Elvis and College

[shelley.m.]

Had given a chance,do you think Elvis would have furthered his education? I read in the book:Elvis His Life from A to Z,that Elvis tried to enroll at UCLA at one point in time.

[Unchained Melody]

No I don't think he would have.

[shelley.m.]

I don't know about that,Brad.What about night school? Elvis mentioned a number of times,that he would have like to have gone to College.

[Dino78]

I don't know if he would have. I think in the beginning it was a question of money and after entering the music scene there was no need.
Try to imagine, Elvis back in '56 after "Heartbreak Hotel" going to college. Would have been a nice scenery.

[SleepyJack]

I seriously doubt it...I think Elvis was just relieved to get out of high school...don`t think he thought much about college.

[KPM]

I think perhaps if he had not become the biggest star in the world-he might have liked to further his education-but with the financial situation of his family it was not possible. After he became the biggest star in the world, the incentive for further formal education was gone-he and his family were secure and the need to cram for tests, do homework, and long term papers was not high on his lists of "unwinding"
But I think he did have a drive to learn about things, especially things he had a natural interest in-so he read on his own.

[Raised on Rock]

Had given a chance,do you think Elvis would have furthered his education? I read in the book:Elvis His Life from A to Z,that Elvis tried to enroll at UCLA at one point in time.

This was around 1961, Elvis was considering ways to improve his acting skills by enrolling into drama school.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

As has already been mentioned, once Elvis had earned enough money to be financially stable the need to prove himself would have dissipated. I personally believe you can be educated without having to have a certificate prove it.

[Sonny]

I like to believe that he anyway knew a great deal more about certain subjects, f.i. history, philosophy (spelling lol), and about things abroad, Europe for instance, then most did in his time.

[Diane]

I agree Rene and also as Matt said, with the fame and fortune he achieved he really didn't need a college education and besides, after making the movies and being back on stage, where would he have had the time for a night course or whatever and do you think he could have gotten some "quiet time" to study?

Diane

[Getlo]

Not a chance. Once he was done with high school, he was outta there with no intention of more formal education.

He did mention college in an interview or two, but this is likely him just being polite and maybe talking himself up slightly.

Elvis was no scholar, and he knew it.

Life beckoned in June of '53 ... why waste more time in the hallowed halls of education?

[Albert]

i don't agree with that. I really believe that Elvis lack of education made him insecure (yes, we can't imagine being insecure) and little comfortable among 'educated' people.

His life would have been very different if, instead of fooling around with the boys, he actually did follow some drama lessons in the early 60s. It would not only improved him as an actor, but give him that personal growth that he was looking for during the late 60s and 70s

[hounddog]

I've also thought it was rather strange that people think of Elvis as uneducated he did graduate high school. Maybe that was common in America for that era but it sure wasn't in Australia both my parents left in year 9 at age 15 years 9 months.

Personally i think Elvis educated himself on various topics by the books he read. I think he was a very intelligent man. And who knows maybe he would have done college if he hadn't done singing.

[SleepyJack]

I think it was always about the music with Elvis...had he not found himself on the road to stardom then I reckon he would have followed the gospel music path....I don`t think he had any academic ambitions. I agree with the point that was made about how insecure his lack of education made him feel at times...and that studying something,acting or otherwise,would have made him a much stronger individual and better able to handle his life and career.

[Unchained Melody]

I believe Elvis was a very intelligent man, just look at all the different types of books he would read into..I think that taught him so much, he had an understanding on so many different things in the world..I don't think he would've ever gone to college though...he loved show buiz to much, and how would he have found the time to take courses with the lifestyle he had.

[presley31]

i don't agree with that. I really believe that Elvis lack of education made him insecure (yes, we can't imagine being insecure) and little comfortable among 'educated' people.

His life would have been very different if, instead of fooling around with the boys, he actually did follow some drama lessons in the early 60s. It would not only improved him as an actor, but give him that personal growth that he was looking for during the late 60s and 70s

Good post Albert and l agree(y)

[dstrattenfan]

I agree that he was insecure about his education. I just don't think he would have been able to focus or study in the traditional sense. I think he studied at home or on the road comfortably..I think a classroom would have been a destruction to him..I have that trouble myself. I study better on my own with no distractions, and no one looking over my shoulder. I don't feel like I have to prove anything, but in class I always felt that I had.

[shelley.m.]

Didn't Elvis,himself say that he would have liked to have gone to college? I have read in the book:Elvis His Life From A to Z that he tried to enroll at UCLA by was turned down by school officials.They thought that his presence would have been disruptive.Never know.I guess if Pat Boone could have done it,so could Elvis.

[Wendy56]

He could have done a great effort in College. I know is difficult to study, but he had so many skills. (y) :clap:

[shelley.m.]

Elvis was thirsty for knowledge.I'm sure he would have done great in college.

[WaterMermaid]

I'm sure he would have done great in college too.(y) I think once you get out of high school if you are hesitant about college all you need is a little push!:clap: