May 21, 2013

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for choosing online degrees

Free career and college assessment available for limited time!

August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

free career assessmentFor a limited time users can take atvantage of a free career and college assessment curtesy of college.com.  The Free assessment which is powered by www.careermotivations.com normally costs between $59.95 an $125.95 and is free only for a limited time.  To take advantage of the free career assessment click here

We are bringing this to your attention because it is a tremendous product, used by over 7,000,000 people and hundreds of schools and a chance to use for no charge is worthy of a posting.  Good luck with it, we are sure your eyes will be opened!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Finishing Your Degree in Online College

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Career Education Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Online College Background Check

April 27, 2012 By 2 Comments

Online college is a great alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schools for students with busy, demanding lives. More popular now than ever before, distance learning programs make higher education possible for everyone from stay-at-home-moms to students working two jobs to pay the bills to learners who do their best with minimal supervision and stringency in scheduling. Before you enroll in any online college program, don’t forget to do a thorough background check of the school to be sure you’re getting the most for your money – and time – and your chosen college will get you to where you plan to go.

Is Your College Accredited?

One of the most important things to be sure of before you do any class selections or pay any tuition bills is that the school you have selected is accredited. This means that your college has been recognized by an accreditation board as a quality school with reputable programs, resources, faculty, and staff. Accredited schools are recognized by the United States Department of Education; those that have not earned accreditation have not been evaluated (or approved) by an accrediting commission and as such, are not guaranteed to have resources and programs available to you that you need to be successful as a student and earn a quality education. Be certain of your school’s status before you enroll so as to waste no time or money on schooling that will not aptly prepare you for you future career. Additionally, employers will be curious of your training and preparation for any position you apply for, and whether or not your online college is accredited will matter.

Does Your College Offer Your Major?

Not all schools, offline or online, offer all programs. Certain schools are restricted to liberal arts, some are best to attend for math and sciences, and many simply do not have the resources or faculty to reach all types of students. In online schools it is especially important to ensure this before enrollment. Though distance learning programs are offered in most fields, many online colleges offer a less varied selection of majors than a traditional school. Save yourself time and tuition by making sure you can study your preferred subject at your school before making any commitments. If it turns out the online college you’re in does not offer your major, you’ll have a tough decision to make down the line: switching schools or switching your major.

Are Students Successful at This School?

When everything else checks out, it’s important to familiarize yourself with certain rates of student success at your online college. Some research on the website may help you find your answers, or you can speak to someone in the college’s administrative offices for the information you need. Your school should be able to identify such things as student retention rates, graduation rates, and the rate of student employment upon graduation. All of these figures can tell you a great deal about the experiences of students similar to you in the school, and may give you an inside look into your prospective future. These figures can also help demonstrate the effectiveness of the school’s academic programs and help you to see if an education from this school will help to set you up for a successful future and career.

Filed Under: Online College FAQ's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Getting Started with an Online College

February 16, 2012 By 1 Comment

So you’ve made the decision to get your higher education online. That’s one huge step out of the way! Now that you have decided to make the commitment to get your degree through an online college or university, there are a few more things to check off the to-do list before you can jump in with both feet. The following are things you should be sure to take into consideration before handing over any money or picking out classes.

Make Sure it’s the Right Time

College, either in-person or online, is a huge time commitment and will require a large amount of your energy and attention while school is in session. And even with all the available financial aid out there, it’s going to affect your wallet too. But a commitment is a commitment, and the commitments you make to yourself and your education are among the most important ones in your life. Before shelling out money on tuition and textbooks, and rearranging your life to accommodate classes, be sure that you are in a position to stick to your commitments. It will be difficult at times, to be sure, but if you feel like you’d be tempted to drop out or not give it your all, you’re robbing yourself of the opportunities you’ve worked toward. Be ready to commit your time and attention.

