>as opposed to offering an exploratory period of life that is college (socially and intellectually), To me, college has been the opposite. Most people I know f

>as opposed to offering an exploratory period of life that is college (socially and intellectually), To me, college has been the opposite. Most people I know feel restricted to getting a 9-to-5 job and are very stressed about how much they will make compared to their peers. Nearly all of the depressed people I know feel very restricted. They feel as though they cannot get out of their situation in life. I think this is only bolstered by the enormous debt and time investment that comes with going to college---one or two small decisions (perhaps going into economics rather than stats, or going into chemical engineering rather than computer science) can lead to major regrets a few years down the line. These people feel trapped and full of regret. They don't know what to do. Stepping aside and exploring opportunities that don't funnel you through a massive rat-race can be the biggest relief.