Have you ever sat in class wondering if you were ever going anywhere in life? Maybe you also thought what you once loved as a major, wasn’t the right fit after you started classes for a potential career.
Here is a little hope for you because chances are your favorite celebrity once had a dream in a total different direction too. Here is a list of A-listers who received degrees and some who didn’t make it through:
- Adam Sandler: We all know him as a comedian, actor and movie producer, but did you know he graduated from New York University with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts?
- Carrie Underwood: The talented country singer who won American Idol had different plans back in the day—she graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.
- Conan O’Brien: Before he marked television with his wacky red hair-do as a late night talk host, he was interested in a totally different field. Conan graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor’s in American History.
- David Spade: That’s right, Joe Dirt, himself, has a college history that marks him far off the lines of playing in movies with Adam Sandler or on Saturday Night Live. Spade graduated from Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business.
- James Franco: It’s true, the actor no one can take seriously in the movies actually has an education in English. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
- John Legend: Before this Grammy winner was pouring his heart out to wife Chrissy Teigen with “All of Me,” he attended the University of Pennsylvania graduating with a Bachelor’s in English.
- Lisa Kudrow: Way before she was Phoebe on Friends, Lisa graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Phoebe was always smart in her own way.
- Will Ferrell: The comedian that most can’t take seriously had a serious past. Ferrell graduated from University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s in Sports Broadcasting. I guess the Anchorman wasn’t as much of a joke to him.
- Natalie Portman: Before she was getting swept away by Thor, or before she was a queen and senator in Star Wars, or dancing as a Black Swan, she graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology.
- David Duchovny: The well-known FBI agent Mulder himself went to college for a completely different reason than acting. Back in the day, David graduated from Princeton University and Yale University getting a Masters degree in English Literature.
Now, I also know what some of you are thinking: that is fearing not passing classes and failing, but don’t worry there is also celebrities just like you. Just because you fail college or drop out does not make you a loser.
- Ashton Kutcher: Kutcher has a twin brother, who was born with a horrible sickness. He went to Iowa University for Biochemistry Engineering to help his brother, but quit when he discovered there was no fix.
- Brad Pitt: Brad had a passion for writing and attended the University of Missouri for Journalism, but dropped out two weeks before graduation. It is unclear why, but maybe he knew he wasn’t going to pass the class.
- Courtney Cox: Before becoming great friends with Lisa Kudrow on Friends, she attended Mount Vernon for Interior Design and Architecture, but dropped out for acting.
- George Clooney: Back in the day, Clooney was close in our home stomping grounds going to both Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati for Journalism, but also dropped out.
Emily Culbertson
Reporter