If I was going to do this all over again, I think that I'd pick what I want to do in the real world, then get the education needed to do that. (Ended up nowhere near where I started in school, but by the end of college, I was just trying to get done, and get out of there actually.)
Thought I'd like to be a dentist. Ended up with a degree in Mass Communications, advertising and public relations... LOL (Minor in marketing.)
The automotive trades pay pretty well for the most part. Same with chiropractic and physical therapy degrees. (I'd become a "quack-a-pracktor" as I call them, but I like to be able to look in the mirror and like who I see... LOL) The money some of those guys make v/s the education they have is insane. (Takes about 6 years of college, and you end up making 6 figures in a 5 years of work in most cases.)
Reality is when you get out of college, your just another educated person looking for work. (Good thing to be right now, there are tons of jobs around the country for people with degree's.)
Trade schools will get you more money faster, but then your earnings will sort of top out quicker too.
If I went the trade school route, autobody and paint would be my first choice
Pay is pretty good for excellent painters BTW. (Most of the good painters I know are making 100k or more per year, and have only been at it for 5 years to get at that level. The problem is they have a 20 year life span because of the chemicals, so you either die, or move on into some other shop related job.)
