It's not about not deserving a chance, but being realistic. Companies will mainly choose a person with a degree over a person with no degree (unless, as i've already pointed out, you are an exceptional talent or marketing genius), and yes, that also means favouring someone with a degree over someone without a degree for ''a little look into the industry FREE OF CHARGE''.

Even with a degree and working experience, many designers who are ''ambitious, determined and creative'' take on jobs for that working experience with no pay.

Do you not have the ''means to go to University and (you) come from a not so handsome lifestyle'' ? Are there not exceptions to the rule at the universities in your country ? If you are an exceptional talent, there are almost always exceptions to the rules to make it possible for an exceptional talent to study etc.

Look seriously Pony you are right, no offence but at 17 you are very excited but know very little about the ways of the world. Five years ago you were 12. Thats why you won't be taken seriously, and to be honest if you can't see why then you are even more optimistic than you seem. Go to college and then if you are good drop out, that seems to go down well (did with me).

hedi slimane didn´t do any college did he?

Looks like he studied art history and learning years (what is the English word ?) at a menswear company.

Troubled Soul,
The other thing to remember is that a lot of the people who are now holding the reins were once in your (friends) position and they themselves had to climb up through all the crap on the way to the top. These people are of the opinion that, if they had to do it, so do you. It bites the big one but that is the industry. There are very few instant success stories, and even those are usually flash-in-the-pan. It is a chicken and egg scenario - how do I get in to college without experience - how do I get experience without first having a qualification? Build a solid folio - even without training, raw talent will shine through.

youth is arrogant.
at 17 you don't know enough to know what you don't know.
at 17 you still think everyone's an idiot and that you've got it all figured out.

with that said, even if your a prodigy, you have to be patient and grow into your adult mind for a few more years....experience life and start to figure out how things really work. if you are a great creative you have nothing to worry about and decades of success ahead.

the creative part may already be there, but look back 10 years down the road.....it's obvious what you've learned. most don't even come into their own until they're in there 30's.

Exactly, christ people still think I'm too young so I can't even begin to contemplate working as a 17 year old in this industry. Go to college and then travel to somewhere weird then at least you'll have good stories and a hint of an education.

How many of us can even remember, let alone still feel, just a fraction of the incredible urgency, the 'want everything, want it NOW!' of our teens? Seems to be a mix here of begrudging what we envy, with a need to advise from experience... my advice being, don't lose the fire but be aware that sometimes when things are too easy they're not worth having?

i remember it very well actually.....and i think more people should hold onto some of that as they grow up.
that doesn't change that fact that you, the poster, me and everyone at that age is immature and all their ideas of life a based on fantasy...not experience.
no offence intended but i think the immaturity might be evident in the 'troubled soul' tag and the fantasy might be represented by 'the moon' location.

In the working world, you're competing with people with degrees and credibility. It doesn't matter how talented you are for your age. Beleieve me, even people with degrees and experience are having problems finindg work, and/or apprenticeships. It's not like how it used to be, when fashion was not such a huge industry and getting a job meant all you had to do was ask. Now too many people want to be in the fashion industry,so you'll have to cope with reality. But this gives you an inside look at how it really is. If you choose to continue studying to be a designer, you know it won't be easy after grad.