Resume - put in 1-2 years of college without a degree or not?

[Firebot]

Well, got layed off this morning at work unfortunatly, but I guess I saw things coming since things were just going really sour at the company. So I have to brush up my resume.

Now here's the issue I have. At the time, I was still a candidate for a degree and had a year and a half of university done. As I stayed at the job for several years and didn't go back to school, I'm effectively a drop out. Obviously I wouldn't put the canditate thing anymore, but should you still put in the year and a half of education you did get in your resume? Is it better to leave it out?

[Sylvestre]

why not look into finishing school?

either way, if you put it in, but don't put a diploma/degree/whatever, expect to be asked about it.
if you do leave it out, you effectively have a highschool education (i.e. you really limit the jobs you can apply for).

I say put it in (since you have it) and find a really convincing explanation as to why you chose to stop school and work.

[neo_geo]

If you are not in the process of completing your degree, I would not put it in.
Yes you would be limiting yourself with less education on your resume but you would look like a quitter if you put down the 1.5 years of university that you completed without getting the degree

[konfusion666]

For 1.5 years of Uni experience, its a toss-up.

I'm leaning towards leaving it on. Better to look like someone who actually managed to get into Uni and spend some time there rather than like someone who never went to Uni -- or someone who actually got rejected from Uni (which you didn't).

Yes, you will need to have a convincing argument for why you didn't finish. It shouldn't be too hard to come up with one that will convince many recruiters.
Obviously there will be some HR people/recruiters who won't be convinced, or will have nothing to do with a non-degree holder. Nothing you can do about that, but they are in the minority anyways.

Now, if you had completed something like 3 years of a 4-year program then you should DEFINITELY leave it on, as there are many people out there in the same boat, doing fine in the corporate world.

why not look into finishing school?

For many people this is the best choice, for some people it isn't.

For example if the OP had 3-4 years of experience working in I.T., or Web Development, or Tech Support... and his 1.5 years of Uni experience was in Archaeology or History or something like that - completing the degree would have a negligible impact on his I.T. career and probably just set his primary career + financial situation further back.