Saturday, October 29, 2011
Getting An Online Education
Today, online education is growing in popularity, chosen mostly by people who want to get additional education (finishing college or getting another degree). The topmost reason is its flexibility.
Free of real-time constraints like attending on-campus classrooms, online education is tailor-made for people who are into full-time jobs, or engaged in other full-time commitments (housewives with children to care, etc.)
However, there are certain things to prepare yourself first before you consider getting an online education. They can help you balance things out and make the right decisions.
Questions to answer
If flexibility is your only reason for an online education, why not consider night school or weekend programs at regular schools? On the other hand, if wanting to work makes you choose online education, why not go into blended learning courses at your nearest college?
Is online study your best choice for what you want? What is your career goal? The degree you want to finish should be the perfect one to make your personal goal a reality.
Online schools
For your online institution, the first consideration is its reputation. To confirm that reputation, the school must of course have the proper accreditation.
Next would be checking which of your prospective schools can further your own career in tandem with your personal educational goals. For instance, if you are an elementary school teacher, you would need to have a program that completes your credentialing requirements.
Every school has a different set of programs. Be on the lookout for those that are perfect fits for your schedule and learning style. (You can discuss this with your online college counselor.)
Credits and transfer policies
Some online colleges have good transfer policies and it will be advantageous if you have finished some college coursework or some AP high school classes. This will greatly reduce the amount of your coursework.
On the other hand, some schools accept few (or none at all) previously completed courses from other institutions. Discuss this with your counselor.
Another possibility of reduced coursework could be your work experience. Ask if you can get college credits by completing a portfolio, presenting a letter from your employer or perhaps taking an exam to prove what you already know.
Tuition fees
Check out if you qualify for either a federal grant, subsidized or unsubsidized student loan. You may even be eligible for a school-based scholarship or payment program.
Discuss this with your financial aid adviser for a thorough assessment.
Outside help
Ideally, your studies and your employment responsibilities are not to interfere with each other. However, it is a good idea to give notice to your employer regarding your going back to school.
There might be instances when you have to request time off for exams and some in-person school requirements.
Challenges
As the cliché goes, online education is not a walk in the park. It will take up much of your time, effort and attention. This is especially true to people with family responsibilities. It is always a good idea to discuss this phase of your life with the other members of your family.
Preparing For Your Online Education
Preparing For Your Online Education
For some specific reasons (work, family life, commitments), you may not be able to pursue further education in the traditional route. Thankfully, online education is now a viable alternative.
Like traditional on campus education, you also must follow some tried and tested procedures. This is to preclude waste in haste and faulty decisions, and generally, just to be in the safe side.
Choices
Like most decisions, your choice in your field of study must be firm and good. This early, you must know your subjects of interest related to your future degree.
Like what most experts emphasize, learning should be enjoyable. If you choose a field you are not really interested in, the momentum would lose steam later. Studies had shown that we learn more (and retain knowledge better) if we are interested in the subject.
Review
Once you have made your choice, the first thing to do is conduct a personal review. Scour the Internet and review all the programs offered by schools and universities.
Make notes on the variety of the courses, the various differences in subjects under them, and each of the processes involved. Weigh the differences and similarities. It will help you make your choice better.
Comparison
After the thorough review, it is now time to compare your notes on each of your candidate-schools. You will compare the requirements and the amount of work needed.
Review the courses that you must complete, the credits involved, the length of study and the corresponding costs. You may have to request further information from each candidate institutions you are looking into. This is the time to narrow down your choices.
Accreditation
In online education, accreditation is very important because it is a form of a quality control check on the schools. It means they have met the criteria set for their obligations as a school.
For students applying for grants and loans, accreditation is an important requirement. It means that you will spend your money wisely on a reputable institution and not a diploma mill.
Accreditation makes credit transfers between colleges and universities smoother and easier. Very important, too, is the fact that employers look for accreditation status when evaluating job applicants or offering financial support to employees who want to get further online education.
Costs
Part of your previous review of each institution is to find out if your candidate university-of-choice is Title IV funded.
This would mean that a student in that institution can qualify for student loans that are federally-funded. This is crucial if you have no funding available from your employer and everything comes from your own pocket.
Decision
It is time now to complete the online form of your chosen school and send it. However, list down all your questions before the school returns your call.
When they contact you, be sure all your questions are answered. You may request to put it in writing even in an email form. This is the time when further clarifications are clarified.
This is also the time to re-evaluate your choices. Some schools might hound you to make your decision. They are also in the business of making money and would want to get you first.
Make yours only when you are completely comfortable. Online education is one important life decision you have to make.
For some specific reasons (work, family life, commitments), you may not be able to pursue further education in the traditional route. Thankfully, online education is now a viable alternative.
Like traditional on campus education, you also must follow some tried and tested procedures. This is to preclude waste in haste and faulty decisions, and generally, just to be in the safe side.
Choices
Like most decisions, your choice in your field of study must be firm and good. This early, you must know your subjects of interest related to your future degree.
Like what most experts emphasize, learning should be enjoyable. If you choose a field you are not really interested in, the momentum would lose steam later. Studies had shown that we learn more (and retain knowledge better) if we are interested in the subject.
Review
Once you have made your choice, the first thing to do is conduct a personal review. Scour the Internet and review all the programs offered by schools and universities.
Make notes on the variety of the courses, the various differences in subjects under them, and each of the processes involved. Weigh the differences and similarities. It will help you make your choice better.
Comparison
After the thorough review, it is now time to compare your notes on each of your candidate-schools. You will compare the requirements and the amount of work needed.
Review the courses that you must complete, the credits involved, the length of study and the corresponding costs. You may have to request further information from each candidate institutions you are looking into. This is the time to narrow down your choices.
Accreditation
In online education, accreditation is very important because it is a form of a quality control check on the schools. It means they have met the criteria set for their obligations as a school.
For students applying for grants and loans, accreditation is an important requirement. It means that you will spend your money wisely on a reputable institution and not a diploma mill.
Accreditation makes credit transfers between colleges and universities smoother and easier. Very important, too, is the fact that employers look for accreditation status when evaluating job applicants or offering financial support to employees who want to get further online education.
Costs
Part of your previous review of each institution is to find out if your candidate university-of-choice is Title IV funded.
This would mean that a student in that institution can qualify for student loans that are federally-funded. This is crucial if you have no funding available from your employer and everything comes from your own pocket.
Decision
It is time now to complete the online form of your chosen school and send it. However, list down all your questions before the school returns your call.
When they contact you, be sure all your questions are answered. You may request to put it in writing even in an email form. This is the time when further clarifications are clarified.
This is also the time to re-evaluate your choices. Some schools might hound you to make your decision. They are also in the business of making money and would want to get you first.
Make yours only when you are completely comfortable. Online education is one important life decision you have to make.
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