| I must be very pro college because, between us, my | | | | would have started with $50,000 more: the loan |
| wife and I have four degrees. But I sometimes | | | | amount I borrowed from the government. Which |
| wonder if they are for everyone. We were lucky and | | | | brings me to a larger issue. How much is it really |
| used our respective degrees in our chosen fields. Yet | | | | worth to get that diploma? |
| we amassed a combined student loan debt of nearly | | | | You always hear the tales of Bill Gates (left Harvard |
| $100,000 along the way. And that wasn’t the | | | | in his junior year) and Steve Jobs (left Reed college |
| entire cost of the college experience. I lived on | | | | after one semester) who founded Microsoft and |
| campus, and then on my own, incurring dorm and | | | | Apple Computers, by working out of their garages. |
| food expenses along with student fees and books. It | | | | There are hundreds of billionaires and multi-millionaires |
| was a constant struggle to keep up with the | | | | that never set foot inside a university. But, what |
| ceaseless costs. However, I could always justify the | | | | about the average Joe or Joanne? Can they do well |
| money because I saw it as an investment in my | | | | in the business world without that degree and what |
| future. | | | | about the total college experience? On thing at a |
| My mother was of the old world belief that a young | | | | time, please. |
| man without college would be relegated to saying, | | | | If someone has no idea what career path to take |
| “Do you want fries with that?” or | | | | they have three options: (1) get a business degree, |
| pumping gas, for the rest of his life. Although we | | | | (2) try for a technical skills school offering courses |
| were poor, she pushed me forward to go on with | | | | like computer programming, electrical repair, or auto |
| high school college curriculum. Later, I would apply for | | | | mechanics, or (3) got to work for a large company, |
| grants and scholarships for the needy. I managed to | | | | starting at the bottom. With choice (3), they have |
| get several and still required a National Defense | | | | the opportunity to receive benefits and work their |
| Student Loan to complete my four years bachelors | | | | way upward. Of course this doesn’t garner |
| because I chose a pricey college, Pratt Institute in | | | | the young adult the ‘college |
| Brooklyn. I could have gone with a cheaper school, | | | | experience,’ which I sometimes think is |
| but I decided that the more prestigious university | | | | overrated. Even though I enjoyed mine immensely, |
| would gain me entry into a better paying job. | | | | my wife went to college from home and worked |
| So how did that work out, you ask? Well, I was | | | | full-time. Is she any less well-rounded or fulfilled than |
| hired by a small New Jersey advertising agency as an | | | | myself? I doubt it and therefore here’s a final |
| artist intern assisting the art director in the summer | | | | thought. |
| of my junior year. For all they knew, I could have | | | | Suppose the family has the college money saved, but |
| gotten my degree from a mail order | | | | junior isn’t sure what to do with his life and |
| ‘learn-to-draw’ school. They only chose | | | | has no particular skills or direction. If the parents then |
| me based on my portfolio. So, was the | | | | took junior’s college fund and financed him |
| ‘Pratt’ name important and did it open | | | | into a family business that they could help run and |
| any doors? That’s highly unlikely. Later, I was | | | | lend advice to, would that be so bad? It’s still |
| the art director for Fedders, ran my own ad agency | | | | an investment in his future, right? It’s an |
| in Phoenix, Arizona, and finally was employed as a | | | | option I’m sure that the average person |
| Yellow Page consultant by the Bell System. While | | | | doesn’t often consider. But keep an open |
| college gave me a good head start, the on-the-job | | | | mind and weigh the pros and cons of the college |
| training was far more crucial. If I had to do it again, | | | | expense. If they choose to be an entrepreneur, they |
| would I? That’s a terrific question and | | | | can always decide to go to college later on. If |
| I’m glad you were astute enough to ask it. | | | | you’re a parent with a college-age son or |
| Suppose I had gone to that ad agency with my high | | | | daughter, this is a tough decision, but allow them to |
| school portfolio, instead. I’m not sure they | | | | have input. Who knows? They may be the next |
| would have given me the chance, but they might | | | | business super star. By the way, do you have an |
| have. And Fedders? Probably not. But I could have | | | | empty space in your garage? Need a college degree? |
| learned enough at the agency to get a better job | | | | Myth busted! |
| and still eventually open my own agency. Also, I | | | | |