I highly value my college experience, but then again I was able to avoid student loans by becoming a staff member and getting essentially a full scholarship plus health care (since there was no bachelors degree applicable for a web development job back then).<p>I can&#x27;t help but notice that the way student loans are handed out like candy to 18 year-olds who do not yet have the education and experience to understand the implication of those loan burdens is a pretty slimy modus operandi.  It just doesn&#x27;t jive with the high-minded ideals that university&#x27;s tout publicly.