The Secret Behind Worthless Degree VS Successful Degree

Writer: Exponect.com Team

Introduction:

I’ll be honest—I was once the loudest person in the room telling everyone that degrees are a total scam. Looking back at the system, with all that mind-numbing rote learning and the constant pressure to "memorize and repeat," I decided I couldn't survive within those four walls of the university. I chose to quit my MS Computer Science degree because I was convinced that piece of paper was worthless in the real world. I simply could not understand the Secret behind this unfolded secret. I watched debates on social media about "worthless" vs. "successful" degrees, but I hardly understood the truth until a strange online incident changed my life.

I was wrong.

Then, an incident occurred that completely shifted the trajectory of my academic journey. I had always heard the famous success stories of non-degree holders like Malik Riaz in Pakistan, or iconic tech dropouts like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates in the USA. But I realized those were exceptional cases. Not everyone can replicate that kind of success just by quitting. Those individuals worked incredibly hard and had unique circumstances; their stories weren't necessarily a roadmap for the rest of us.

One day, while sitting in front of my computer, I opened Gemini to check some text for AI detection using ZeroGPT. On a whim, I prompted Gemini: "Who is the owner of ZeroGPT?" My research led me to Rawad Baroud, the founder of ZeroGPT. At that moment, the reality behind the degree hit me. I use his tool every day to navigate the world of blogging, but finding out he is a PhD holder hit me like a ton of bricks. I had assumed he would be a dropout as well, but his academic background made me stop and wonder: If degrees are so "worthless," then why is the person who built this massive AI empire a Doctor of Science in Technology?

My Struggle: The Reality Check

After I left my studies, I set a massive goal: I wanted to become one of the most successful bloggers in the world. I thought blogging would be easier than a degree. I was wrong again.

Let me tell you the truth: Becoming a successful blogger is actually harder than getting a degree. In a university, at least someone tells you what to study. In blogging, the algorithms change every day, the competition is global, and there is no roadmap. I started to repent my decision to quit because I realized that while I hated "rote learning," I also missed out on the deep, disciplined expertise that people like Rawad used to build their success. The hidden secret of the "worthless degree" vs. the "successful degree" was finally exposed to me.

What I Realized About Success

Looking at how a PhD led to success for Rawad, I’ve identified three things I want you to think about:

Expertise is a Weapon:

Rawad’s degree wasn't just a title; it gave him the technical "know-how" to build an AI detector that actually works. He had the "fuel" for his ideas.

Problem Solving:

Higher education forces you to solve problems that don't have answers yet. That’s exactly what I have to do every day with my blog.

Authority:

When you have that high-level qualification, people trust you instantly. In fields like AI or Cybersecurity, that credibility is worth more than gold.

The "Hammer" Analogy

I’ve realized that a degree is like a hammer. If you just hang it on your wall and wait for a job to fall into your lap, it’s worthless. It’s just a heavy piece of wood and metal.

But if you pick up that hammer and use it to build a "house"—like a company or a world-class blog—it becomes the most valuable tool you have. The successful people aren't the ones with the most degrees; they are the ones who use their education as fuel for their own ideas, not just a ticket to an office job.

My Advice to You

I have left my MS Computer Science degree, but I did not stop learning. I believe in a lifelong learning process. Since leaving university, I have learned new things every day—sometimes every week.

If you feel like your degree is "unproductive," don't just throw the hammer away. Instead, take the discipline you learned in the classroom and apply it to your passion. When you enter the job market, employers will ask about your qualifications first, and then your skills. If you don't have the required education, you will become invisible in the market and miss out on becoming a highly-paid employee.

I am now taking the rigor I should have used in my MS and putting it into my blogging. It’s a difficult path, but I’ve learned that whether you have a PhD or a blog, the only way to win is to become a "world-class expert" in what you do.

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