Charles Zhang, the founder of Sohu.com and a big name in China’s early internet boom, has some blunt advice for students: Hold off on grad school and startup dreams. Instead, he says, get real-world experience by working for someone else first. He’s speaking from personal experience—his own advanced degree didn’t do much for him when he launched his company. The comments came during a weekend chat with Hurun Report’s chairman, adding weight to a growing debate about the value of higher education versus hands-on learning in China’s competitive tech scene.

Editor’s Note: Zhang’s take taps into a broader global conversation about whether formal education always pays off, especially in fast-moving fields like tech. For young Chinese students facing sky-high youth unemployment and pressure to chase prestige degrees or entrepreneurial glory, his advice might feel countercultural—but also pragmatic. It’s not a dismissal of education or ambition, just a reminder that sometimes the best lessons happen outside the classroom (or startup garage).