This rang so true... So many years in a college that pushed anyone with potential to busines/finance/accounting and I fell for the spell (to pre-empt the comments, the business school section had a whole wing "donated" by one of the largest accounting firms in the country). Problem is so many thousands did the same that the firms had there pick of the litter and >95% of business school grads got nowhere and nothing. I knew plenty of very qualified classmates even in grad school who couldn't land an interview.
I wound up nearly giving up before I landed a full time job through a temp agency, paying me $13 an hour doing grad level sales auditing for a major global company. And stayed there over a year working my ass off for basically pennies (living in NYC..$13 an hour is a joke). Hated the work, made shit, and I was one of the lucky ones.
I quit and decided on a whole career change. Tried my hand at real estate and hated that too.. Wound up doing the "trade school" approach and after 2 years in school I am happily employed doing something I truly enjoy being an X-ray tech, for very good money and benefits. Making as much or more (especially after benefits) than most people I went to college with and I can honestly say I love the job every day... Which after everything is the most important to me..
And there is plenty of room to move up getting further certifications (CT, MRI, other special procedures ) that I have honest interest in and can make even more money..
But your point about the waste and uselessness, hopelessness of so many higher degrees these days is what drew me here, and obviously the notion of trade schools as a better option. I'm happy and making a nice living doing what I'm doing but still have to worry about the future potential of my job and the market with increased automation. Honestly its not even that big a concern given the health care industry and potential right now, but I'd be stupid to not consider things like that.
Every time I tell people my story though it's weird but I also have a lot of pride being able to say that I walked away from my college degree I hated making shit money to find a path I love making a nice living. If I could tell you anything its that you are NOT ever too old to make a change. Fuck your degree, fuck the sunk time and work, it isn't worth spending your life doing shit you hate. Don't find your "dream" job . Find something you really like. You'll be so much happier at the end of every single day.