A college education has never been more important to a potential employee. A degree generally opens doors to opportunities that would not exist for an individual without it. Although time and dedication to studying are a large part of what it takes to graduate, it is still not the entire picture. You must also analyze the financial aspect of earning this degree and whether it is worthwhile in your individual situation.

Degrees are often touted as the best solution for anyone in the job market regardless of the field they are entering. It is true that a degree often passes you through from the stage of "don't even consider" to "a possibility" in the eyes of a hiring manager. But what is often not discussed are those who have earned and spent a considerable sum but are not realizing the benefits of the investment. There are several instances where a candidate may spend thousands of dollars and yet cannot recoup their investment because of job shortages or simply low pay in the field.

Before considering going back to school you should research the field you are entering and find out what the average income would be. If the field averages for example $40k per year yet you are looking to spend $50k for education, it would have to be something to consider as your investment would not pay for itself for quite some time. But average income figures are not without fault as the field may be saturated or at a point where jobs are declining. A decade ago an IT-focused degree would be a sure ticket to a successful and high-paying career, but as many now realize the field is prone to over saturation and outsourcing. Now a successful IT career requires specialization in a certain expertise and experience to back it up.

If after careful evaluation you find that investing in higher education would not pay for itself then it is not the end of the line for you. There are several well-paying professions that do not need a degree and are not prone to some of the economic cycles that drive many careers in the marketplace. These sorts of jobs are mechanics, plumbers, electricians, A/C techs, salespeople, and construction. Many of these jobs require certifiable skills but not necessarily 2-4 year degrees. These jobs are also constantly in demand and almost necessary so it means a layoff is not as likely. Although on average these jobs may appear to pay less than those with degrees, if you were to consider the amount of time and the cost associated with a college education it would sway the results differently.

The decision to return to school is not one to be taken lightly. Careful consideration should be placed on all factors related to your decision. Sometimes the most obvious choice is not necessarily the best one for an individual. Go with what makes sense for you and follow through with your decision to the best of your ability. By doing that you will find success regardless of what certifications or lack thereof you may have.

For years colleges have been saying that there's no money left to give out in student aid by the time a student is taken off a wait-list. You wouldn't know it this year. There are plenty of colleges who haven't filled all their seats because accepted students didn't send in their required deposits. This presents a huge headache for the colleges, and it's your opportunity to make their headache bigger.

One of my students was awarded $5,000 in grants from his # 1 college, but his # 2 college, which wait-listed him, called him after the dreaded May 1 deposit deadline to say they had awarded him $20,000 in grants if he would come. That represented a total difference of $60,000 over 4 years. Read: $60,000 of less debt for the student after graduation.

If you have a college that still has your student on a wait-list, I suggest you rethink your financial aid strategy in the following steps:

(1) Have your student call the wait-list school and express how much s/he still wants to attend that college. Colleges like to hear the "love" over the phone to help them decide who's getting off their wait-list first. For the student to call is a big plus (okay...if you don't like the wait-listed school, you're engaged in a lie; if you do like it, you're engaged in a strategy).

(2) If the college notifies you that your student's been taken off the wait-list, be sure to ask for their financial aid package. If it doesn't exceed the amount of your # 1 college, notify them in writing that "another college" offered a larger package, as if to suggest that your student would still like to attend, but reality's face looks like 20 miles of bad road. If they ask for a copy of the other school's offer, send it happily. If they come back with an offer that now exceeds the # 1 college's offer, do this:

(3) use the wait-listed college's new offer to ask for more money from your # 1 choice. Tell # 1 that you may have to break their heart because you received a larger offer elsewhere and that, after all, a larger debt is not something you regard as part of your "award" for working hard, being committed, and achieving all through high school.

(4) You can keep this ping-pong game going until September. How long you want to keep it going is up to you. It's your money that's at stake, and the colleges will take every dime if you let them. Don't give in, and don't give up until your gut tells you that you've gone as far as you're going to go.

Huge Tip: No college will ever rescind an offer due to a student's persistent requests for more money. It would be a catastrophic public relations nightmare for the college to do so, and I have a $1,000 cash reward offer for any student who can produce any letter that says such a thing.

Go ahead...call the college that wait-listed your student. There could be a pile of money waiting for you from 2 schools.