My college friends and I had a running joke during the first year of school. As liberal arts majors, Jeff (History major), Mike (then Music major), Beth (Studio Art major) and myself (then Tibetan Studies major) would all work in the same restaurant together after graduation. The university system seemed so pointless at the time -- all of us had been forced to go by our parents, some of whom had never even gone to college themselves. Did they understand what a waste of money it was? What stupid human tricks we had to do to get grades that didn't really matter? A friend told me one day, "I could do this myself with a little bit of discipline and a good public library."

As tempting as that sounded, I'm glad I stuck it out. I ended up changing my major three times and leaving with a major (Italian) and two minors (Art History and Sociology), not to mention a lot of extra information from classes I took on a lark and a good base in Central Eurasian Studies, which I didn't end up pursuing. While all that random information doesn't sound like a great recommendation for college, you would be amazed how often those tidbits have come in handy. But it's not just about the information. True, you go to college to study -- or at least that's what you tell your parents -- but you are learning much more than what's in the books. I might even hazard to say that what you are learning in class is the least of what you are learning in college (especially as an undergraduate -- the real work starts in graduate school).

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your major (unless you are a science or med student) probably isn't going to help you too much in the job market. Most places require that you have a degree, but they usually don't care what it is. Why? Because whether you went to college or not, you still need to be trained to know how the company works. A college degree is helpful in the hiring process because 1) it shows that you are trainable and responsible, otherwise you never would have graduated, and 2) a quick look at your GPA will show how trainable you are. That is what makes you marketable, and it is the reason college graduates make more money on average than high school graduates alone.

Don't let the dismal tone of this revelation discourage you. University gives you much more than just a piece of paper saying you know how to do what you're told -- that isn't what it's all about, either. Besides learning new things and getting used to meeting deadlines and doing your own editing, college also allows you the first independence of your life (for many, at least) and helps you to meet people that share your interests. The college community is where brains go to connect, and that chemistry major roomate you had sophmore year (or the fast-talking history professor that gave you a D on your final project) might be just the man to help you launch a new project ten years from now. Some of the most ground-breaking, creative ventures have come from college communities, where a few brainy people put their heads together and came up with something great. Besides some good networking, college gives you a chance to flex your independence a little bit -- try new things, get a part-time job, and find an apartment with some friends and work those training wheels that will lead to responsible adult behavior.

The bottom line is, college is worth the investment not just for the education, but for the culture it introduces you to and the independence it gives. You'll grow as a person and have experiences that no other atmosphere can give. You never know when that degree is going to come in handy, so get it.