"I was good in school, but it was never really something I enjoyed," she says. "I was happiest at work."

With help from her folks, Quinlan's skipped higher education and went straight into the workforce. Earlier this year, she opened the first Executive Tans franchise in Florida and has since amassed roughly 1,000 clients.

The entrepreneur, only 19 years old, is now shopping for her first home and planning for her second tanning business. Quinlan believes she will never need a college degree.

"I'm pretty successful right now," she says. "I almost feel like I cheated."

Count this businesswoman among the ranks of recent high school graduates for whom college is not an ideal option. Although career counselors underscore that higher education is key for financial independence, many concede that some teenagers, particularly those who are less focused and mature than Quinlan save time and money by plunging into life instead of heading straight to campus.

College isn't for everyone, after all. Literary giants such as Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou and Charles Bukowski all blossomed in the school of hard knocks instead of the traditional textbook setting. And, according to a survey by the Princeton Review, 55 percent of students who take time off later receive better grades in college.

"I wanted to be an actress in high school," says Wyoming author Internet entrepreneur Aliza Sherman. "I was actually invited to do a screen test in Hollywood, but my parents wouldn't let me. They were so concerned I would leave school and never go back."

Instead of pursuing the dream, Sherman spent four years at three different universities and never graduated. Several thousand dollars later, her parents "freaked out" when their Renaissance child left school, started working and eventually launched one of the web's first commercial sited geared toward women. www.cybergirl.com. Along the way, Sherman managed two high-pro file rock bands and toured the country alone in an RV.

"I'm not an advocate of laziness or avoiding responsibility," says the author of five business strategy books. "But I am an advocate of taking an alternative path if it gets you to the place you want to be."

Seppy Bashi, author of "The Unofficial, Unbiased Insider's Guide to the 328 Most Interesting College," agrees. He is a fan of British "gap year" and the Australian "walkabout" where youngsters dedicate time away from college to travel hand-on learning or volunteer work.

"A lot of kids lack the maturity and self-assure for college." says Basili, a vice president at Kaplan the education and career training company.

Shy, extroverted teen of those who are intrigued by skilled fields such as mechanics or the visual arts, especially benefit from spending time getting to know themselves as opposed to college. Basili says The key is to plan how to spend that time. "If you have a year that's not structured, it can be disaster," he says.

A little research will uncover dozens of options for people who aren't ready for college. Here are just a few:

Apprenticeships:

Technical fields such as pipe mechanics, metal work, auto repair and even moviemaking are all reporting an increased need for skilled, not necessarily schooled, workers. Many promote multi-year, on-the-job study programs.

Internships:

Youngsters shouldn't be afraid of approaching professionals with careers that interest them and asking what it takes to get there. Working side-by side with talented people will enlighten teen about whether they're on the right track.

Work, work, work:

Whether at a restaurant, ski lift, coffee shop, movie house or shopping mall, it matters little what type of job someone takes during their first full-time work experience. Any job can teach business survival and interpersonal skills.

Adventures Abroad:

Most academics agree that "getting out of Dodge" is one of the best ways to learn. Someone who's searching for sense of self might try living in a new place, perhaps with a faraway relative. Or, dive into the global classroom through program offered by the links of the National Outdoor Leadership School (www.nots.edu), Global Volunteers (www.globalvolunteers.org), Action Without Borders (www.idealist.org), or perhaps the London Pub Connection (303.337.2577), which places 20-something in British restaurants where they learn the workings of the business.

Volunteer:

While worthy causes like Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) teach responsibility and empathy, smaller, local agencies such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices adore eager young workers. Devoting time to selfless endeavors will teach innumerable lifelong lessons.