Last week I wrote about my career spent writing admissions and fundraising materials for colleges and schools throughout the country. Here are some random thoughts based on that experience:

Four-Year Colleges are Not for Everyone

Too many Americans have bought into the myth that a four-year college degree is the key to success. As a result, many students opt for a four-year college for the wrong reasons (or no reason), blindly chasing an unfocused dream while amassing huge debts. Vocational and trade schools as well as career-focused community colleges make more sense for such students, it seems to me. On a related note, there are too many four-year private colleges in the U.S. today; many of them have folded and many more will fold in the next several years.

A Year Off Can Yield Benefits

Many young people would benefit greatly by taking a year off before going to college, even if that year is spent doing a menial job. Some people might argue, “Well, if they take a year off they might never go to college.” I would respond, “So? If their motivation is that meager, then they shouldn’t be going to college in the first place.”

‘Name’ Brands Can be Vastly Over Rated

My brother attended an Ivy League university and at the end of his senior year he didn’t know one professor well enough to ask for a recommendation. Conversely, I’ve worked with several small colleges with modest name cachet which provide absolutely superb educational experiences. (Ever heard of Juniata College? Roanoke College?)

Ignore the Sticker Price

Too many people eliminate colleges from consideration because of the stated “sticker price.” In fact, families have access to millions of dollars in financial aid, some based on financial need, some on academic merit. I’d add that students need not be academic superstars to receive “academic scholarships,” as many colleges use them as bait to lure students.

Great Teachers Matter

Advice to students: Take courses taught by the very best teachers, the ones who make the subject matter come alive, the ones who instill a lifelong love of learning. I’m troubled by those colleges and universities which undervalue good teaching in tenure decisions. I’m equally troubled by pricey private institutions which use graduate students to teach undergraduates, thereby freeing up their senior professors to conduct research. While taking a tour of one such institution, I asked, “Is it true that graduate students teach many first-year students?” And the tour guide said, “Yes, but they’re not that bad.” And I’m troubled even more by colleges and universities which pay adjunct professors starvation wages in order to trim expenses.

Passion is Key

The older I get, the more I’m convinced that finding a passion — and pursuing it to the fullest — is the key for living a productive life and pursuing a meaningful career. I’ll add a corollary: Go with your gut. So I would say to young people who are weighing post-high school options: Pick one that offers the best chance of helping you find your passion or, if you already have one, pursue it to the fullest. And look to your heart as well as your head in making the choice — of a college or a career.

Sit in the Front of the Class

More advice for students: Be active, not passive. Sit in the front of the class. Ask questions. Get to know your professors outside of class. Be a nooge, in the best sense of the word.

Education Ain’t All About the Books

Even conscientious students have many hours left over after attending classes and doing homework. Savvy students spend their free time taking leadership roles in activities or holding down jobs. Such experiences contribute to personal growth and, as important, enhance resumes. These days a good g.p.a. no longer helps one stand out from the crowd in light of rampant grade inflation. (The average g.p.a. nationwide is now about 3.3, versus 2.3 30 years ago.)

You Can Go Back to College (Sort of)!

If I could turn back the calendar and be a college freshman (oops, “first year”), I’d do so in a New York minute. Sadly, I can’t. But I can still read and take courses and ask questions and hang around young people. That will have to do. And that’s good enough.

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David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary or suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns. dtreadw575@aol.com.