman-cum-managing director N.M. Bora said.

Super 30 mentor and former police officer Abhayanand headed the interview panel along with other team members of the institute.

“This will be the first of its kind institute in the northeast and we are confident of achieving the same success rate like our Patna centre,” Abhayanand said.

Super 30 is a highly ambitious and innovative educational programme running under the banner of “Ramanujan School of Mathematics”.

It hunts for 30 meritorious talents from among the economically backward sections of the society and shapes them for India’s most prestigious institution – the IIT. In the last seven years, it has produced hundreds of IIT graduates from extremely poor background.

“We had students from families of brick kiln workers, rickshaw pullers, landless farmers, roadside vendors and the likes. Today, most of them are doing well in life,” Abhayanand said.

Read full history - Bihar’s Famed Coaching Institute Now in Assam

Northeast Students Find Helping Hands in Campus

By Tenzin Nyima

New Delhi, Jun 11 : Ngamgoulem Kipgen, a DU applicant from Manipur, feels lost in Delhi. The 19-year-old has applied for a the Geography (Honours) course but is finding it difficult to adjust in a new place.

"I come from a small town in Manipur and this sudden exposure in an unfamiliar city is tough to handle," she said.

But students like Kipgen have help at hand as many of them from Northeastern states such as Manipur and Nagaland have formed organizations to help students during the admission process.

The Nagaland Student Union, Delhi  (NSUD), which is among the largest organizations in Delhi for Northeastern  students, comprises more than 14,000  members. It helps students fill application forms and also helps them fight discrimination and is functional throughout the year.

Students from the Northeastern states often complain of discrimination and abuse. "I have many friends who were refused accommodations in PGs as they hail from the Northeast.

Landlords often pass snide remarks on the character of girls," said Chupalemba Chang (22), a DU graduate.

"Last year, 39 cases of abuse, molestation and rape of people belonging to Northeastern states were recorded. The number keeps increasing each year," said Madhu Chandra, spokesperson, Northeastern Support Centre and Helpline.

Besides these, there are other groups such as the Kuki Student Organisation with 700 members in Delhi that also supports students financially.

Read full history - Northeast Students Find Helping Hands in Campus

Northeast Students Find Helping Hands in Campus

By Tenzin Nyima

New Delhi, Jun 11 : Ngamgoulem Kipgen, a DU applicant from Manipur, feels lost in Delhi. The 19-year-old has applied for a the Geography (Honours) course but is finding it difficult to adjust in a new place.

"I come from a small town in Manipur and this sudden exposure in an unfamiliar city is tough to handle," she said.

But students like Kipgen have help at hand as many of them from Northeastern states such as Manipur and Nagaland have formed organizations to help students during the admission process.

The Nagaland Student Union, Delhi  (NSUD), which is among the largest organizations in Delhi for Northeastern  students, comprises more than 14,000  members. It helps students fill application forms and also helps them fight discrimination and is functional throughout the year.

Students from the Northeastern states often complain of discrimination and abuse. "I have many friends who were refused accommodations in PGs as they hail from the Northeast.

Landlords often pass snide remarks on the character of girls," said Chupalemba Chang (22), a DU graduate.

"Last year, 39 cases of abuse, molestation and rape of people belonging to Northeastern states were recorded. The number keeps increasing each year," said Madhu Chandra, spokesperson, Northeastern Support Centre and Helpline.

Besides these, there are other groups such as the Kuki Student Organisation with 700 members in Delhi that also supports students financially.

Read full history - Northeast Students Find Helping Hands in Campus

Mizoram Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop

Aizawl, Jun 10 : Pu Lalsawta, Higher and Technical Education Minister today inaugurated the UGC sponsored national workshop on "Research Methodology and Preparation of Proposal" organized by Govt. Hrangbana College, Aizawl in collaboration with Department of Education, Mizoram University.

Speaking at the function Pu Lalsawta said that the sole purpose of research is not to add prefix or suffix to one's name, but to learn and impart knowledge which is indispensible for Mizoram.

Saying that there is a vast difference between literacy and education, he expressed the Govt's desire to improve education right from the primary level to the top level in the University.

He said that in order to gain quality education, Mizoram must welcome experts from within and outside the state irrespective of which state they belong to or which language they speak.

The inauguration function was presided over by Pu K. Liantuala, Principal Hrangbana College and Prof. R.P.Vadhera, Dean, School of Education & Humanities, Mizoram University gave the keynote address.

Director of Higher and Technical Education, Professors, Asst. Professors, Research Scholars and students were present at the inauguration of this workshop which will last for three days.

Read full history - Mizoram Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop

Mizoram Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop

Aizawl, Jun 10 : Pu Lalsawta, Higher and Technical Education Minister today inaugurated the UGC sponsored national workshop on "Research Methodology and Preparation of Proposal" organized by Govt. Hrangbana College, Aizawl in collaboration with Department of Education, Mizoram University.

