11 Celebs Who Dropped Out And 11 Who Have Multiple Degrees
I was today years old when I found out Jake Gyllenhaal dropped out of Columbia.
1.
Brad Pitt was studying to become a journalist at the University of Missouri but dropped out TWO WEEKS before graduation.
Pool / Getty Images
Brad explained, “It just came to the time of graduation and everyone — all my friends were committing to jobs — and I just realized I was not ready for that yet. I packed up my car. I didn’t graduate — I had two weeks left — and I moved out to LA.”
He decided not to finish the two weeks because “I just felt I was done; I was done with it. I knew where I wanted to go. I had a direction. I always liked those moments of epiphany when you have the next destination.”
2.
Shaquille O’Neal has a BA in general studies from Louisiana University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a doctorate in education from Barry University.
Gerardo Mora / Getty Images
Originally, Shaq left Louisiana University to play in the NBA but said he returned because, “One, I promised my parents I would [follow my passion for education]. Two, I wanted to continue my education, and three, I wanted to challenge myself.”
3.
Mila Kunis attended UCLA shortly, transferred to Loyola Marymount University, and then dropped out.
Gotham / GC Images / Getty Images
Mila was already a series regular on both That ’70s Show and Family Guy during her time in college. She said, “I went to college because I felt like I was supposed to. I graduated from public high school and I did all the things that I was supposed to do.”
She added, “I didn’t fail out. I dropped out. I did not fail. I was actually a pretty good student. My problem was that I didn’t know what I wanted to study. What was I going to go in? Undecided? I took a class on Zionist theory. I took classes that interested me, that weren’t necessarily for a specific degree. Then I realized and spoke to my parents and I said, ‘I do love what I do and I want to pursue it.’ They were like, ‘Oh, why don’t you just drop out?'”
4.
Ken Jeong has a BS from Duke University and got his M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine.
Fox / FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
Ken practiced medicine for multiple years while performing stand-up at comedy clubs when he wasn’t working. After his role in Knocked Up, he was able to transition to being a full-time entertainer.
5.
Kristen Bell attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to study musical theater but dropped out a few credits short of her degree to take a role in the Broadway musical version of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Phillip Faraone / FilmMagic / Getty Images
…
Read More: 11 Celebs Who Dropped Out And 11 Who Have Multiple Degrees