It depends on the career you want to pursue. If you want to be a successful athlete (like Manny Pacquaio) then having a college degree is not important since being a successful athlete requires training, physical strength, agility, or whatsoever the sport requires. Same thing goes when you want to be an actor or actress or a fashion model where looks, body proportions, face, training, etc are of great importance but not academic achievements. But if you plan to be in the corporate world, then that's where the importance of having a college degree comes in.