I can't really say what the corporate world in general is like, because my only experience there was working for corporations that were government contractors. One of the happiest days of my life was the day I quit.
I have worked in academia, and I have owned my own businesses. I am currently self-employed. I far prefer working for myself, but my profession requires that I have licensure, which meant sitting through the classes, even though I had already thoroughly learned the material in the first few weeks of each semester. My perspective was that I wanted the license, and I was willing to do whatever it took to fulfill the requirements, even if it meant being bored in class. Once I had it, freedom was mine!
If you know what you want to do, use your education to develop not only knowledge and skills, but social contacts who may be able to help you get funding, and who can in turn introduce you to others who can help you later on in the process. Banks and investors are more likely to take a chance on you for your business if they see that you have completed a degree, even if it isn't directly relevant to your business, because it shows persistence and an ability to follow through.
Weigh everything, and make your decision,but don't dismiss college as wasted time. Often the contacts you make there can be the difference between success and failure in your own endeavors. That is one of the reasons why competitive schools are so competitive - the chance to get to know the best and brightest, and establish relationships with them that can last a lifetime.