Pick the Right School

Getting your education from an online college or university has many advantages over going to a traditional school. You can tailor your class schedule and work time to fit your schedule or personal life and still get a quality education. But there’s no campus for you to visit, no one to interview you for acceptance, and just about anyone can build an official-looking website. It is of the utmost importance that you research your online schools and be sure that the one you select is an accredited college or university. You can begin your search right here, and narrow down to a top few schools with good research. Online colleges’ websites should offer you all the information you need about their accreditation, faculty and staff, procedures, and programs. You need to know these things about every school you’re considering. After researching, you should be able to narrow it down further by exploring their tuition and fees schedules as well as majors, minors, and certification programs they offer.

Make Sure They Have Your Major

Though this problem is becoming less and less frequent in recent years, there’s nothing worse for a college-bound student than to fall in love with a school, only to realize that it does not support their field of study. If you know what you want to major in, or have an inclination toward one field or another, be sure you can get a good education in your subject at whatever college or university you choose. Some colleges are known for their programs’ strength in specific fields, and some notorious for their lacking in another. Be sure whatever college you attend will allow you to study what you like and will provide you with a quality education in the field of your choosing. Otherwise, you’ll quickly find out how much time and money you’ve wasted, and that transferring credits is not always easy.

Filed Under: Online College FAQ's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 5 Online College Degrees

January 26, 2012 By 1 Comment

Going After One of the Top Five Online College Degrees

Each year recent high school graduates and adult continuing education students enroll in online college degree programs at accredited postsecondary schools.  Although you and other students likely enroll in one or more undergraduate or graduate degree program that align with your passions and that provide you with the greatest chance of working jobs you enjoy, you (and other college students) may find yourselves enrolling in some college courses more than others.  Top degrees and/or schools are reviewed and/or listed in national magazines and organizations such as Petersons, US News and World Report and The Princeton Review.  Some of the top five offline and/or online college degrees are in subjects that may or may not give you the job training you’re looking for.

Popular Degrees at Online Colleges and Distance Learning Schools

According to The Princeton Review, the top five college majors include:

  • Business Administration and Management/Commerce (You might consider this major if you like to lead teams or organizational groups.  Good communication skills and decision making abilities can help you to succeed in this major, and in jobs (e.g. department manager, chief executive officer) associated with a classroom and online college bachelor degree you get in the field.)
  • Psychology (Although you may or may not be able to find free online college degrees in this subject, if you enjoy figuring out what motivates people to behave and communicate the way they do, majoring in psychology might prove rewarding for you.  Types of courses you may take in this degree include early childhood development, abnormal psychology and the role of the family on individual mental and emotional health.)
  • Nursing (Combines traditional and liberal arts courses; also allows you to participate in clinical trials, giving you first-hand experience caring for patients.  You can work in a variety of medical departments after you get a nursing degree and pass your licensing exams.  For example, you can work in pediatrics, oncology or geriatrics.)
  • Biology/Biological Studies (Courses cover and/or examine plant, animal and human life.  Laboratory work may be required to earn biology or biological studies degrees.  Jobs you can work with these degrees include veterinarian, ecologist or environmentalist.)
  • Education (If you have a desire to teach others new skills, majoring in education at online colleges might be what you’re looking for.  Depending on the state you live in, you may have to pass a licensing examination before you start teaching elementary, middle, secondary or postsecondary school students.)

Depending on the year the top five online college degrees are identified by media and educational organizations, the degree fields might align with the highest paying jobs.  Of course, majoring in top five online college degrees may provide you advanced education in fields that are largely populated by other college students who are majoring in similar subjects that you are, making it important for you to get innovative when you connect with prospective hiring managers during job interviews and professional networking sessions.  Before majoring in an offline or accredited online college degree, consider taking the time to research the job outlook for the degree field using resources available to you through your college’s career counseling office or through government agencies like the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.  This way you can increase your chances of majoring in subjects, whether they are popular nationally amongst other college students or not, that offer you plenty of employment and job growth opportunities.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 20 List of Online Schools Based on Enrollment

January 19, 2012 By 2 Comments

Earn College Credits at Popular Online Schools

By using a list of colleges and universities you can review several schools offering online courses and degree programs in a short amount of time.  Some of the lists are affiliated with major publications like U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review, while other lists are created by organizations that support continuing education and academic achievement.

