An institution where you can become fully proficient in a skill that will propel you to infinity and beyond?  Possibly, but statistically not so much. 

The jobless rate for 20 to 24 year olds is 15.8 percent, up from 12.4 percent just one year ago, and the highest unemployment rate for the college age demographic since 1983.  <SOURCE>

I can attest to those that believe that 'even when you obtain a job, it'll merely be an entry-level undertaking - barely enough income to pay off those accumulating bills.  It really is a tragic situation that we're dealing with in this era (or error) of America.  When exiting college, you're going to have the 25-65 year old demographic competing for your entry-level position, that's a lot of competition.  Why hire person A who has just reached adulthood, when hiring person B who is more seasoned and more capable at dealing with life would cause less headaches no matter what the situation is?  No matter how much book-smartzz or technical gibbering jargon person A has under his belt, if person B is better with dealing with the rushes and waves of stress on the job, person B > person A.  I'll play the devil's advocate for minute w/ this: anyone can pick up a hobo off the side of the street and train him for the job; no matter how old or experienced this hobo is.  It may take a week, it may take a year, but eventually the hobo will be able to perform very well - you just gotta hold his hand, and hope that he doesn't steal your wallet.  

Senior citizens? No, they are not retiring.  America promised every single one of them to "Work work work, procreate and buy buy buy; when your hair silvers out just chill the fuck out and enjoy the rest of your wonderful and respected lives." <<30 Years Later>>  America: "We're sorry everyone, we keep spending all of that tax money that we promised to give you upon retirement on wars and secret projects.  These wars appear to be for liberating the world from terrorism, but obviously we the people, just kidding, we 20 peoples have our own agendas to push into the world's warm vagina.  Trust us, we are nothing like the Nazis; we are for the equal treatment of all people of every race and religion (SEE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION). Please continue to work while we try to figure out where those trillions of dollars went."

I apoligize, i'm adamantly random ATM.

Affirmative action is unfair to the minorities it is intended to help as well as to white males. While the intentions behind affirmative action policies were laudable, the outcome has created a situation that conflicts with the basic American belief in individual achievement. 

Because America has affirmative action (AA), how can I, a black man, a minority, prove to the entire world that I achieved my career and my success because I worked my fucking ass off, while dealing with so much bullshit throughout my life -- the road to my motherfucking success has been rough, I'M IN MOTHERFUCKING SOUTH CAROLINA, you guys and gals know how motherfucking dumb these motherfucking people are here..

It has been so hard to get to where I am.  My dad was proud when he saw me handshaking and taking my diploma(s); my parents sacrificed soooo much to ensure that I was provided with the tools I needed to make it this far...  Working was hell for those two (still is, they are senior citizens and are still working...), dealing with certain employees getting special treatment, aka the opposite of affirmative action, over others just because the media portrays blacks as less than... I've had a lot of work experience, when The conversation arises about affirmative actionz and about how easy it supposedly was for me to get to where I am, and how jealous "the majority" is of me for receiving special treatment.  What special treatment? What the fuck are you talking about "white america." (See "White America" by Eminem) The only special treatment it gives me is doubt --- extreme doubt --- all it takes is one person to tell me how easy it should have been for me, and to shut the fuck up and stop whining about mistreatment, it pushes my biggest button causing extreme doubt in who I am and what I stand for.  

“As a nation, America has got itself into one hell of a mess because of affirmative action preferences. Some groups of people believe it is their entitlement while others are seething with anger about such programs." He feels that America must end affirmative action and that only by doing so “can we rededicate our nation to the principle of equality and bring social peace and harmony to America."

Affirmative action is a societal poison; it does nothing but put up barriers and boundaries that create a work environment where it is difficult for minorities to be taking seriously,  OR  it injects the doubt that everyone around them in fact is not taking them seriously.  Either or it's another error of America.

So, in an act to have a main idea and closing arguments, what is college? An institution where you can learn how to socialize and build long lasting relationships?  I'm from a very small town in South Carolina.. imagine what it was like socializing with some of the people there.  Does it suck that I learned about people mostly from TV, mainly The Real World on MTV; that shit was da bomb back in the day.  There was never a need for me to socialize with my peers, I was so happily complacent with tinkering with my nifty computer in 1992, and reading books about giant man/woman-eating monsters.  Flashforward (I downloaded the first 3 episodes, we'll see if it's a good show) to college, I start to socialize with peers that were absolutely amazing!  Discussing the details of your entire belief structure with someone is such a breathtaking, and awe-inspiring experience.  Three years later, I get enticed into the dark side of college.  Within two years, socializing went from something where you completely absorb someone's human essence to  "let's get drunk & stupid, and talk about nothing but pop culture while insulting each other."  College literally dumbed down my idea of what socializing with my fellow man or woman means.  Although, I do have an addictive personality -- but I had no idea I had one until I went to [insert noun].

Not that this matters, but in being the token black guy in many social situations - I'm pro learning about humanity, and sometimes you won't have the comfort of a black blanket to give you shelter - being experienced with the role of token, it's only natural that I'll become the target of those who still contain some kind of beef with my kind (?).  I become the ambassador of the black race.  They finally get to push off all of their anguish and bad-feelings (or good-feelings) they have had with my kind (?) on me!  Thanks! I actually wanted to be the ambassador of the black race -- oh shit, I don't act like none of the black people you have ever met before or seen on TV?  Oh oh, you're getting upset because that conversation with a black guy you've finally wanted to have isn't warm and fuzzy (See Will Smith - The black man everyone at work can agree on). 

What does college mean to me?  What did college cost me?  Financially, it has put a hole in my wallet that will be miraculous if I can fill it.  Mentally (see above).  What does college mean to you?