The choice between CERTs and DEGREEs is definitly gamble either way (as most things in life are). There will be success and failure stories in either direction. The thing, I believe, you should look at it what makes the most sense for you...don't try to follow the career paths of others.

Getting your CERTS right away will definitly get your foot in the door and get you a good paying job quickly. Some jobs will then pay for you to go get your education (degree). Most likely, though, you will not keep your initial job for the rest of your life. Heck, I didn't keep my first 4 computer jobs, with six years of IT experience. BTW...the last job I left had a salary of $56K, which is pretty good in Louisiana. So, if (most likely when) you leave your job, what will get you your new job?

Experience and CERTs will go a long way, but if you don't have a degree, you will be hitting the platau that tonybradley mentioned. Basically, unless you go the do-it-yourself (self-employment) route or you got a connection, you NEED a degree.

Now, there is no debating the fact, that getting a degree while you are young is infinitly easier than juggling school, wife(?), kids(?), and all the crap that comes your way later in life. You simply have more time and less restrictions when you're young. I say while your young and have lots of free time, go to school and get your degree. Heck, take 16 to 18 hours a semester if you're in a hurry. Besides, if you want your CERTs later, they are something you can break up and fit into just about any schedule, no matter how hectic or they are something you can knockout quickly. A degree is very hard to break up and gets very tiring when it gets dragged out for many years.

To answer the original question:
I am A+ certified and needless to say it was easy to obtain. I am currently reaching out for MCSE and want to know if anybody else is MCSE and what is there take on that particular certification? Any suggestions?
Don't jump from A+ to MCSE. Get your Net+ first. It will give you a good foundation for the MCSE. If you want your simplest route through the MCSE, as well, the A+ and Net+ will buy your way out of an Elective Exam, but you have to request the credit from Microsoft. Additionally, get your MCSA along the way. The elective Exam for the MCSA is a joke compared to the core four MCSE/MCSA exams AND it counts toward the MCSE. Check out the tracks [a href="http://www.microsoft.com/mcp"]here[/a]. You can essentially reduce your actual studying to 5 exams...the core 4 and the design course. Just look out for Directory Services *cringe*. It's BY FAR the nastiest exam of the core 4....Good Luck!