--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never took my SAT's. I never applied to…" description: "\"I never took my SAT's. I never applied to college. I moved right out here and jumped into the thick of things. Whether that was the smart move or not, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/scott-foley-16227_college_i-never-took-my-sat-s-i-never-applied-to_2179294.jpg" --- # I never took my SAT's. I never applied to college. I moved… ![“I never took my SAT's. I never applied to college. I moved right out here and jumped into the thick of things. Whether that was the smart move or not, I'm sitting here talking to you now, so it paid off.” quote by Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/scott-foley-16227_college_i-never-took-my-sat-s-i-never-applied-to_2179294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/scott-foley-16227_college_i-never-took-my-sat-s-i-never-applied-to_2179294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/scott-foley-16227_college_i-never-took-my-sat-s-i-never-applied-to_2179294.jpg) > “I never took my SAT's. I never applied to college. I moved right out here and jumped into the thick of things. Whether that was the smart move or not, I'm sitting here talking to you now, so it paid off.” [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shares his unconventional path of skipping standardized tests and college, yet finding success through direct experience. **In simple terms:** Skipping SATs and college led to real‑world experience that paid off. Key Takeaway Take risks and learn by doing. Themes education career risk experience Mood inspirational candid Type personal reflective When to use this quote - job market entry - skill acquisition - network building - personal growth Key Concepts non‑traditional pathways self‑directed learning entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - What skills did you gain outside school? - How do you handle gaps in formal credentials? A Different Perspective May limit access to certain professional fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [When I took the SAT, I didn't get accepted into a single white school that I applied to. Now I've got honorary degrees from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/when-i-took-the-sat-i-didn-t-get-accepted-into-a-single-white-school/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I sang a lot in college - I was in a choral group in college. But, then, when I moved to New York, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-thorne/i-sang-a-lot-in-college-i-was-in-a-choral-group-in-college-but-then/) [Callie Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-thorne/) > [I left home to go to college, and then I moved back home. I moved back for three years from 21 to 24.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-left-home-to-go-to-college-and-then-i-moved-back-home-i-moved-back/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“I went to college at Florida State, which is where I got my interior design degree, and after college, I moved down to Miami.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-went-to-college-at-florida-state-which-is-where-i-got-my-interior/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [The same thing I applied to football, I applied to trying to be an actor and hopefully it came off well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/the-same-thing-i-applied-to-football-i-applied-to-trying-to-be-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I was very close to my father. At the age of ten I wanted to do plays, and my father was very encouraging. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-was-very-close-to-my-father-at-the-age-of-ten-i-wanted-to-do-plays/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [Her death contributed to my later interest in studying biochemistry, an interest that has not been fulfilled in the sense that my accomplishments remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/her-death-contributed-to-my-later-interest-in-studying-biochemistry/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [I applied for funding to embark on an overseas field trip in Iceland, and spent six weeks there happily holed up in the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-applied-for-funding-to-embark-on-an-overseas-field-trip-in-iceland/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) > [It wasn't until after college that I started writing. I had just applied randomly for jobs in the media and got one on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/it-wasn-t-until-after-college-that-i-started-writing-i-had-just/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I've taken the experiences that I've had in the theatre and applied them to film and television and now games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-taken-the-experiences-that-i-ve-had-in-the-theatre-and-applied/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [When I went to medical school, the term 'digital' applied only to rectal exams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/when-i-went-to-medical-school-the-term-digital-applied-only-to-rectal/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) ## More by Scott Foley > [It's amazing, all of the ways that having kids has changed me. I'm a much less selfish person because of them, and compared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/it-s-amazing-all-of-the-ways-that-having-kids-has-changed-me-i-m-a/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I am going to be on 'True Blood.' It was really exciting. I had a great time shooting it. I spent the last nine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-am-going-to-be-on-true-blood-it-was-really-exciting-i-had-a-great/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I know, just from directing television, where you have a huge support system of producers and writers and a script supervisor - not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-know-just-from-directing-television-where-you-have-a-huge-support/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I found myself with a wife and kids, and some of my friends weren't around as much. They weren't calling as much, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-found-myself-with-a-wife-and-kids-and-some-of-my-friends-weren-t/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [Anytime