Students Urged Not to Choose Poker over College

In an open letter, an associate professor of history and professional poker player has urged his students to complete their college degrees.

Steven Garfinkle rose to local fame when he placed an impressive tenth in the World Series of Poker event this year, just missing the main table event by one spot.

Since then, many of his students have inundated his email box with requests for advice about whether they should drop out and take on poker as a profession instead. Garfinkle’s opinion is absolutely steely. He insists that students can – and should – enjoy their college days, without being tempted to give it all up for poker.

“Poker is something that a player can enjoy for his or her whole life. In this sense, poker is a lot like a good education. Don’t choose between poker and school, you have the time to choose both,” he wrote in an open letter entitled “Stay in School!” that was published in “Card Player”.

On the other hand, Garfinkle is convinced that poker skills can help students through their college years and later on his life. His sentiments are echoed by the relatively new Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS), an organization that was formed to promote the use of poker thinking as an important tool for a successful life. The society was created by Harvard law students, under the auspices of Professor Charles Nelson, and has already generated nearly 20 chapters on campuses across the country.

GPSTS chapters meet on a regular basis – through the proper academic channels - to discuss important matters pertaining to the game of poker, and how it can assist people in every day life. Besides active debates on the World Trade Organization ruling and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, students also discuss how poker skills can be regarded as the ultimate strategic stimulator.

The typical student who is drawn to the GPSTS philosophy might not even ponder the question of whether he or she should stay in school or not. These students know that education equals power and that an all-round college experience is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Garfinkle, who used to play poker up to 60 hours a week, quit in order to learn law and broaden his life experiences. His letter prompts his students to do the same: “No matter how good your game, you will find yourself in a better position later in life if you take your education seriously. If you are already a winning player, then you have more to learn away from the tables,” he wrote.

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