[withoutclass]

Hello it's me, guy who graduated in December of 2008. I made the pragmatic choice to do computer science at a cheap in state school. Graduated with a job offer right out of school. Paid off my loans around age 26ish. I worked part time which paid for my housing and food. I had some financial help from family, but not to the point where my loans would have taken more than another year or two to pay down, even less if I had paid more than minimum payments. I also had some cash saved from working every summer since I was 12, as well as part time for a few years in high school.

I think people pitching college as a magic "you go then you get a job" is pretty bad for sure. Mostly because it leaves out the part where you need to make sure the juice is worth the squeeze monetarily.

It's definitely doable and it's definitely worth it if you choose a path that actually supports the future you envision for yourself.