College as Extended Adolescence

Leon Voss argues much enrollment is driven less by signaling or human‑capital goals and more by a desire for a 'liberal boarding school' experience. He claims about 70% of teens enroll but only ~25% finish, suggesting many leave once the social experience loses its appeal. — If college is widely serving as subsidized adolescence, not skill formation, funding, completion metrics, and admissions policy need reframing around purpose and outcomes.