The answer to the question is simple- No. Academic Qualifications or Degrees have their own value. One will find it very difficult to get into excellent colleges like the IIMs or the IITs without a degree. Let’s assume, you are a good student in school. You work hard, get good grades and get into a good college. Now you follow the same routine. Go to college, study hard, get good grades, and have 100% attendance. This will help you grow and succeed. We need to realize that if we get decent grades and put rest of the time into learning new skills, meeting new people, collaborating, and networking- we will surely succeed. Skills are what will make you stand out from the crowd. 

You do not have to spend all the time getting the best grades and then focusing on skills later- if you wish to do something big, then focus on being the best at a skill- build, a great resume, and start pitching to potential clients and send out cold emails. One needs to have a growth mindset. A major problem that college graduates face is that they have no skills and hands-on experience that the companies are looking for. 

A perfect balance between academics and skills will make all the difference. Below, are some examples of hard and soft skills that one should learn to keep up with the fast-moving world. 

Hard skills- Coding, Data Science, Digital Marketing and SEO, Blockchain, and Product Management.

Soft skills- Time Management, Work Ethic, Motivation, Leadership, Empathy, and Influencing.