Hunter S. Thompson?

Question

Did he ever attend college?
Everywhere I look, it seems like he got out of high school, went into the Air Force, and then got a job as an editor. Isn't that a very rare occurence, for a person who is not college-educated?

Answer 1

I am not sure about Hunter S Thompson's education, but as someone with a BA in English and an MA in Humanities, I know that most people are hired as editors based entirely on their work. Your education benefits you and helps you develop your abilities, but it does not guarantee success or talent. Employers in the world of publishing know this, and they generally require samples of your work along with your resume and cover letter.

Nonetheless, it is doubtful in today's job market that someone without a degree in writing (journalism, English, rhetoric, communications) would be hired as an editor. In order to compensate for a lack of a degree, one would have to be an established writer with excellent work samples and great references.