May 23, 2013

Finishing Your Degree in Online College

Though we know how important and valuable our educations are, life doesn’t always make going to college easy. Many students today have to juggle school with full-time jobs and other commitments, and in too many cases, students find themselves overwhelmed and step away from school so they can focus more time and energy on the demands of their hectic lives. But when things slow down, going back to school and finishing your degree is one of the smartest moves you can make, as a college degree comes with a great deal of opportunities and chances for a brighter future. And online college makes earning that degree more accessible than ever.

College degree holders enjoy many benefits that put the costs of college and hard work into perspective. For one, many entry-level jobs in many different industries require a bachelor’s degree in any field for an applicant to even be considered. Having a bachelor’s degree entitles you to better employment positions, more opportunities for promotions, and higher earning potential. All of these things will benefit you and your family in the future, as satisfying and fulfilling work with a livable salary make an excellent framework for continued success and overall quality of life. If you have or intend to have a family, your financial stability and acknowledge of the value of dedication, perseverance, and hard work will benefit them exponentially well into the future.

Benefits of Online College

Even if you began you education in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, you can see it through to the finish line in a distance learning program from an online college or university. For students who stepped away from college because of such challenges as a full-time work schedule, a family to raise, or the realization that trudging to class each day simply isn’t for them, online college is a great alternative that provides increased flexibility in scheduling. Students can go to class from their living room couches or favorite coffee shops, creating a less stringent yet still quality work environment. Not having to commute to campus saves plenty of time which allows students extra time to spend with family or at the office.

You can transfer credits and transcripts to accredited online colleges and pick up with your program where you left off. Or, if your time away from school has changed your mind, you may want to pick up a new field of study. Online colleges offer degrees of all levels in virtually any major, so a bit of research will reveal the school and program that works best for you. Do be sure to check on your school’s accreditation before enrolling; degrees from accredited online schools are just as valuable to employers as degrees from traditional colleges and universities.

GED to PhD: Online Degrees for All

Students of all ages and levels of education are becoming increasingly aware of all the benefits online colleges and distance learning programs have to offer. Particularly for those who must work full-time or manage a family, the accessibility of online schooling offers second – or third, or fourth – chances for students to reach whatever next level of education they set their sights on.

Online education has grown in not only popularity but in possibility as well. Where it used to be favored by graduate students working full time and trying to earn master’s degrees, or busy moms and dads going back to college to complete an unfinished degree, online learning is an option for everyone from high school students to PhD hopefuls.

General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Online

For students who were unable to complete high school for whatever reason, the business world can be unforgiving and unwelcoming. Without a high school diploma or equivalent, there are much, much fewer opportunities available to job applicants. Luckily, obtaining that essential diploma doesn’t have to mean four-hour night classes and impossible exams anymore. Accredited online high schools such as Lincoln Academy and GED Academy offer courses and exams to help students graduate high school, whether it’s been months or years since their last quiz.

Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees Online

A large portion of distance learning participants are undergraduate students earning associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. So many various fields are available for online study, ranging from arts to business to science. Studying for your bachelor’s or associate’s degree online can be a great way to balance an otherwise busy life or fast-track your education and, ultimately, your professional career. The business world is catching up with the times as well, and many, if not most, employers report viewing graduates of online colleges and brick-and-mortar schools as being on equal footing. There are a great deal of colleges that are comprised strictly of distance learning, as well as a growing number of traditional colleges offering partially or fully online programs.

Master’s and Doctorate Degrees Online

Accredited master’s and doctorate degree programs are increasing as well in the online learning world. Because of the focused and intensive nature of this level of education, some fields of study will require students to complete an amount of coursework offline, whether in a practical, on-the-job setting or in a traditional classroom. For students juggling jobs, families, fieldwork, and undergraduate debt, attending graduate school online slightly lightens the burden by taking away the time factor of commuting to a campus and increases the scheduling flexibility with home study.

For students looking to advance an their education with a graduate degree, or for those looking to get their educations started, online college may have your perfect accredited program for anything from your GED to your PhD.

Social Media, SEO and Other New Media Marketing Jobs

New Media Marketing

Infographic by College.com

Safeguarding Your Facebook

With the level of ease that social media enthusiasts can update their favorite sites, not all take into consideration the repercussions that posts can have on their professional careers. The moment it hits the web, whether it be an embarrassing photo or a comment on a political topic, all is fair game to whomever is capable of viewing it. It can seem unfair to weigh an employment decision on how scandalous your spring break photo album is, but employers are now using social media to take a candid look at potential employees and will judge based on that material, fair or not. Paying attention to the details of your content and privacy settings can save you from falling out of consideration for your dream job.

Not All Photos are Worth Sharing

While your best friends and family may find it entertaining to see the video of you acting rowdy last weekend, it is not encouraging anyone to hire you. Inappropriate photos or videos do not show the extra hours you put in at the office for a big presentation or the admirable work ethic you live by (especially if any of it alludes to something illegal). Avoid categorizing yourself by choosing your photo and video content wisely. Consider social media sites the water-cooler of the 21st century; do not post media that you would not be comfortable explaining in a work environment.

Watch Your…Fingers

Updating your status with a blunt judgment or politically incorrect statement can be just as harmful as an embarrassing photo. Even if the comment is made in jest or made on a page other than your own, it takes the same amount of time to judge you for your words that it takes you to type them. Be mindful of what others are posting on your page as well and do not hesitate to use the “delete” function; you do not want to be coupled with those who are not making an effort to filter their comments if you are.

Who Are Your Real Friends?

The internet has become a popularity contest in many ways. People gain notoriety for having a certain number of “friends” or “followers”, but how often do you actually know those who you are connected to online? Consider your relationship with the person and ask yourself how they may perceive or (mis)use the information you post. With an increase in employees being let go for various items posted on Facebook, it is smart to keep your personal and business contacts separate.

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Before anyone else can search for information about you on the internet, do it yourself. Go to various search engines and input your name in different variations (full name, initials, etc.) and see what comes up. Does it show a link to your social media accounts? How much content can be seen if you navigate to your pages through the search engine? If you find that too much can be seen, it’s time to adjust your privacy settings. Sites like Facebook make it easy to limit what the public can view and provide a place to type a person’s name in to see exactly what they are capable of seeing, friend or not. People may be searching the net for information about you when you least expect it, but safeguarding your page gives you the power of controlling exactly what they are capable of digging up.