May 22, 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.

Moms Clearly Choose College Online over Campus Settings

While it seems clear why stay-at-home-moms would choose to get their degrees online versus at a campus it is actually a recent phenomenon.   Considering the ease of use and the flexible scheduling the anytime education offers, it seems to be the logical choice for most moms.  What has happened is that the choices now available has led to a continued push for most moms to choose the online college format.

“I couldn’t believe how many choices I had,” said Jenny from NY.

“I thought there were only a few colleges who offered programs online, I had no idea there are hundreds,” said Tammy from Denver.

“From NY to Cali, and in fields from Education to Business, stay-at -home moms are finishing their degrees online,” said Pablo who oversees the hugely popular college destination www.college.com. Well, clearly it is a tidal shift and the masses have spoken.

Re-Starting College

So many people started college and for some reason left and never completed it.  Many for good reasons, some for not so good reasons.  Either way, more than 95% of them wish they never left.  The advantages provided by a college degree continue for one’s lifetime.  No, it’s not easy to complete and graduate college, but nothing of value is easy.

Good news is it’s never too late and it’s never been more convenient to go back!  With online colleges now readily available, so many people who left college can now take courses online and finally finish what they had started years ago.  In fact, more people than ever have started to do so and have found success online.  Any college credits you earned still count towards your degree.  What that means is that your time was not wasted, you don’t have to take as many programs as a new learner, AND your costs will be less as the colleges charge by credits.

You need to make a decision and a commitment as you do not want to start and stop again, you want to start and graduate!  Talk to your friends and family and you will find a support structure that will help you achieve your goal of obtaining a college degree.  Isn’t it time to restart you career along a path only available with a college degree?

If not today, when?

Will I Make More with a Degree?

So many of us are constantly looking for ways to earn more.  It’s natural to want to make more money, to be able to buy more stuff, pay off bills and just not live paycheck-to-paycheck.  Whatever your reason, it’s there and it’s why so many people fall for those get-rich-quick scams, multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs), and risky, long-shot investments.  However, most of them fail and you just end up with less money than before.

Let’s wake up! There is no such thing as a get-rich-quick program; you need to do it the hard way!  Do your research; college education does pay.  People with college degrees earn way more than those with high school degrees, those with Masters earn more than those with Bachelors, those with Bachelors earn more than those with Associates. In essence, there is a direct correlation between the level of higher education and earning potential.

Of course, not everyone with a degree makes milions; that would just be a foolish thought. What advanced education does do is open doors and provide you with more opportunities.  Isn’t that what we are looking for?  Opportunities, opened doors, a chance for greater success and earning potential? Clearly, without a college education the odds are stacked against you. Do yourself and your family a favor and pursue a higher level degree. It is the one investment that cannot be taken away from you. Once you earn your degree, it will always be yours.