Students Don’t Need Rooftop Pools and Other Reasons Why Being Young and Broke in College is a Good Thing

I recently received a mailing from a new apartment complex being constructed near the campus of the college where both of my sons attend. It was a large, shiny (and expensively printed) postcard which featured all the amenities and modern conveniences this new “student focused” living center had, and how my student would find this new home to be a perfect fit for their time spent at college.

“This sounds perfect!” I thought. I mean, who doesn’t want the very best for their college student? A...