I feel what you're saying, Looking. I did the pioneer/bethel thing and found that I was sorely lacking when it came time to live in the real world. The WTS' whole focus on college has been wrong right from jumpstreet. They should have focused on how to gain a higher education and balance it out with spirituality instead straight out making it a "sin" to go to college. Now they are doing a constant backpedal routine on the whole subject. In Bethel they sorely need college educated skilled persons. If you were raised in the truth and did what you were told you subsisted on being a janitor or bank teller to promote your ministry. If you went to college you were BRANDED as a spirtual deadbeat. If you made it to Bethel you're thrown in cleaning or maintenance or bindery and told to be content with that for we are all God's workers. If you were a worldly person and went to college and THEN came into the truth and just so happened to apply for Bethel, you can be easily welcomed (depending on what field you studied) in as a doctor, lawyer, engineer and the like and no issue ever made of your spirituality because it was completely OK to do that BEFORE you came into the truth.
In fact one brother who was on the personnel committee a while ago, said that the fact that some friends went to college before they came into the truth shows industriousness and the brothers look at that favorably along with their spirituality.
The WTS owes an apology to the tens of thousands that forsook college education and bought into the rhetoric they were spouting for so many years and still are. It wouldn't repair the damage done, but at least it would be a consolation to those whose lives could have been way more meaningful. But no, you get the same arrogant BS along with the periodic articles in magazines and KM's about going to college now to further kingdom interests. Complete and utter bull-shit.
The concentration needs to be on taking an encouraging and NON-JUDGEMENTAL stance and focusing on how to be the best you can be and maintain have a spiritual focus. Spirituality is applying BIBLE PRINCIPLES and not serving the selfish interests of a publishing company.