<p>Had a wonderful conversation with a guy I met at dinner tonight. He is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and working in Manhattan for 6 years. I asked him if it was worth it to attend CMU. Before I could finish he emphatically said, “NO!” He complained that he was riddled with debt and had learned nothing more than his counterparts. He told me he could have attended the University of Delaware for free but he didn’t know any better and did not have the guidance to make a better decision. As he said, “I was 18 years old and never understood the implications of the loans I was signing.” Well said and one of many stories high achievers don’t normally get to hear when they are seeking prestige. I wish more of these individuals would share their stories on CC.</p>