Is going to college really worth it? Probably so, but it’s not that clear cut, and economics have been arguing the point for 30 years. Most studies tend to show that college-educated people end up making far more money in the course of their lifetimes. (The niggle: Usually, it’s not worth paying for a private university.)

Oh my! This is not what we really want to hear. As parents, we want to know that the financial investment we make in our children will be returned to them ten-fold. Adults returning to college hope for the same return on their investment. It’s good to think the all efforts will be rewarded, but the truth is that some will come up short. In his article, Infographic of the Day: Is College Really Worth It? , Cliff Kuang gives us some amazing factoids.

Every year, more than 2 million high school students enroll in college. After the first year, 1 out of 3 will drop out. Collectively wasting $9 billion every year.

The most expensive college after room and board is Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. It costs approximately $149/day, $54,410/year. Take that times a 4 year degree and you have invested $217,640. For that much money, you could buy a Ferrari!

Compare the tuition, room and board at Yale, an Ivy League College, to an in-state university and you will invest an additional $27,500/year at Yale. With that investment, you could expect to earn approximately $56,000/year. You could expect to earn about $49,600 with your in-state university education. If you chunk out all of the numbers, it will take you 17 years to make up the difference in tuition.

We will re-visit this information from time-to-time and see what other conclusions we can draw from the data. What is your plan for college? Will you go directly from high school to work, or will you go to a technical college, or university? Make sure you compare the data on the cost of the tuition with realistic earning capacity before signing your enrollment form.

According to Joseph Grenny from wetfeet.com, you should have the following conversations:

Ask long-timers about past practices — How have layoffs been handled in the past? Is advance notice given? Are cutbacks across the board or targeted? How are the decisions made?

Clarify compensation surprises with HR — Will the company be paying normal bonuses or annual raises this year?

Assess your general risk levels — How likely is a layoff in your division? Department? Team? Job? If there are open forums with executives or other higher-ups, these are great places to ask these questions.

Assess your specific risk level — Find out where you stand with your supervisor. What skills, job changes, projects or other actions would make you less dispensable?

Have a conversation with yourself — What should you be doing now to prepare yourself to survive a layoff?

I think #5 is the most important conversation of all. You need to put yourself in survivor mode should the layoff actually happen. Perhaps you need to focus on learning some new skills, or pay down some debt. Be sure you address all of the conversations should your number come up and it will lessen the blow.

Lisa Seasholtz from wetfeet.com has some common answers to the question and gives the rationale on why you should give your answer very careful thought. Here are some answers from the list:

• “In your job”
• “At this company”
• “Married, living in Connecticut, with one child”
• “A partner”
• “Back in school – full-time”
• “I don’t know”

Think about how you would answer the question. Make sure you click on the link to find out how to improve your response.

DWI: Drinking while interning – no getting sloshed at the company picnic!

Deflate your ego – respect EVERYONE.

Work time isn’t nap time – no explanation necessary.

Show skills, not skin – dress appropriately. Take clues from your co-workers on what to wear.

Let the adults talk – no baby talk, please.

Say it to my face – back stabbing isn’t ever appropriate.

Research companies in your area and see if you can find any who are hiring summer interns. Even if you find that you do not like the job, you will expand your personal network, which is always a good idea. You may even discover a new career path that will provide a lifetime of personal fulfillment.

Do an informational interview when you are trying to decide on changing careers.

Get by with a little help from your friends in the form of networking.

Create your own job. If you see an unmet need, fill it!

Go back to the future and embrace your past.

Be true to your school. Go back and explore how to use your talents to add to the campus community. You meet some alums who could help you.

Make like the Matrix and embrace cyberspace. There are thousands of career sites online that can provide advice for you.

Play sleuth and determine which companies are growing.

Contact someone you admire and ask them for advice.

Get physical and enjoy the great outdoors. You will meet new people, and get energized at the same time.

Host a new book club or career action group.

You may be surprised when you tap into the resources mentioned. Good luck in your quest!

You must locate the name of the person who is in charge of hiring. Here are some clues on how to find them:

• Read the job posting
• Call the company
• Look on the internet
• Ask your personal contacts

There may be cases when you cannot find the hiring manager’s name, especially if you are answering an ad that only lists a post office box. Check out the rest of the article for more tips on how to address your cover letter if you encounter this situation.

Christopher & Banks Corporation has established a scholarship program to support current undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education and current teachers pursuing a master’s degree in teaching.

The Christopher & Banks Teacher Scholarship Program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America. Scholarship Management Services is the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.

Please take a few moments and complete the application. You never know, you may be one of the lucky winners!

The economy is recovering but it is slow. If you’re in need of a new job, it’s too slow. You can’t wait several years until things are back to their pre-recession levels. Fortunately, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified 20 jobs that are growing at a rapid rate between now and 2018. These occupations are in high demand now and will continue on this trajectory for the next decade.

Here are 10 of the top 20 occupations:

1. Biomedical Engineers
2. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
3. Home Health Aides
4. Personal and Home Care Aides
5. Financial Examiners
6. Medical Scientists, except Epidemiologists
7. Physicians Assistants
8. Skin Care Specialists
9. Biochemists and Biophysicists
10. Athletic Trainers

As you can see, the list encompasses a wide variety of careers. Some need a college degree, and some require vocational training. It is important to be able to identify your true interests before embarking down  a career path. You will save time and money if you discover what you really want to do, then stick to your plan!

That being said, I think we should not kvetch about the bad supervisors, but celebrate the outstanding bosses, leaders, and mentors who allow us to blaze new trails and encourage us to think outside the bun. I think the best bosses are the ones that lead you to the edge of a cliff, strap a bungee cord on your ankle, then give you a little nudge. The best thing that could happen is that you learn to fly. If you are not so good at flying the first time, you have the cord for him or her to drag you back to the top.

I recall an incident a couple years ago when I had worked very hard on a project for a government agency. The harder I worked, the more complicated the project became. It seemed like there was nothing I could do to complete the task in a format that was agreeable to all parties involved. One morning, I received yet another nasty gram informing me that there were still issues with the document that I had labored over for so long. That was the last straw – I was done. I truly did not know what to do. I felt as if I had been thrown under a 47 passenger school bus, only to rise from the rubble and be mowed over again. However, when I was laying face down on the asphalt in the crosswalk, my boss stood me up and dusted the tire tracks from my back. He simply said, “Do not let them do this to you. We will regroup and it will be ok.”

Long story short, it was ok. That frightful day was the worst day of the year for me, but it also ended up being the best, because I had the support of my boss and our organization. Take a few moments and reflect upon some great moments in your career. Chances are, there was someone in your workplace, college, or community who believed in you and made you who you are today. Have a great weekend!