More crazy nutty student debt...

[rebel100]

not all students seek to attend "the local community college."

I feel what you're saying. There can be a lot of external and internal pressure to choose something other than the college down the street. I think that's fine, provided you have a way to pay for it. Simply desiring "to find yourself" or "to be away from home" is no excuse to take on crippling slavery level debt. This is reinforced when we look at the number of kids who bet on college, take on debt, then leave without completing the degree or graduate and fail to find gainful employment. "Not seeking to attend" can't be allowed as the deciding factor when your gambling with an unclear future and thousands and thousands of dollars.

On the other board there is an educated guy seeking advice on the other forum who appears to be well on the way to financial handicap due to medical conditions Opinions requested This is the sort of thing that should spring to mind when one considers college at all. Yes, of course, we should also consider the positive possibilities (walking the stage in front of the family, hanging the degree on the wall, shaking your new bosses hand as he welcomes you aboard your new dream job). But for every success there is sure to be a failure (or more). I agree with Passit1, you have to plan and consider contingencies, a college education should never be decided on pure emotion.