Is College Still Worth It?
November 11, 2025
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The Truth About Admissions, Debt & AI’s Role in the Future of Higher Ed
College costs are soaring, mental health struggles are rising, and the path to success looks more uncertain than ever.
In this conversation, Eric Kasimov talks with Senan Khawaja, Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI-powered platform helping students and universities rethink the college admissions process.
They explore the question that so many students and parents are asking: Is college still worth it?
Together they unpack how higher education, entrepreneurship, and technology are colliding in real time.
What You’ll Hear in “Is College Still Worth It?”
Why Student Debt Is Becoming a Startup Killer
- Graduates are entering the workforce buried in loans — limiting risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and early wealth building.
The Mental Health Toll of College Admissions
- The pressure to perform — from test scores to applications — is pushing students into burnout before they even arrive on campus.
The Rise and Fall of the “Test-Optional” Movement
- What began as an equity effort during COVID has led to record-low acceptance rates and confusion for students.
Why SATs and ACTs Are Making a Comeback
- Top universities like Yale and Dartmouth and Ohio State are reinstating tests after data showed they better predict student success.
How Grade Inflation and Participation Culture Skew Reality
- When nearly half of high school students graduate with A averages, the system stops rewarding true excellence.
What Resilience Really Looks Like in Education and Entrepreneurship
- Learning to fail, iterate, and push through challenges connects the classroom to the startup world.
How AI Can Democratize Opportunity — Not Just Automate It
- AI can open access to guidance and prep once reserved for the privileged, creating a fairer admissions landscape.
TL;DR
College isn’t automatically the path to success anymore. In this Entrepreneur Perspectives segment, Eric Kasimov and Senan Khawaja dig into the rising cost of higher education, mental health pressure, and the comeback of SATs — and how AI might make the system fairer for everyone.
Is College Still Worth It Quotes
“When hard work stops being rewarded, everything breaks.” — Senan Khawaja
“Students are showing up to college already burned out from the race to get in.” — Eric Kasimov
“AI can’t replace human effort — but it can level the playing field.” — Senan Khawaja
The College Debate: For and Against
For College:
College still opens doors — to networks, mentorship, and structure that’s hard to replicate. For many careers (medicine, engineering, law), it’s still the baseline. It can teach discipline, collaboration, and delayed gratification.
Against College:
But the cost-to-value ratio has shifted. Many graduates face debt that limits their freedom, while skills, experience, and entrepreneurship now offer faster and cheaper alternatives. AI tools and online learning are making real-world knowledge more accessible than ever.
Whether you believe in college or not, the real question is what kind of learning and resilience the next generation will need most.
About Senan
Senan Khawaja is the Co-founder and CEO of Kollegio, an AI startup rethinking college admissions and guidance. A Stanford grad, he’s focused on making higher education more accessible and data-driven. Learn more about kollegio.ai
About Entrepreneur Perspectives
Real conversations on business, creativity, and life—hosted by Eric Kasimov. Founder of KazSource.
More from the KazSource Network
About that Em-Dash That Everyone Now Seems to Hate — KazCM
21% of College Students Use Financial Aid to Bet on Sports — SportsEpreneur
AI Security and 15M in Series B Funding — Deep Sentinel interview
Entrepreneur Perspectives is produced by QuietLoud Studios — part of the KazSource network.
Get in touch with Eric Kasimov:
X | LinkedIn
Credits:
Music by Jess & Ricky — SoundCloud