To that end, I propose a theoretical pre-college regimen called “grownup training.” Specifically: six months spent working in a factory, six in a restaurant, six on a farm and six in the military or performing another public service such as building houses, teaching algebra or changing bedpans.

Very soon, millions of high-schoolers will run a nerve-rattling gauntlet, perhaps for weeks: They will yank open their mailboxes and flip through the envelopes like one of those rapid-fire, dollar-bill sorting machines in all the gangster movies. Girth—that’s what they’re after. Because the plumper the package, the better the odds it contains that which matters most: a college acceptance letter!

Before triumph and tragedy ensue, I have a modest proposal for the future class of 2016. No matter what happens in the coming weeks, grab some solitude and contemplate one very important question: Am I really ready for college?

With $1 trillion (that’s with a “t”) in student loans outstanding, your answer could well mean more—to your academic experience and your overall personal development—than the reputation of any ivy-wreathed institution that will have you.

In a recent post about income inequality in America (see What Would You Give To Be In The 1%?), I made the case that society should strive for the right level of inequality—one that, best as possible, reflects the relationship between sacrifice and reward. All else equal, I argued, many well paid people are expected to be on call, assume more risk, and generally neglect other aspects of their lives to a greater degree than those who are not paid as well. Plenty of people will choose not to make those sacrifices, and size of their wallets (for better or worse) will often reflect that choice.

The big challenge: ensuring that as many people as possible have the opportunity to make that choice for themselves.

As many readers pointed out, having that opportunity means being able to compete for well paying jobs and careers. (While most people can serve a cup of coffee, most cannot design the next Ipod or manage a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio.) It means, in short: learning a valuable set of skills.

Easy enough, you say, especially if you get into a decent school. But here’s the rub: Having access to an education is just the entry fee. To really learn something (as opposed to completing homework and navigating the occasional test), you have to be ready to receive that knowledge—to inhale it, with aggression, satisfaction, even glee.

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