Speaking at the function Pu Lalsawta said that the sole purpose of research is not to add prefix or suffix to one's name, but to learn and impart knowledge which is indispensible for Mizoram.

Saying that there is a vast difference between literacy and education, he expressed the Govt's desire to improve education right from the primary level to the top level in the University.

He said that in order to gain quality education, Mizoram must welcome experts from within and outside the state irrespective of which state they belong to or which language they speak.

The inauguration function was presided over by Pu K. Liantuala, Principal Hrangbana College and Prof. R.P.Vadhera, Dean, School of Education & Humanities, Mizoram University gave the keynote address.

Director of Higher and Technical Education, Professors, Asst. Professors, Research Scholars and students were present at the inauguration of this workshop which will last for three days.

Read full history - Mizoram Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop

College Students to Get Free Access to E-Books

New Delhi, Jun 9 : College students across India will now get free access to e-journals and e-books from all over the world with the human resource development ministry subscribing to them.

Over 2,000 journals have been subscribed to by the ministry under the project titled N-List (National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content). These will be provided to students in various colleges free of cost.

'It is a part of the ICT (information and communication technology) initiatives of the government. The resources include more than 2,100 e-journals and 51,000 e-books,' a ministry official told IANS.

The scheme covers premier technical institutions like IITs, IISc, IISERs and NITs along with 6,000 government and government aided colleges across the country. Private institutions are also eligible for membership on the payment of a fee.

'We have already covered over 1,200 colleges across the country. They have been given the logins and passwords,' the official said.

Government colleges have to pay Rs.5,000 as annual membership fee while private colleges will have to pay an annual subscription of Rs.46,000. The facility will, however, be free for the students.

'For the colleges getting financial aid from the UGC, the expenditure will be met by the HRD ministry,' the official said.

The e-resources include publications from American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, Annual Reviews, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Royal Society of Chemistry and Tata McGraw Hill, along with major Indian journals and publications.

Read full history - College Students to Get Free Access to E-Books

College Students to Get Free Access to E-Books

New Delhi, Jun 9 : College students across India will now get free access to e-journals and e-books from all over the world with the human resource development ministry subscribing to them.

Over 2,000 journals have been subscribed to by the ministry under the project titled N-List (National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content). These will be provided to students in various colleges free of cost.

'It is a part of the ICT (information and communication technology) initiatives of the government. The resources include more than 2,100 e-journals and 51,000 e-books,' a ministry official told IANS.

The scheme covers premier technical institutions like IITs, IISc, IISERs and NITs along with 6,000 government and government aided colleges across the country. Private institutions are also eligible for membership on the payment of a fee.

'We have already covered over 1,200 colleges across the country. They have been given the logins and passwords,' the official said.

Government colleges have to pay Rs.5,000 as annual membership fee while private colleges will have to pay an annual subscription of Rs.46,000. The facility will, however, be free for the students.

'For the colleges getting financial aid from the UGC, the expenditure will be met by the HRD ministry,' the official said.

The e-resources include publications from American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, Annual Reviews, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Royal Society of Chemistry and Tata McGraw Hill, along with major Indian journals and publications.

Read full history - College Students to Get Free Access to E-Books

Success Without a Degree

For the average person, a college degree is a career essential, but some of the world's most famous, rich and powerful people, from TV chefs and fashion designers to presidents and comedians, attained great success without one. Let's see who took a pass on the sheepskin.

Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray is one of the most recognizable names in TV's food court, yet she never received any formal training. While working at a shop in Albany, New York, in her twenties, she gave cooking lessons that eventually landed her the Food Network show "30-Minute Meals" in 2001. Today, she has several cooking shows, a daytime talk show and her own magazine.

Simon Cowell

"American Idol" judge and British music executive Simon Cowell earns an estimated $36 million per season (how much per minute?). Not bad for dropping out of college.

Coco Chanel

Known for her menswear-inspired designs and a signature look still popular today, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel created a fashion empire despite never obtaining a college degree.

Michael J. Fox

"Back to the Future" star and Parkinson's disease advocate Michael J. Fox didn't even make it through high school. He dropped out at age 18 and moved from Vancouver, Canada, to Los Angeles to focus on his acting career.

Walt Disney

At age 16, Walt Disney, screenwriter, animator and media mogul, dropped out of high school to join the army but was rejected because of his young age. After several attempts to become a newspaper cartoonist, he finally got it right when he co-founded Walt Disney Productions and created some of the world's most recognized characters in pop culture.

Tracy Morgan

Comedian and "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan, who married his high school sweetheart (since separated), dropped out of high school but went on to enjoy seven seasons on "Saturday Night Live" and has starred in several new movies.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is the CEO and co-founder of Apple, and even though he dropped out of Reed College after just six months, his net worth is estimated at $5.5 billion.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Not having a college degree hasn't stopped three-time Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio from becoming a Hollywood icon and donating some of his earnings to worthy causes.

