[cedws]

>I think attending college may have value in terms of social life.

College has a monopoly on social life if you're in the late teens/early 20s. I believe this is part of the reason it is still such a popular option, to the point that people will pay extortionate amounts to do useless degrees.

If you're thrust straight into work that isn't stocking shelves or being a fry cook you won't be around people your own age and it's very alienating. I'm in my early 20s and have considered changing course despite having a successful SWE career to go back to university just so I can have a social life.

[perkolator]

I absolutely loved college and can understand the dilemma.

Most the social aspect for me though came from living near the college and not the actual classes.

If I was in this situation, I would just move as physically close to a major university as I could. Most of my social interaction at college came from eating lunch and all the people I met during lunch.

Actually paying tuition though for this reason is as bad an investment as I can think of.

[cedws]

>I would just move as physically close to a major university as I could

Actually not a bad idea, thanks.

>paying tuition though for this reason is as bad an investment as I can think of

True, but my 'smart' financial decisions have led to a life I'm pretty unhappy with.