"A recession is a temporary slump in a nation's gross national product. According to Goldman Sachs, the largest investment bank on Wall Street, the U.S. economy will have undergone a recession by the close of 2008. Yale University economist Robert Shiller agrees, predicting a steady drop in home prices over the next few years. Besides declining home sales, the 2008 nose-dive could also bring job losses and falling values for stocks and bonds. Fortunately, this financial cloud has a silver lining. A recession gives you a good excuse to enroll in school. Not only can you duck a possible layoff, but returning to college can help you gain useful new skills that could boost both your employability and your paycheck.

Reason #1: Career Advancement The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that well-learned workers generally gross more annual pay than less-educated employees. While people who only have high-school diplomas earn an average yearly salary of around $31,000, for example, employees with doctoral degrees garner a mean annual pay of about $75,000.

When researching possible degree paths, seek out programs that can improve your skills in your chosen field. If you work in middle management, for example, a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) program could help you catapult into a senior management position. Paralegals or legal secretaries might look into advanced law degree programs, including human rights law, commercial law, and international property law. A medical assistant could upgrade his or her paycheck by gaining certification as a registered nurse (RN). But remember, advanced training doesn't just increase your salary; it can also lead to more job responsibility, increased workplace challenges, and higher career satisfaction.

Reason #2: Find Your Calling Many people enjoy their jobs, but not everyone has a career that makes them feel personally fulfilled. Still, some lucky individuals have managed to find careers with wonderful emotional rewards, from public schoolteachers to veterinarians to marriage counselors. If you want to obtain a more meaningful job, here are some tips to get you started:

* Match your personal interests with your career goals: whether you have a deep love for gardening, writing, or photography, degrees exist that can help you discover a job that jives with your passions. * Use your current skill set to break into a different industry: if you are a teacher who wants to change careers, for example, you might use your public-speaking experience to study for a job in human resources or radio broadcasting. * Discuss your future plans with your family: since changing careers may cause a temporary drop in income, it's important that your family understands your reasons for pursuing a new trade. * Conduct informational interviews: find someone working in your desired career field and ask them questions about training, required degrees, salary ranges, and typical job duties.

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