Kate Winslet

Though the Oscar-winner attended a performing arts high school in England where she received professional training, Kate Winslet never went to college.

Helen Mirren

A celebrated actress and sex symbol, Helen Mirren enrolled in a teachers college at her parents' request, but her time there was brief after her successful audition at North London's National Youth Theatre.

Henry Ford

Founder of Ford Motor Company in 1903, Henry Ford experimented with mechanics in his youth at a Detroit machine shop, but he never made it to college. He is credited with establishing the modern-day assembly line.

Katherine McPhee

Katharine McPhee, singer and "American Idol" runner-up in Season 5, attended the Boston Conservatory for three semesters majoring in musical theater before dropping out on the advice of her manager to pursue a TV career.

Bill Gates

Microsoft visionary and co-founder Bill Gates is a Harvard University dropout but is one of the richest and most successful people in the world. Forbes estimates his net worth at $53 billion and climbing.

Drew Barrymore

Born into a famous family, successful actress and producer Drew Barrymore never completed high school.

President Harry S. Truman

The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman is one of the few presidents who did not attend college.

Jim Carrey

Funnyman and successful actor Jim Carrey hasn't needed a degree of any kind to help him rise to the top in Hollywood.

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder of the social networking giant Facebook, now-26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg left Harvard after starting the site in his dorm room in 2004. Forbes estimated his net worth in 2008 to be $1.5 billion (photos).

Read full history - Success Without a Degree

Success Without a Degree

For the average person, a college degree is a career essential, but some of the world's most famous, rich and powerful people, from TV chefs and fashion designers to presidents and comedians, attained great success without one. Let's see who took a pass on the sheepskin.

Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray is one of the most recognizable names in TV's food court, yet she never received any formal training. While working at a shop in Albany, New York, in her twenties, she gave cooking lessons that eventually landed her the Food Network show "30-Minute Meals" in 2001. Today, she has several cooking shows, a daytime talk show and her own magazine.

Simon Cowell

"American Idol" judge and British music executive Simon Cowell earns an estimated $36 million per season (how much per minute?). Not bad for dropping out of college.

Coco Chanel

Known for her menswear-inspired designs and a signature look still popular today, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel created a fashion empire despite never obtaining a college degree.

Michael J. Fox

"Back to the Future" star and Parkinson's disease advocate Michael J. Fox didn't even make it through high school. He dropped out at age 18 and moved from Vancouver, Canada, to Los Angeles to focus on his acting career.

Walt Disney

At age 16, Walt Disney, screenwriter, animator and media mogul, dropped out of high school to join the army but was rejected because of his young age. After several attempts to become a newspaper cartoonist, he finally got it right when he co-founded Walt Disney Productions and created some of the world's most recognized characters in pop culture.

Tracy Morgan

Comedian and "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan, who married his high school sweetheart (since separated), dropped out of high school but went on to enjoy seven seasons on "Saturday Night Live" and has starred in several new movies.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is the CEO and co-founder of Apple, and even though he dropped out of Reed College after just six months, his net worth is estimated at $5.5 billion.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Not having a college degree hasn't stopped three-time Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio from becoming a Hollywood icon and donating some of his earnings to worthy causes.

Kate Winslet

Though the Oscar-winner attended a performing arts high school in England where she received professional training, Kate Winslet never went to college.

Helen Mirren

A celebrated actress and sex symbol, Helen Mirren enrolled in a teachers college at her parents' request, but her time there was brief after her successful audition at North London's National Youth Theatre.

Henry Ford

Founder of Ford Motor Company in 1903, Henry Ford experimented with mechanics in his youth at a Detroit machine shop, but he never made it to college. He is credited with establishing the modern-day assembly line.

Katherine McPhee

Katharine McPhee, singer and "American Idol" runner-up in Season 5, attended the Boston Conservatory for three semesters majoring in musical theater before dropping out on the advice of her manager to pursue a TV career.

Bill Gates

Microsoft visionary and co-founder Bill Gates is a Harvard University dropout but is one of the richest and most successful people in the world. Forbes estimates his net worth at $53 billion and climbing.

Drew Barrymore

Born into a famous family, successful actress and producer Drew Barrymore never completed high school.

President Harry S. Truman

The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman is one of the few presidents who did not attend college.

Jim Carrey

Funnyman and successful actor Jim Carrey hasn't needed a degree of any kind to help him rise to the top in Hollywood.

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder of the social networking giant Facebook, now-26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg left Harvard after starting the site in his dorm room in 2004. Forbes estimated his net worth in 2008 to be $1.5 billion (photos).

Read full history - Success Without a Degree