Sounds like you went to a pretty terrible college. I went to a community college and then a major university and it was nothing like that.
College may not be the best choice for everyone, but I don't think it's any better to say no one should go to college. I would absolutely not be where I am today if I hadn't gone to school, and yeah the student loans suck... but I also can be pretty sure what my alternative would have been given where some of my childhood friends ended up.
I'm glad that school worked out for you so well! I agree, That some people can really benefit from college. But I think people really need to sit down and decide what is best for them personally.