Questions: Education & Career

Would it open new doors for employment?

As a guy who just recently graduated High School with a GPA of 3.5 and is now currently in community college, I feel like all of this work is for nothing if I haven't done much extracurricular activities (never competed in any sports) in my high school years to win many scholarships. I was born and grew up in a state where education is unfortunately devalued (Arizona) so the only options for me are my state universities (ASU, UofA and NAU) since they're more affordable and not as unrealistically selective. My GPA is fairly good enough for my preferred Out-Of-State Universities like NYU and Boston University (BU) but their annual tuitions are even much more expensive than all of the AZ Universites. I don't want to sound cocky or spoiled but I feel like I deserve better than all the AZ universities being offered.

Whether people like to admit it or not, American University Colleges in general, are just too expensive and it takes a super talented individual to win many scholarships and get into higher-ranked, top Universities so for most part, all that hard work in high school is for nothing.

I recently got offered a full ride scholarship to Tuskegee university to study chemical engineering. I love chemistry and have always excelled in science so I know I would enjoy it. However, I am also looking at enlisting in the coast guard. I would like to be a damage Controlman in the coast guard and when I got out I could either go back to school on the govt dime or I could go to welding school. Both are appealing. If I go to college I will get my degree and get to work in a field I believe I would love. I d make decent money and it d be a fine job. If I went with the coast guard I would get to use both my intelligence and my hands. I am very hands in and I like to get my hands dirty. I love welding and working with my hands. They would pay for my school when I got out. And I will know I did something amazing with those 4 years. I know if I look back I will not regret the coast guard. I can t say the same for college. Eventually I would like to get my degree, but I want real world life experience too. I m not interested in being an officer. Any advice is welcomed especially veterans, college students, or anyone with life experience. Thanks.
Something to consider also is Tuskegee isn't exactly a dream college. Veteran status helps with admissions at more prestigious universities and even if said university didn't give me a scholarship, the 9/11 gi bill would pay for it. Not insulting Tuskegee as you make your education what it is, but it doesn't hurt to go to a better ranked university with more funding. Plus what if the coast guard lets me discover a new passion?