The "Good Old Days?" Well, not so much, really.

[MineralMan]

112. The student loan thing is complicated.

Had I needed one, I probably would have shifted my plans to a skilled trade. Because of my father's DIY mindset, I had already learned the rudiments of more than one. But, I didn't need a student loan (not available at the time anyhow), so I went ahead and got a degree, after 4 years in the USAF. Did I use that degree? Not really. I ended up doing trade work anyhow, but as a DIY writer for magazines. Nothing I learned as an English major helped with that. Magazine articles are very unlike scholarly papers.

One of the very serious problems I see is that most career paths that lead toward high-paying jobs require a degree these days. Except for the skilled trades, and those really need some training as well, but a community college can usually provide that. Sadly, many other jobs that require degrees don't pay all that well, which complicates matters even more.

So, I don't know what to do about student loans from an individual perspective. I wish we could go back to taxpayer supported state colleges nationwide. That, at least, lowers the costs to some degree. I doubt that's going to happen, though. We've forgotten what that was like, I'm afraid.