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Article Series: Online Degrees
Is An Online
Degree Program For Me?
How
To Choose the Right Online Degree Program
You have the money. You have done your research
and avoided the diploma mills like a plague. You are now determined
to earn your college degree online and eventually get the job
you want and deserve.
But what are some tips for choosing the right online program?
The last thing a college graduate wants to hear is that the
degree they thought they earned is not that impressive and
more or less a waste of money.
There are some online colleges that just barely get by, so
to speak, in terms of offering truly valuable training, and
then there is the exceptional online program that is specially
designed to give you a complete, collegial-level learning experience.
Tips
1 & 2: Know yourself and know your
computer. Are you self-disciplined and motivated to work
without supervision?
There are many distractions in the home and if there is no
definite scheduling or time management then a student may never
complete an assignment. On the other hand, if a self-motivated
person doesn’t know the basics on how to work on a computer,
then he or she will have just as much difficulty. In order
to take an online course one must be comfortable using a computer,
have easy access to their computer or another computer if the
first goes down, and know how to navigate through the Internet.
Tips
3 & 4: Know your course and have a
plan. Some online colleges offer only textbooks, which can
be impersonal and
not very illustrative. However, some online schools offer an
interactive course, with video lectures, audio recordings,
slides and computer software. A student would be wise to consider,
first of all, if his or her computer can support the audio
and video requirements. If the software requires Internet access,
would it work on a dial up connection or only with broadband
service? Some online colleges can also arrange a degree of
interactivity with instructors and fellow students. If you
are planning to pursue a specific career, ask yourself if your
future employers will look for personal, hands-on experience.
Though some online colleges might provide a mentoring-training
option, others will not. Be aware of what you want when choosing
the right online program and what your potential employers
will want from you.
Tips
5 & 6: Know your instructors and your
school. Anyone with a website can offer his services as a
“certified” teacher
so a serious student would want to verify not only the school
and its legitimate accreditation, but also the credentials
of the instructors that will be teaching. Instructors should
have a name and a profile explaining what he or she teaches
and what makes them the right teacher for you. Other things
you might look for is a teacher’s experience in online education.
Some local classroom teachers are merely given a computer with
Internet access and sold as a qualified online instructor.
The school itself should be accredited, and in association
with either the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
or Council for Higher Education Accreditations (CHEA). Any
other claimed accreditation is either phony or not up to the
national standard. Furthermore, instructors should be supportive
and customer service should be readily available.
Tips
7 & 8: Know the price, the price of
competing schools, and the graduation schedule. While legitimate
online schools
are always expensive, many low-interest financing plans are
available. Some employers offer tuition reimbursements, and
some schools offer special terms for lower income individuals.
If you find a school that has a reasonable price, keep looking.
Though you might still be choosing the first school, it never
hurts to shop around and to see what competitors can offer.
The more research you do the more confident you will be in
reaching a decision. Online schools should offer publicly,
or by request, an outline of the curriculum and timeline for
graduation. A good time frame for earning your degree on a
part time schedule is 2-3 years. Ask questions if the timeframe
is an unusually long or short period of time. Finally, learn
about the graduation process itself. Are there a large number
of enrollments with plenty of satisfied graduates willing to
make a statement? (Some schools will even give references)
How many students have successfully completed the program?
Do a Google search and see if there are any disgruntled students
with a legitimate complaint.
While choosing the right online program can involve an exhaustive
search, since you will be spending thousands of dollars and
investing 2-3 years of your life, it is well worth the effort. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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