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There are definite advantages to possessing a college degree, such as a higher earning potential and a greater opportunity for advancement in a highly competitive marketplace. But with hundreds of colleges offering literally thousands of degrees, how are you supposed to know which school and which major are right for you?

There are several simple steps you can take to narrow the field. These steps can be taken by anyone interested in a college education, from high school senior to working mother to busy executive. First, you need to clarify your goal and your motivation by asking yourself one simple question: Why do I want a degree? Is it to enhance your current career? To start a new career? To make a better salary? To go on to obtain an even higher degree? Is it for the education? The respect? To live up to your potential? All are legitimate answers, and you will undoubtedly have one or more of your own...if you are serious about obtaining a degree.

Once you've determined that you are sincerely motivated enough to want a degree, for whatever reason, the next step is to be certain that you are really ready to commit to college. Pursuing a degree can be a time-consuming and expensive proposition—you wouldn't want to get halfway there only to decide it was too difficult. Make sure that you understand what is expected, and are prepared to face the hard facts about what it takes to earn a degree. To accomplish this, ask yourself some simple questions: Do I have 10-20 hours a week to devote to coursework? Can I find or make that time? Am I disciplined enough and mature enough to assume this responsibility, and to see it through to completion? Can I make a commitment of anywhere from two to four years of study to obtain a degree? (If you have any doubts, perhaps take one course and see how it fits into your schedule and your lifestyle.)

When you are sure that college is the correct path for you, the next step is to determine an area of study. In a typical four-year college, the first two years are usually devoted to a general liberal arts education. Only then does one declare a major and begin to take upper-level courses specific to that major. Alternatives for time-pressed people include obtaining an associate's degree—a two-year degree offered by most community colleges—or taking courses from an online college, many of which are self-paced. In this case, you can speed up the degree process if you have the time, or you can extend it to meet your schedule.

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Choice of a major should be based on your interests and aptitudes. There are numerous personality tests which can assist you in clarifying your core interests and character traits, some of which match these qualities to careers in which you can excel and find satisfaction. A quick web search or a visit to a local bookstore will point you toward several personality tests that can help guide you toward a rewarding major. (Try typing "free personality test" or "free personality assessment" in a search engine and let the games begin.)

The web can also provide valuable assistance in finding an accredited college that meets your needs: one which offers the degree you want at a price you can afford. The central questions here are: Should I apply to a local college and commute? Am I willing to relocate to attend a specific school? Or should I stay where I am and enroll in an online college or university?

Each option has benefits and disadvantages. The trick to determining which one is appropriate for you is to compare these options with your current situation. If you live in an area where you have a choice of colleges within commuting range, and one or more of them offer the major you've chosen, you can save thousands of dollars in relocation expenses and room and board by staying where you are and commuting. (Other factors to consider in this scenario include acceptance by the college, tuition, and vehicle costs.) If you have the finances and flexibility to move to the city or town where a specific college campus is located and live there from two to four years, this traditional route can become a rich and unique life experience. For those who are already committed to a job, a career, or a family, or who lack the financial ability to relocate, the online option opens up an entire world of learning that combines convenience and flexibility without sacrificing either quality or a range of courses and degrees.

So: Are you serious about your schooling? Are you interested in finding out more about yourself, your interests and your skills, by doing a personal inventory? If so, take the next step toward a higher education by looking into the schools, courses and degrees that will increase your education, your earning potential, and your self-esteem. See you on graduation day!