I feel for you. The trouble with these types of schools is that they make you believe that when you come out of school everybody will be beating down your door for a job. As you are finding out, that isn't the case. When I worked at the marina we had tons of guys come in applying for jobs, who had been to a school like Marine Mechanics Institute. When we told them we needed people with years of experience actually working on boats, they told us they were hearing that every place they applied. We actually hired two as entry level techs, and ended up letting both go because they couldn't keep up the pace and really knew very little.
Bottom line, you are going to have to get some experience, and the way you do that is take a starting position that may be below what you want, but at least it will get your foot in the door. Then, as they see how good you are, you can move up, and even use that job as a springboard to better and better jobs.
As for the collectors beating on your door, that is tough. I was in credit and collections for lots of years, and they only know one thing.........you owe the money and they want it. Your options would be to possibly claim bankruptcy, which would get you off the hook entirely, go to a non profit credit counciling service who will try to negotiate extended terms for you, or try to work out a better plan with the collectors who are dogging you.
Bankruptcy is not the horrible, end-of-your-credit-life situation some people make it out to be. I'm certainly not suggesting you do that, but in today's economy it is becoming more and more common. My one Son had to do it about 12 years ago, he got hooked up with a girl who drained every cent he had and then ran up lots of credit card debt. As soon as the bankruptcy was finalized, he started getting applications for new credit cards and solicitations for new car loans. Today he has fully recovered, and has bought two brand new cars in the last 5 years, two boats, and has Visa and M/C, all with great credit. So it isn't the end of the world.
But, if you can work out a plan with the collectors, that is much better, and if you hint that you are considering bankruptcy, they sometimes realize they had better work with you before they lose everything.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Don