I even start to think about my future. Going to college is as much about finding out who am I as it is about getting the degree.

我什至开始思考自己的未来。上大学，是既要找出我是谁，因为这是有关获取的程度。

youdao

When I found out that in order for me to actually make money with that degree, I was going to have to commit to further schooling (a masters or PhD), I panicked.

FORBES: From Dropout to Six-Figure "Book Mama": The Un-Schooling of Linda Sivertsen

It's true that those with bachelor's degrees typically earn more over a lifetime than those with a two-year degree, but that's little consolation to those who are discouraged from going to community colleges and end up dropping out of a four-year school without a degree.

WSJ: Are Bachelor's Degrees Worth It?

"For a kid who comes out and gets a job in the high school labour market with a college degree, they're going to get paid 10 or 11 bucks an hour, " says Drexel University economist Prof Paul Harrington.

BBC: US students face worst debt and job prospects ever