> Before we get rid of colleges we need to find an alternative to this.
Even some non-believers recognize that church (or your religious gathering of choice) carries certain social benefits in terms of providing adults of all ages a regular intentional community with people from (hopefully) different backgrounds that's oriented around community service rather than consumerism.
Though like college, people's experiences vary dramatically.
Any group that does things together and not for the aim of profit will do. That "third place" that's mentioned here and there.
Historically you were forced to do religion (by law or peer pressure) so it monopolized the role. But anything that you reasonably like doing will do. As long as you don't treat it like work and take it easy enough that you have time to socialize.
Even some non-believers recognize that church (or your religious gathering of choice) carries certain social benefits in terms of providing adults of all ages a regular intentional community with people from (hopefully) different backgrounds that's oriented around community service rather than consumerism.
Though like college, people's experiences vary dramatically.