I do not think that college is right for every person.  I also do not think that most students think hard enough about why they want to go to college.

The prevailing wisdom on going to college is so that you can get a good job afterwards.  Unfortunately, recent trends   are pointing to the twenty-something, who may even have an elite degree, moving back in with her parents.

I have found that if teenagers articulate a compelling reason to go to college these things follow:

1. They write better college applications
2. They get into better schools
3. They take better advantage of the awesome opportunity college offers

So why do you really want to go to college?