Editor's note: Barry Courter has a 25-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 20-year-old daughter who is a sophomore in college.
Q: Dad, I might have the opportunity to take a good job, but school is a major conflict. Should I quit and take the job?
A: For most people, my answer probably would be a resounding no, but giving the right answer would require being able to look deep into the future. Not everyone needs a college degree to succeed, and many more end up in a career that has nothing to do with their degree. Others have perhaps missed out on good opportunities because they stayed in school. But, and it is a gigantic but, having a degree is rarely a bad thing and it is hard to go back and finish once real life sets in. You need to look long and hard at the long-term impact.
- Barry Courter