Is College Still Worth It? A Guide for Skeptical Parents and Anxious Seniors

Tuition is out of control, the news is full of funding cuts and political drama, AI is threatening to replace half the jobs we’re supposedly training for—and every Thanksgiving, that one uncle won’t shut up about how he didn’t need a degree to start his business.

So... is college still worth it?

Here’s the honest answer: Yes. But only when it’s the right college. For the right student. Studying the right thing.

I’ve worked with hundreds of students. The ones who win—who get into amazing schools, graduate debt-free or close to it, and leave with career opportunities—didn’t just “go to college.” They made a strategic decision. And that’s what I want for you.

Let’s break it down.

The Problem Isn’t College. It’s Expensive, Aimless, Unnecessary College.

There are thousands of private colleges in this country that charge $60k+ a year and offer very little in the way of actual career return. They're not competitive, not well-funded, and not offering anything you can’t get at a strong state school or a two-year honors program with a transfer plan.

If you’re going $200,000 into debt to study sports management at a college no employer has heard of… babe, we need to have a different conversation.

This isn’t me being elitist. This is me being real. Some colleges exist more to sell “the college experience” than to actually educate. And for some students, that experience becomes four years of partying, panic, and panicked emails to their advisor junior year because they “don’t know what to do with their life.”

That’s not worth the debt. That’s not worth your peace.

What Is Worth It?

Let’s be clear: a great college—state or private, Ivy or honors program—is still one of the best investments you can make.

Why?

• Opportunities. Internships, fellowships, research, alumni networks, name recognition. That’s where the ROI lives.

• Mentorship. Good colleges introduce you to people who will change your life: professors, peers, bosses, weirdly helpful TA’s.

• Rigorous thinking. You want to be the kind of person who knows how to argue, write, lead, and think independently? College can do that—if you choose a place that takes those things seriously.

• Social capital. Sorry, but yes. The world still cares where you went. If you’re aiming high, it helps to have a name that opens doors.

So no, college isn’t broken. But not all colleges are worth your time or your money.

When Not to Go (Yet)

College is not the default path for everyone—and that’s okay. If you're not ready, if you're unsure, or if you're just not built for the classroom? You have options.

• Trade school is underrated. Plumbers, electricians, dental hygienists, techs, welders—real jobs, real skills, real money. No debt, no fluff, and high demand.

• Community college is brilliant. Especially for students who need time to figure it out, save money, or build confidence. (And the transfer route is real. You can start at a CC and end up with a degree from Berkeley. Happens all the time.)

• Gap years are not a failure. If you take one with intention—interning, working, traveling, doing something hard—it can actually make you more competitive and more ready.

How to Make the Call

Ask yourself (or your kid) these questions:

• Am I going to college because I want to grow—or because it’s what everyone expects?

• Is this school going to set me up for a better life? Or just a fancier four-year sleepaway camp?

• Can I afford this without being buried in debt for the next decade?

• Do I know what I want to study—or am I okay exploring without pressure?

If the answers are clear, go for it. College can be life-changing. But if you’re applying just to apply, or accepting a random offer because you don’t want to disappoint your grandma… take a beat.

You deserve more than “checking the box.”
You deserve to choose what’s best for you.

Bottom line? College is still worth it—when it's done with purpose.Not because it’s expected. Not because it’s what your friends are doing. But because it will actually help you become the person you want to be.

And if you're not sure? Let's talk. I help students figure this out for real—not just get them in, but help them decide if it's even worth going. Because I don’t just care where you go. I care who you become.

Want to book a consult or brainstorm college alternatives with me? Whether your kid is Yale-bound or trade-school curious, I’ve got them.