I consider myself fortunate that I'm not in the generation just starting out - having to get a college education in order to get any kind of decent paying job.

When I was starting my adult life in the early 60's, you could get a very good job with just a h.s. diploma, and a few extra tech courses or even seminars, got you even a better one.

Back then - work/life experience counted a great deal - but not today. I was in the business/accounting field, and always had a good job with good pay, even tho I didn't have any degree that placed a lot of letters after my name. Both of my brothers were brilliant engineers, and my oldest brother holds several patents, both h.s. school graduates with a few specialty courses and apprenticeships - no college degrees - just on the job experience.

Of course this is not possible in today's hi-tech world. It's a shame that so many very intelligent people will not be able to achieve the max of their potential, simply because they cannot afford the expense of college, and cannot benefit from on the job experience, because they won't be hired without that college degree.