In addition to U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review, the United States Department of Education also list accredited schools offering online programs in their database which you can access free of charge.  Organizations and/or publications like College Board, Peterson’s, Online Education Database and Washington Monthly provide list of colleges and universities in Florida, list of colleges and universities in Georgia and other parts of the country.

Details provided in the lists include:

  • Numbers of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the schools
  • Dates that the schools were founded
  • Types of distance learning programs available at the schools (e.g. degree, certificate)
  • Location type for the schools (e.g. urban, rural)
  • Majors (e.g. engineering, nursing, law) the schools are known and/or highly regarded for
  • Tuition costs
  • Whether or not the schools accept financial aid, and if they do, the types of financial aid accepted at the schools
  • Religious affiliations the schools have, if they have any religious affiliations
  • Minimum college entrance test scores accepted at the schools
  • Whether or not the schools offer athletic programs that are recognized by organizations like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and if so, the types of programs (e.g. football, basketball, track and field) offered

Large Online Schools You Can Enroll In

The top online colleges and universities based on student enrollment as reported by U.S. News and World Report are:

  • University of Phoenix (380,232 students)
  • Kaplan University (70,011 students)
  • Strayer University (54,325 students)
  • Ashford University (46,835 students)
  • Liberty University (46,312 students)
  • Walden University (40,714 students)
  • University of Maryland-University College (37,347 students)
  • Grand Canyon University (34,205 students)
  • Capella University (31,998 students)
  • American Public University System (31,331 students)

Another organization providing a list of colleges and universities in New York, a list of colleges and universities in Virginia and other states, schools with large student enrollments, is the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).  The NCES reports additional schools with student populations that provide distance learning programs include:

  • Arizona State University (68,040 students)
  • Miami Dade College (59,120 students)
  • Ohio State University (55,014 students)
  • Houston Community College (54,942 students)
  • University of Central Florida (53,401 students)
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (51,659 students)
  • University of Texas at Austin (50,995 students)
  • University of Florida (50,691 students)
  • Texas A&M University (48,702 students)
  • Michigan State University (47,071 students)

Trying to find the online school that’s right for you may feel like a daunting task until you familiarize yourself with a list of colleges and universities providing you with specific details about each school mentioned in the list.  Rather than visiting colleges and universities in person or telephoning administrators at several online schools, consider taking the time to review the lists so you can find out schools offering the best tuition rates, student activities and distance learning credit and/or degree programs in subjects you’re most interested in majoring in.

Filed Under: college online search Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Online Courses for Adult Learners

December 22, 2011 By 4 Comments

Continuing Education Online Courses Adult Students Can Take

Online courses for adult learners are available at mainstream campus-based and distance learning schools.  Some of the courses are free of charge, while others charge a standard tuition.  Schools like local community colleges offer several online courses for college credit you can take, helping you to balance continuing your education with work and caring for a family.

You can enroll in a short term online course like college diploma and certificate programs, courses that generally take between three to 24 months to complete.  As an adult learner, you can also enroll in two and four-year online course degree programs.  If you didn’t graduate from high school, you can also return to college and finish your diploma before enrolling in postsecondary courses.  Benefits of taking online courses as an adult learner are multi-faceted, among them being:

  • Ability to take courses at your own pace
  • Chance to learn more about virtual educational methods and strategies
  • Opportunities to combine online courses with classroom courses
  • Chance to enroll in and complete college courses year round

Depending on the college you attend, online courses for adult learners might be administered through individual schools of discipline (e.g. engineering, medicine) or the courses might be administered through the college’s school of independent continuing education.  Not only can you take interactive courses that allow you to connect with your professors and classmates, you can also take self-paced online courses.  If you decide to enroll in self-paced courses, you may have to start and finish the courses by certain dates.  However, you might not have to log into your computer to attend classes or finish assignments at the same time that your classmates do.  As with classroom courses, registration and college textbooks are generally required to complete the courses.  Furthermore, you might have to pass one or more examinations before you earn credits for the courses.

