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Article Series: Online Degrees
Is An Online
Degree Program For Me?
Comparing
Online Degree Programs with College Campus Degrees
It is no lie that online degree programs are
gaining popularity with students. With this drastic change
in the education system come many concerns. The most prominent
is how online degree programs compare with those offered at
physical locations. Students wonder how they will stack up.
The most important thing to consider is that the school you
are going to be working with online is an accredited
school.
There are some schools that are handing out meaningless diplomas
with no accreditation attached. These “degree mills” are strictly
out for your money and should be avoided. You will often get
what you pay for, and if a program sounds too good to be true
then there is a chance that it might be.
Many
colleges will offer the same degree programs online as
they do at their traditional campuses. Some will allow you
to take the entire course online, while others will require
class attendance for certain projects and labs. Some colleges
have even found that with more students taking courses online
there are smaller class sizes – allowing for more personalized
attention. School budgets can also focus more on degree materials
making the over all quality of the classes better.
Online schools often require their teachers to have a Master
or Doctorate in the subject that they are teaching. Higher
trained teachers mean a better education for you. Look for
teachers with several years experience in online training.
It
is a common misconception that taking courses online requires
less effort and commitment than an on-campus school. This is
not true. While it is true that courses can be taken when it
is convenient for the student, they usually will have to put
in the same amount of study time and effort. Online students
also have to keep themselves motivated and on task as there
is no set class schedule to keep them focused. They will still
need to plan on about 15 hours a week minimum per course.
It is also a misconception that students online do not get
the experience of interacting with other students. Some colleges
require attendance for labs and group projects. Others encourage
study groups either in person or via email and chat rooms.
There are even specific websites for connecting distance-learning
students to each other. Not only will you get to meet students
in your own area, but also there is the possibility of meeting
students from all over the world without ever having to leave
your house.
A big concern with employers is whether or not a student gets
enough training in working with other people when studying
online. While test scores remain similar between candidates
from traditional and online schools, online students do not
have the day-to-day interaction and team building that comes
from attending classes. In these instances, it might be helpful
to look for a school that supplements online training with
class or lab time.
On the other hand, employers in a more technical field will
look at an online degree as a bonus. Students who have taken
online degree programs are often comfortable with the ins and
outs of computers and the technology that they use. They are
more comfortable with the internet and word processing programs,
and often already have a preference for technical jobs.
When interviewing for jobs, you will want to be aware that
although employers may be familiar with online schools, they
may not understand exactly how they work and the quality of
education you received. While you should not try to hide how
you earned your degree, it is not wise to bring it up if you
are not prepared. Be ready for questions and be able to defend
your schooling choice.
With all this considered, there is no guarantee that an online
degree will land you a job. Just as there is no guarantee that
a degree at a traditional college will land you a job. A lot
of the effectiveness of an online degree will depend on your
employer. Some consider it an asset, while others will still
prefer a traditional degree. Before pursing an online degree,
talk with business people in your desired career field and
get their opinion on it. You might find that they even prefer
an online degree! Always remember, too, that if there are no
other options, any degree is better than not having one.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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