Some colleges and even universities, of course, are worth the dedication of time, treasury, and extra effort by the parties involved.
But by and large, a growing number are merely cocoons for the years beyond high school (where they should have learned what they had to know for some 90% of the jobs available), and where very little, if anything, is added to the sum of capabilities and work habits so necessary in the labor market. The graduate really has only one product to sell, himself or herself, and the value is based on how much the individual is able to do for another. It is not a stipend or award for having sat for x number of years taking down notes and regurgitating the accumulated “wisdom” to some corps of instructors who themselves may have little or no experience in the marketplace.
Perhaps some 75% of today’s college freshman would be vastly benefited by taking a year off, or maybe two or three, only entering college after they have some solid work experience and have earned at least part of their tuition expenses. This hustle to get into a so-called “good” college at the earliest practical moment serves very few of our young well.
This is a great recommendation. If you graduate high school and you don't have a clue what you want to be doing to earn a living at the age of 25, then the last thing you should be doing is enrolling in an undergraduate program -- especially an expensive one.