I do have a bit more to add to the thread-creep-generated new topic, and it is in the nature of educating our young protege, rather than chastising him.
I own a reasonably successful law firm, five lawyers and growing, and each of us there had to get an undergraduate degree, and attend three years of law school in order to secure the credential (a law degree and a license to practice law) required to be a lawyer and to represent our clients. We are all pretty good at what we do, and we are proud of what we have accomplished.
And who (you might well ask) are the clients who do us the honor of allowing us to represent them in their legal matters and, thereby, who also feed us?
All of them are successful, risk-taking small to medium sized businesses, in the construction industry (by "small to medium," I mean companies which employ from thirty to three thousand employees, and have revenues from one to thirty million dollars per annum). The owners and operators of these businesses are, by necessity, smart, agile thinkers, keen evaluators of risk, excellent financial managers and masterful administrators of resources, both human and physical plant.
The other thing which is true about these business owners is that almost none of them have college degrees- rather, most started out in their respective trades, whether it be masonry, drywall, electrical, steel, concrete, demolition, dirt work, plumbing, HVAC, flooring, carpentry... whatever.
There are many millionaires among them, and they (in this industry, in particular) are noted for mentoring others who are getting into the business, helping them to be successful.
So, I point out to you, as food for thought, that we at our law firm, practicing one of the ancient professions with all of the education and credentials required therefor, call all of these under-educated rubes, nearly all of whom claim as their only traditional educational credential a high-school diploma, call each of these people "client," which is another word for "boss."
I count some of these folks among the wisest people I know- and some of the biggest idiots I have had the dubious pleasure of encountering, are highly-educated and many-degreed.
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My point is not that you should not go to college- but you should maintain the perspective that recognizes that a college education is but one path one can take to move down the road to success.
Given the choice between a pile of degrees and credentials out the ass on the one hand, and native common sense and a good work ethic on the other, I know which I'd choose.
