Maybe your life would have been different, perhaps not, but as you know that is something you can still change.
I think these are great questions although I will say, to a degree, the job market our kids are graduating into is different than it was for many of us. In both good and bad ways.
For myself, BA from highly regarded state flagship, changed majors once, graduated on time. I worked throughout college, paid for my tuition and all expenses other than room and board, as a result was unable to apply for or compete for non paid internships in my field (and back then, all of them were unpaid). I had loans but not horrendous ones. I waited tables and then worked as a restaurant manager until my marriage to a med student where…I waited tables and then worked as a manager as that would pay more than any entry level job in my then desired field and we had only the one income to live on. I moved from restaurant manager into wine sales and from there into other sales, then management, then marketing and into business development management positions for everything from Fortune 500 companies, to small start ups, to successful niche mid sized companies. The combination of the experience chain, leveraging opportunities as they presented themselves as well as the skills gained from my degree (Poly Sci) has led to an interesting and largely rewarding career path. As my career progressed the school on my resume mattered a bit more but the actual job experience was a far bigger factor. As my career progressed, the lack of an MBA, or MA/MS did occasionally present itself as an opportunity hindrance…but not a salary one if that makes sense. I couldn’t see the return on the investment for me as a result. I will say in hindsight, I do not think I remotely appreciated how highly my flagship was (is) regarded, nor did I try to leverage the career center at all. A downside of a large school is taking advantage of many of those things is completely student driven. You might not even know it really existed.
For my H (not the med student lol), BS from a well regarded state school, MS from a medium regarded state school, funded by his company and MBA from a well regarded private, also funded by his company. He changed/transferred schools in undergrad to get away from a party atmosphere and a better program for his area (aerospace). Graduated on time. No loans. In his case, 100% career in his chosen area and most of it with the same company.
SS11 has a degree in music technology with a business minor. Currently trying to start his own business. We will see how that goes. Has had zero help from his college with internships/jobs but to be fair, I cannot say he has really tried all that hard, being far more focused on his idea. We are not funding it, he is working his version of waiting tables and all funds going to towards his venture. He, in particular is not convinced that he needed to get a degree and that it matters. We wholeheartedly disagree. Even if he never does anything technically in his field (though his venture very much is), the ability to study, learn, network, speak, write, engage at a higher level is something that will hold you back in many cases if you don’t have it. It is much much more difficult to pursue a path without that entry level degree behind your name. Any path. Not out of the question but the odds are not in your favor, even if it’s just a 2 year technical degree. Can you get a job? Yes. A career? Maybe not. That wasn’t as much the case for my generation but I really do think it’s a different world now.
SD14 is in her sophomore year but has stuck with the same major, Biology (penalties for changing at her specific school can be significant timeline wise) but seems very happy with it so far. Far too early to say what that means career path wise for her as it is likely grad school is in her future.
SS11 and SD14 do not have any loans. I acutally think this is not ideal as there is no incentive to work and be self sustaining right away. I don’t think big loans are good, but a small one…enough to light a fire…I very much support that. I do not know yet if S17 and S20 will end up with loans but it is possible.