Early Education and Academic Achievements
Elon Musk, the iconic industrialist and innovator, is well known for founding several industries and modernizing traditional ones. But before he went on to shape the world, Musk had a start as a student striving to excel academically.
Musk’s academic journey began when he was accepted into the highly prestigious Waterkloof House Preparatory School in Johannesburg, South Africa at the tender age of nine. After remarkable performances, school officials requested that he enrol in a secondary school two years ahead of his actual grade. Musk proceeded to attend Pretoria Boys High School and is said to have been a model student there.
In 1989, between his third and fourth year of high school, Musk was accepted into the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where he completed the majority of his pre-university studies. Musk went on to matriculate an impressive 87.9% in the final examinations, receiving the highest score in the majority of the recorded courses.
In 1992, at the age of 17, Musk moved to Canada to study at Queen’s University, Kingston. Musk excelled academically in university and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, Summa Cum Laude, in 1995 before moving to the United States.
Musk has said that his GPA at Queen’s University was approximately 6.9/4.0 which, according to the former Dean of Admissions at Queen’s University, indicates a position amongst the top 5 % of the incoming students – an extraordinary achievement.
Impenetrable Work Ethic
Musk reportedly showed an impenetrable work ethic towards his studies, many challenges. Musk has spoken of the importance of perseverance, recalling how he was under constant pressure but didn’t give up and kept trying. This hardworking attitude was developed and honed during his time in university.
Musk was also described as an intellectual, passionate and artistic person by acquaintances. He worked during night shifts at CGE Bridge Simulation, the first registered company in Canada, and during his leisure, made playing games of Go, Chess and squash a habit which enhanced his problem-solving abilities.
Apart from the intense academic schedule, Musk was a team member of the University Solar Vehicle Project, the first of its kind in Canada. The project ran under the guidance of two faculty members in the electrical and computing department and Musk was part of the small four-person team that built and designed the car.
Musk has reportedly credited the endeavors he took while in university and the team-based projects he was part of in helping him later build and design some of the most powerful rockets and other inventions.
Forging The Path Ahead
The degrees which Musk obtained while in university enabled him to undertake the courses he was interested in and thus, increase his probability of succeeding no matter what. Musk has stated the importance of having backup plans, the value of hard work and the privileges of having a great university education in a highly competitive world.
But Musk’s university education did not limit him to only a career in academia as he continuous to be a major disrupter. Musk is also an active philanthropist and dedicates a large portion of his time and wealth to education initiatives, renewable energy and the development of electric vehicles. As the head of multiple companies, Musk is a role model for overcoming obstacles both academic and professional.
Resourceful Learning Tactics
When asked during an online Q&A session, Musk shared details of the methods he used to memorize facts and data. One technique which Musk made use of was the outline method which he said “worked very well” – compiling larger chunks of information into sub-lists and using visuals whenever possible.
Musk has also been quoted saying that he believes that the best way to understand a subject is to read it multiple times. Musk has once again credited his preparation and was quoted saying, “I strongly believe that an excessive amount of work done early on is of great value in sheer knowledge and understanding later.”
Elon Musk’s university years are characterized by a plethora of accomplishments as well as limitless curiosity and hard work, both of which he has said contributed to his success.
Innovative Thinking and Global Perspectives
During his senior year in college, Musk was able to apply his knowledge of physics while also flexing his innovative muscles. In this period of time, Musk developed a basic framework for Hyperloop and a liquid-oxygen rocket engine to power interplanetary spacecraft.
Inspired by global visionaries and his own interests, Musk desired to design a mode of transportation which would be able to take passengers from the USA to China in a matter of hours. This ambition materialized in the form of an idea for a supersonic vacuum tube, later to be known as Hyperloop.
The idea was visionary even from Musk’s own perspective and he has expressed that, at the time he thought of the idea, he wasn’t entirely sure it was doable. Proposed in a 27-page document, the Hyperloop goes to show how much the visionary builds on futuristic ideas and the feasibility of such projects.
Tempering Intuition With Calculations
Musk’s work methodologies and practical decisions are based on a combination of intuition and extensive calculations. He is a big believer in using both backbone and back of the envelope calculations to ensure the correctness of a product before any kind of manufacture. Such an approach is said to save an excess of time and resources in the development process.
What enabled Musk to follow a development pattern tailed to intuition and calculations is his all-roundedness prior to starting his entrepreneurial journey. Musk had to use the wealth of knowledge he acquired during his course of study in a practical way to develop the inventions he has today.
Financial Knowledge For Successful Ventures
Apart from the studies Musk undertook within his respective university departments, he is said to have been self instructed and would often spend hours within the library reading professional and academic papers to rake in knowledge of economics, finance and other subjects.
Musk has said that he also read reports on spacecrafts and many other related material which gave him the know-how and budgeting tactics that was needed to build the vehicles used in space exploration today.
The works Musk read during his undergraduate years are said to have laid the foundations for him to gain financial and investment knowledge which ultimately enabled his ventures’ success.
Importance of Lifetime Learning
Musk has made a point of eagerness when it comes to learning. During lectures, he reportedly raised questions and showed a sincere interest in university-related subjects. Musk is said to attend lectures and classes even today in order to learn new things and stay up to date with the new technologies.
He is said to have made a personal commitment to read as much material and attend various courses as possible in order to understand more topics and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape.
A former professor at the University of Pennsylvania has commented that Musk is a true example of someone who has taken his studies beyond the classroom. Musk is said to be a living example of how lifelong learning and exploration can lead to remarkable accomplishments.
Making Your Education Count
Musk has inspired others to think outside of the box and aim higher, not just in the academic sense, but at all aspect of life. He has clearly demonstrated that a great university education does not dictate what you become in life but rather, serves as a stepping stone towards success. Musk’s life serves as an illustration of the importance of forward thinking and an open point of view.
Ultimately, when it comes to academic achievements, the late Hardvard professor of business Theodore Levitt has fondly said, “Your GPA is not your fate.” The trajectory of Musk’s successes has illustrated that obtaining a good GPA is certainly beneficial but it is never the be-all and end-all.
Balancing Priorities and Goals
Musk has often said that achieving the balance between the tasks he has to complete and the goals he wants to reach is something that he works on every day. Quoting his exact words, Musk has said, “I was really happy to make time to go to school, but I was equally happy to pursue my goals.” This mindset is a driving force for Musk when it comes to his responsibilities as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a father.
The renowned inventor is known to use an efficient approach to staying productive and one of the techniques is taking part in what he calls “forcing functions”. A forcing function is a task which Musk imposes on the team or himself, the end goal being to complete that specific task in order to move forward in some form or another.
The combination of a university education which Musk has nurtured and a personal set of forcing functions enabled him to carve a milestone-filled career and obtain a daily balance of achieved goals.
Shifting Attitudes Towards Education
Musk has inspired hundreds of thousands to pursue their goals and believe in their collective capabilities. By curating a culture of changing attitudes towards education in general, Musk believes that “education is the path to true freedom.”
Musk previously enrolled at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1995 but dropped out to pursue his entrepreneurial goals which he sees as a unique form of education in itself. He has spoken of the benefits of traditional education as well as self learning, stressing that both are key for success.
At a talk at the World Technology Network Summit, Musk reportedly said that he encourages others to pursue their passions and interests, regardless of the environment or situation. He has repeatedly urged students to strike a good balance between their academic commitments and the way their interests line up with the rest of the world.
