You may not have meant this directed at me, but I didn't take 8 years for not meeting class requirements. I took only 9-12 hours per semester and took the occasional semester off to work and save money. The low class load also kept costs down, and had the added bonus of low stress and more time to enjoy the college experience. Believe me, I did not afford it because I was rich or anything. You may be talking about apples to my oranges anyway. Not taking it seriously and/or not working hard enough is a whole other story, especially if it's someone else's money or it's deferred payment.
In this day and age, it doesn't mean nearly what it used to mean as far as money. I have a bio-chemistry degree, but i have a small trucking company. I make way more than people with fancy degrees and i do 0. I had my school paid for via scholarship and even though i was a pretty good student, it was more about hooping than what i was getting out of college. I enjoyed my years and appreciate the friends that i met and of course, the ladies, but i could've retired at 25 vs 35 probably. I don't think college should trump your retirement or long term goals as a person. My 18 just went to college and she thinks he life should still be the same which i disagree with. She's going for nursing which is cool, but she has to eat ramen noodles like everyone else did. She has to eat cafeteria food just like everyone else. I've also told he she has 4 yrs and that it as far as financial support. It has 0 to do with whether or not i can afford it as much as it is learning to struggle to appreciate when she becomes a nurse. Some parents will do anything and everything to get their kids through college and then when the world shows that kid the backside and the child cant handle adversity, then people get flustered. I know people now with masters that cant get jobs in their field or is overqualifed. The world today look for skills and skillful people, not just a paper.