College Courses Adult Learners Can Enroll In to Advance Their Learning and Careers

Types of courses that may be available to you at the school you attend include:

  • Elementary Spanish
  • Mathematics
  • Business Management
  • Business Administration
  • English
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Biology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Nutrition
  • Hospitality Management
  • Healthcare Management
  • Social Sciences
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Cultural Studies
  • American History
  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Medical Billing and Coding Online Courses
  • Medical Terminology Online Course
  • Photography Online Courses

It’s not easy to juggle parenting young children, the demands of work and a college education.  Fortunately, online courses for adult learners have made it easier for you to take one or more college courses without leaving your home. Credits earned in courses offered by schools that are accredited by national and regional agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education can generally be transferred to other schools, shortening the amount of time it takes you to earn additional college degrees.  If your employer operates a tuition reimbursement program, you also might be able to get your online courses paid for in full by your employer.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Begin Your Online College Search

November 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

Start Your Online College Search Early

Before you go online to start your college search take advantage of offline resources available to you, resources like your high school guidance counselors, colleagues and relatives who’ve already attended college.  Touching base with these resources may help to decrease the amount of time it takes you to find the top three to five accredited colleges and universities you’d like to attend.  Knowing what you want to gain from attending college can also aid you in your college search.

If you’re still attending high school visit college fairs that your school hosts as several local accredited colleges and universities may likely attend the college fairs.  At college fairs you can talk face-to-face with professionals who work at the schools.   You can also pick up pamphlets and brochures on colleges and universities, written material providing you with information like how long the schools have been in operation, where the schools are headquartered, the numbers of students enrolled in the schools and awards or recognition the schools have received.  Get information on as many colleges and universities offering degrees in fields you want to work in.  This way you can increase your chances of being accepted into top schools.

When you start searching for schools using the Internet, pull up college and university rankings reports like U.S. News and World Report, Washington Monthly College Rankings and the Princeton Review.  Using these and other college ranking reports and databases you can conduct:

  • College search by state
  • College search by degree

Searching for Colleges and Universities Using Naviance and Other Tools

Furthermore, tools like Naviance Family Connection college search allow you to compile information on several colleges in one location.  Through Naviance you can also:

  • Create goals for college, including courses you want to take and student activities you want to participate in
  • Your parents can also access Naviance to learn about admissions requirements at colleges and universities you want to enroll at
  • Professionals affiliated with Naviance can also partner with you to ensure you remain motivated and on track to achieving your academic goals

You need to create a login and password to access Naviance.  Before registering for the program, consider creating a college search quiz so you’re prepared to ask questions like:

  • What types of jobs can I get by majoring in popular courses at certain colleges and universities (have a list of schools you’re interested in attending)?
  • How can I learn about financial aid offered at colleges and universities?
  • How long does it generally take students to receive undergraduate degrees from the schools?
  • What types of reports or documents do my high school guidance counselors have that I can receive to learn more about top colleges and universities?
  • What courses can I take in high school that may best prepare me to excel in my college major?

By using online college and university ranking reports, feedback you get from your high school guidance counselors, family members and colleagues who’ve attended college, you can learn detailed information about schools.  Should you want to transfer to an on-campus school, searching for colleges and universities that have both offline and online degree programs may make it easy for you to continue to take courses at schools you started out taking distance learning programs from.  You’re also encouraged to search for colleges and universities that are accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Filed Under: college online search, Online College FAQ's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Columbia College Online Degrees

November 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

Earning College Online Degrees from Columbia College

Founded in 1851 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Columbia College enrolls more than 12,000 students in at least one online course a year.  The courses generally run for eight weeks each.  Additionally, more than 600 classes and 20 degree programs are available through the school’s distance learning program.  Columbia College online degrees make it possible for you to enroll in degree programs and take courses taught by professors at the school without having to live in Columbia, Missouri, where Columbia College’s main campus is located.  Because you can combine distance learning programs with classroom courses as you pursue college degrees, you also have the opportunity to meet your professors and classmates in person.