anyone gets passionate over a character you're playing, I think you've done your job well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/anytime-anyone-gets-passionate-over-a-character-you-re-playing-i/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I grew up traveling quite a bit, and I think that, because of that, my design inspiration is a mish-mash of all different places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-grew-up-traveling-quite-a-bit-and-i-think-that-because-of-that-my/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I have a thing for clean lines and beautiful form that I attribute to my four years in Tokyo and Kyoto. I also appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-have-a-thing-for-clean-lines-and-beautiful-form-that-i-attribute-to/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I watch so much television. My DVR is full. I love putting my kids to bed, so I can sit on the couch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-watch-so-much-television-my-dvr-is-full-i-love-putting-my-kids-to/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I don't necessarily recommend directing your husband or wife in a film, but if you have to do it, you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-don-t-necessarily-recommend-directing-your-husband-or-wife-in-a/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [As an actor, I know immediately if I'm saying a word that doesn't feel right coming out of my mouth, and I know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/as-an-actor-i-know-immediately-if-i-m-saying-a-word-that-doesn-t-feel/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [The internet is a dark, dark place. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere, someone has this file that says, "Scott Foley, on March 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/the-internet-is-a-dark-dark-place-i-wouldn-t-be-surprised-if/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [Man, I wish I was a better pickup guy. I've always been the guy in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/man-i-wish-i-was-a-better-pickup-guy-i-ve-always-been-the-guy-in-a/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [I've been lucky enough in my career to work with a few people who are really prolific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-in-my-career-to-work-with-a-few-people-who-are/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [The older I get, the more I become an apple pie, sparkling cider kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-become-an-apple-pie-sparkling-cider-kind/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) > [The editing process, for me, is both the most fun and the most frustrating. It's the most fun because you get to see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-foley/the-editing-process-for-me-is-both-the-most-fun-and-the-most/) [Scott Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) [Explore all 40 Scott Foley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-foley/) ## More Applied quotes > [When I went to medical school, the term 'digital' applied only to rectal exams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/when-i-went-to-medical-school-the-term-digital-applied-only-to-rectal/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [I've taken the experiences that I've had in the theatre and applied them to film and television and now games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-taken-the-experiences-that-i-ve-had-in-the-theatre-and-applied/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [It wasn't until after college that I started writing. I had just applied randomly for jobs in the media and got one on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/it-wasn-t-until-after-college-that-i-started-writing-i-had-just/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I applied for funding to embark on an overseas field trip in Iceland, and spent six weeks there happily holed up in the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-applied-for-funding-to-embark-on-an-overseas-field-trip-in-iceland/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) > [Her death contributed to my later interest in studying biochemistry, an interest that has not been fulfilled in the sense that my accomplishments remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/her-death-contributed-to-my-later-interest-in-studying-biochemistry/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [I was very close to my father. At the age of ten I wanted to do plays, and my father was very encouraging. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-was-very-close-to-my-father-at-the-age-of-ten-i-wanted-to-do-plays/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [The same thing I applied to football, I applied to trying to be an actor and hopefully it came off well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/the-same-thing-i-applied-to-football-i-applied-to-trying-to-be-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [The notion of 'Queen's English' is usually applied to our pronunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-dent/the-notion-of-queen-s-english-is-usually-applied-to-our-pronunciation/) [Susie Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-dent/) > [Around 17 to 20 years, I became, myself, a poacher. And I wanted to do it, because - I believed - to continue my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneille-ewango/around-17-to-20-years-i-became-myself-a-poacher-and-i-wanted-to-do-it/) [Corneille Ewango](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneille-ewango/) > [Style is not something applied. It is something that permeates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/style-is-not-something-applied-it-is-something-that-permeates/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Always applied myself 100 per cent to what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/always-applied-myself-100-per-cent-to-what-i-m-doing/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) Browse all 135 Applied quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never took my SAT's. I never applied to college. I moved right out here and jumped into the thick of things. 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