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Finish school. This is a (pardon the pun) "no-brainer". When you look at the actual numbers that actually get to MLB out of the minor leagues, you stand a much better chance of that 6-figure income coming from a profession other than baseball.
On the other hand, you're only young once, and there are things you should do before you become tied to real-life obligations (job, house, spouse, kids). Of course, 20 or 22, from where I sit there isn't any difference - except that a 22-year old with a degree in his hand has already demonstrated the work ethic that they love in umpiring. A 20-year old dropout, on the other hand....
Hone those umping skills for a couple more years. Get more comfortable handling situations and looking at balls and strikes. Hang out with others who have gone to the umpire schools and REALLY pick their brains for anything that will give you a leg up once you go. Enjoy college! Not everyone who wants to go to college gets to go to college, so savor the moment. Explore your interests outside of baseball, and who knows? One day when you decide to hang up the umping gear you might have an exciting, challenging, rewarding, and satisfying career right in front of you.
JJ
[Edited by JJ on Nov 24th, 2005 at 06:24 PM]
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