One issue facing prospective college students today is that educational opportunities outside college are thriving thanks to the internet. Does the existence of Google, Wikipedia and the University of Phoenix spell the end of traditional college campus based education?

That depends on what you want out of college and how you respond to different learning environments.  Keep in mind that according to my definition, winning the college game means going on to live a more successful and satisfying life after college than you would have done if you hadn't gone to college. Also remember that in my book I deliver the news that what you get out of college will depend on what you do that helps you better understand and develop your strengths and to discover how to apply your strengths to something you are passionate about. If you can do that as effectively studying on your own with the help of the internet, then perhaps you don't need the traditional college experience.

Before you decide to skip the benefits of college, however, consider all the benefits. First, there is the matter of gaining a credential that could open up future career opportunities.  You may be able to learn just as much on your own, but having a college degree shows potential employers that you have the ability to manage the multi-year project of getting through college while performing well enough to satisfying your professors.  If you earn a degree with a particular professional focus, that may signal to future employers that not only could you graduate from college, but that you've also learned the basic skills and knowledge needed to work as, for example, an accountant or a nurse. In some cases the degree is also a requirement for gaining a professional license to work in your chosen career.

So you may be able to gain the training advantages of college on your own, but without the credential you may not do as well professionally.  Then why not go for on accredited online degree instead of moving away to college? Again, it depends on your goals. If you are sure you know what you want to do as a career, and just need the degree to enter that profession, an online degree may be your most practical means of earning that degree while still managing work and family responsibilities. 

If you have the option, however, of spending a few years as a full-time college student at a residential college consider the benefits of an immersion experience. College at is best isn't just a credential earning exercise or even a set of training. To win the big payoff in the college game it helps to be open to transformative experiences, experiences that inspire you to pursue a live you weren't even thinking about when you went off to college. 

There is something about being in a community of other students that supports exploration and calculated risk-taking which, so far at least, hasn't been completely duplicated in online classes or MySpace interactions. It is conventional wisdom that college students learn at least as much from their fellow students and the activities they engage in between classes as they do from their courses and professors. If you are lucky enough to be able to experience that learning seize that opportunity. If you can't, and want to pursue an education outside the traditional campus route, then I wish you every success, and encourage you to look for other places where you can surround yourself with people who are actively learning and exploring how to create more successful and satisfying futures.