To take Columbia College online classes and get degrees from the school you generally must:

  • Apply for admission to the college (You can apply for admission in person or online)
  • Register to take courses (You can register for Columbia College Missouri online courses using the school’s eRegistration system)
  • Make sure your computer meets the college’s technical requirements (e.g. 60+ gigabytes of hard drive for Windows and Mac)
  • Pay tuition

If you want to get a feel for how the school’s online system works, feel free to launch the school’s online course demo.  This may also help you to confirm whether or not you need to make changes to your computer (e.g. add more memory) to complete the courses.

Degrees and Focus Subject Areas at Columbia College

Types of undergraduate and/or graduate degrees you can obtain while taking Columbia college online courses are:

  • Associate of Science in Business Administration
  • Associate of Science in Environmental Studies
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Should you need academic support, you can contact the school’s academic advising area.  If you’re also taking classroom courses at the college, you can reach out to your academic advisor on campus. Because you’re taking online degrees courses, you may keep in touch with your academic advisors and professors using email, message boards or the telephone.  To get the most out of these meetings consider writing down specific questions you’d like to ask your professors or academic advisors.  For example, you could ask your professors or academic advisors for titles to books or articles you could read to improve your understanding of certain college courses or you could ask them to name two to three advanced courses you could take to accelerate your learning.

Attending Columbia College helps you to graduate with undergraduate and graduate degrees from an accredited postsecondary school that has experience operating in the distance learning space.  By going to school at Columbia College you can also take advantage of earning degrees in fields that the school may have performed particularly well in.  To learn more about the school, consider briefly reading through Columbia College online reviews at places like Peterson’s and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Filed Under: college online search Tagged With: , , , , , ,

College Online Survival Guide

November 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

College Online Survival Guide for Students

If this is your first time attending an accredited college or university, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed as you meet with your academic advisor for the first time and start identifying courses you want to take during the upcoming quarter or semester.  Of course, if you live on campus you may also be meeting your dorm mate for the first time and learning how to navigate the world of finances, house cleaning, shopping and time management on your own.  With the support of a college online survival guide you can learn how to manage your new campus responsibilities, educational requirements and lifestyle.

Some college survival guides like Bakersfield College’s online survival guide cover items such as:

  • Finding out if taking college online classes is right for you
  • Type of computer needed to take online classes
  • Registering for college online classes
  • Using email
  • Using online dictionaries and encyclopedias

If you take distance learning courses through Lincoln College online, Harrison College online and other postsecondary schools you can log into the school’s virtual programs using a computer and find out the start and end dates for your classes, the costs of registering for distance learning courses at individual colleges and universities as well as how to locate and access the school’s virtual library.  Although you may be able to access your school’s distance learning programs using computers at the school’s library, it’s recommended that you have your own computer and Internet access.  This way you won’t have to wait for other students to finish using library computers before you log on.  You can also log into your courses from home during the day or night.

Succeeding at College Online Courses

To succeed at distance learning courses you’re encouraged to:

  • Attend student orientations your school may offer
  • Participate in online classroom discussions and meetings
  • Set aside sufficient time to take focus on the course material, studying, research work and examinations (you might find that it takes you just as long to complete distance learning courses as it does to complete classroom courses)
  • Sign into your distance learning classes two or more times a week.  This may help you to remain aware of changes, upcoming assignments and projects your professors have assigned.
  • Complete school work on time
  • Start and finish reading assignments
  • Stay in contact with your academic advisors, especially if you’re having challenges with one or more distance learning courses

A college online survival guide can shorten the amount of time it takes you to adjust to living away from home for the first time.  Some accredited colleges and universities create and distribute survival guides for students.  You might find such a guide at your school’s academic affairs, student affairs or Bursar’s office.  If you don’t find a survival guide at these offices, ask your academic advisor where you can get a copy.  It might only take you an hour to read through the guide; however, doing so may help you get an excellent start at college and maintain a healthy level of academic success.

Filed Under: Online College FAQ's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts