[Heretic]

I dropped out of college after one semester, and the following year I took a short course that allowed me to get a commercial license. I can now enter a job field that's nearly immune to recession and pays about $35K starting out (and can grow to $100K).

I need to turn 21 to make full use of the license, but that's only a few months away, and in the meantime I'm working a job that, although it's not very high paying, is able to cover my expenses and leave me a bit of cash left over.

College is great for people who want specific advanced careers. But for many people, it's best to go directly into the workforce (or take a specified shorter college-like course, like you did, Ben) rather than accumulate mountains of debt for a degree that you MIGHT be able to use.