Must admit Pompey you just done yourself a wrong un.
I have friends that spent years getting degrees and cant get a decent job. I was total **** at school, and joined the army at 15 and 8 months.
Now I am a consultant to the likes of SAP, Ericsson, HP, Symantec and have been since I left the army in 1996.
My acedemics certainly did not get me to where I am now. What has got me to where I am is my work ethics and dedication to do the best I can every single day that I work.
As for your Mcdonalds example I think that is a bit insulting. Infact one of my mates that spent years getting a degree is now a Mcdonalds store manager..the reason being????? no real world experience in his field.