Ok, but did you go to THE college? Or did you “go to college”?
go to THE college implies the local (mis)education facility “go to college” implies a near infinite number of education facilities one may attend.
When you are in a horrible accident they take you to THE nearest available saw-bones facility. They take you to THE hospital.
depends on the context.
I went to the college to pick up some books.
The college is a specific location.
Going to college is not a location.