First, let’s talk about your choice of school.  Do you want to go to any Ivy League college?  According to ivycoach.com, Princeton is the cheapest Ivy Leagues University and tuition and fees cost just over $61,000 in the 2016-2017 academic year!  Yeah, that’s a little pricey for me.  So if you are like me, and you don’t have Ivy League money a state school would be a great alternative!  Even better, you could attend a state college (which is usually cheaper than private schools) in your home state and save on out-of-state-tuition!  Community college may also be an option and they are even cheaper than state colleges.  Although community colleges may not offer the degree one is seeking, It is not uncommon for a student to start at a community college and after a year or two of taking all of their prerequisites, transfer to a nearby state college.  There are several ways to get an education you just have to realistically look at your options and devise a plan.

If you are going to earn a degree or pursue a certification, you have to know how much your degree/certification is going to cost you (in time and dollars) and you should know how it will benefit you when you graduate.  Do not choose to be clueless!  The cost to get an education can be found on the school’s website and you can get an idea of what kind of money to expect from sites like salary.com  And if you are not willing to settle for the income commensurate with your career choice, then you might want to reassess.  You also need to know the marketability of your prospective degree.  For example, teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and mechanics are usually in demand and these professionals can find jobs just about anywhere.  But if your degree is in Egyptology, Bag piping, Canadian Studies, Comic Art, or Auctioning, your career opportunities are much more narrow.  I know in this American culture, it is popular to encourage people to “follow their heart” no matter what the cost, but that is just unwise.  I’m not telling you to chase the money and work a job you hate because it pays well, but I am saying you have, and will likely gain more, responsibilities that must be considered.  It may be possible to satisfy your heart’s desire through another means other than your occupation like through volunteer services, a second job, or a society club.  It’s just something else to think about.

Like I said earlier, I have a high regard for education.  People should never stop learning and getting a formal education is a great way to learn.  But, just like most things in life, there are multiple ways to go about it. Investing in an education can be a big step and it is worth the extra time it takes to count the cost (Luke 14:28-31). Doing some research and planning

will bring focus to your goals, making you more efficient and can easily save you tens of thousands of dollars!  This gift of life God gives is short (James 4:14) and too precious to waste.  And we only have a limited amount of resources (ability, time, and money).  So, if you, or anybody you know, is pondering the thought of getting an education or some training, I recommend taking the time to do some detailed planning.  Besides, like Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to plan, you are planning to fail.”