The trades can be great, but they are absolute hell on your body. It can also be pretty expensive to get set up. You don't get into making serious money until

The trades can be great, but they are absolute hell on your body. It can also be pretty expensive to get set up. You don't get into making serious money until you work for yourself, which frequently involves a six-figure investment in tools and equipment. I do agree that college as a way to get ahead in life is over-sold in the US in particular. It's not a coincidence that colleges don't track student outcomes past graduation, despite their sales pitch of 'preparing students for the future'.