"I believe that college isn’t only about earning a degree so that you can “get a job” so that you can “make money” in order to buy “stuff.” As important as employment and income and possessions may be, they are hardly the only aspects of a meaningful life. College is—or, ought to be—a time early in your life when you are asked to contemplate the life you will live and to engage with eternal questions about love and death and beauty and sorrow and gratitude and responsibility to yourself, to others, to the rest of creation."

-- Paul Bogard

What exactlyisthe point of college?

To get a degree, just to get a good job?

It's no secret that it's extremely difficult to make it in America with no college degree, but it is not impossible. Why is this opportunity so culturally important? If I had to explain what college is, I couldn't give anyone a direct answer.

Maybe that's the point -- to figure it out yourself.

It's an immense time of confusion, frustration, and some extremely lackluster classes. It's also an exciting time of freedom, new experiences, and newfound responsibilities.

College can't be a one-size-fits-all experience; neither can adolescence. Everyone has their different backgrounds, majors, clubs, and friends.

While the educational portion of college is important, your degree can't always offer a meaningful life.

I think there's too much emphasis on the degree portion of this experience. While I understand and acknowledge that college costs thousands of dollars, the most priceless portion of college is the experience.

The nights when you stayed up until 4 AM working on assignments helped you realize how determined you were.

That test you passed with flying colors taught you the value of hard work.

The boy that broke your heart helped you realize how strong you are.

That time you changed your major taught you that your interests matter.

Life shouldn't be measured by your GPA, your major, your job, how much money you make, how many friends you have, the size of your house, where you live, who your significant other is, or even what college you went to.

Four years speeds by -- stop and realize the valuable experiences at hand.

Let the ups and downs of college teach you the important things in life. How to love yourself, how to cook, how to appreciate your mom and dad, how to make a friend, how to love someone else, how to set and achieve goals, how to be content with your surroundings, and how to enjoy each second of your life.

College is whatever you make it. Make it great.