I cannot give a perspective upon life after high school, for I am a junior in high school, but I do have some thoughts on college (parenthetically, I have only browsed through the responses so I do not know if this was noted, but I figured to post it anyways). Maybe, in my limited view, I am missing something, and am biased, or answering an off topic thread with and off topic response.
However it seems that college is a great chance that some people, in other regions of the world, really have to strive for, and not take lightly. In some regions of the world, there are not as great opportunities out there for them for something, financial or otherwise, is limiting them from furthering their education.
I have heard many people say about that they are going to college for the parties. I have heard people mention that they want freedom, but the same people not once mention a word about the education they will receive. So maybe, college does offer exactly what it says it does, and all colleges offer something really great, but some people decide not to take it seriously, and go on for the "fun". That is not a college's fault, but all those hormones that seem to take over, and to at least me, when infused into their brains make them go wacko

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So my answer to the question of whether or not colleges give false hope, is that they do not. It is all in what a person decides to do with the opportunity he is given. It is all on the amount of focus a person gives. And maybe even it is the other way around. Maybe, some people put false advertisements on colleges, labelling them of lower rank, when isn't college, not a name, but what you get out of it? and how good the professors you find are, and how you use their knowledge to the best degree you can?
Sorry if this was mumbo jumbo. I hope it makes sense to somebody somewhere, even if it isn't me

I also inserted a bunch of spaces. Hope it makes it a bit more readable.
Daisy