This was somewhat interesting, but it would also be interesting to look at long-term impact. Short term you may not have certain skills, but do you make those up in the business world and end up getting back to where you were at after a number of years, or is the downside somehow permanent?

I started tech when I was 18 and left tech at 23 to get a degree in Psychology. On the one hand, I came back to tech and never did Psychology, and am pretty sure my degree in Psych never directly impacted my career, but it did probably open up doors to management for me as my communication skills increased in ways it probably wouldn't have if I had stayed in Tech.

In fact this is what we really want to measure isn't it? Not are you ready for your first job out of college, but did you gain skill that make you a better all around worker.