The son of a friend just dropped out of college to join a professional e-game team.

[Midnight Writer]

She is a bit upset. She has never heard of such a thing.

I told her if you are good and have a good team, you can make major bank from this, with sponsorships and the whole works, similar to a professional athlete.

Am I wrong?

At any rate, he said he will play for two years, and if it doesn't pan out, he will go back and finish college.

[Lochloosa]

1. Show her this.

Professional esports gamers can earn anywhere from $12,000 to $187,200 per year, excluding extra sponsorships and bonuses. Until now, more than 138 professional gamers earned more than $1 million, with N0tail leading the pack with more than $7 million in earnings.

[Axelrods_Typewriter]

2. If it pans out, great!

If not, more and more students are taking time off mid-degree nowadays, for money or health or other reasons, so if the college is worth going to it will definitely have procedures in place to get him back on campus and in the groove again.

(And at least he's not destroying his joints, breaking bones, tearing tendons, or getting CTE like with physical sports)

[Renew Deal]

3. What game?

Gaming isn't a great long term career, with many of them retiring from professional competition by 30. But there is money to be made playing competitively, streaming, coaching, etc.

[mike_c]

4. I dropped out for a whole lot less, back in the day.

It didn't take, the first time.

[fierywoman]

5. One of my students (viola) was head-hunted by a rather good college to

be on their gaming team...

[Mopar151]

6. IF he uses the opportunity well, it won't ding his resume.

Real world experience, the ability to deal with travel and chaos while competing, manage an expense account, deal with sponsors, reps, and publicty......

Do that well, and whatever "real job" awaits can "use him good"