It is not uncommon these days to hear stories about college graduates coming back home to live in their childhood bedroom. This after completing their degree some $100,000 later with no job in sight. Recent reports notes that in Obama's economy (because he owns it) that unemployment rates as high as 53% for recent college graduates.
My own son will be graduating from high school next year. Like most people he has some vague idea of what he wants to study - but at an average tuition rate of $25-40,000 a year, I want him to be a little less vague in his thinking. A year of "life experience" can go a long way to helping any prospective college student appreciate and use wisely those education dollars.
For my son, A job earning some spending money, with an idea of what it's like to pay some rent along with a volunteer stint in an organization doing what he thinks he wants to do will be helpful when it comes time to go to college.
Community colleges, while often a lot less expensive are a good way to get core courses out of the way while not starting off one's life in a mountain of debt.