Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Online Degree Program

I earned my Bachelor's degree online with one of the big online programs and loved the experience... for the most part. I was working at the time and earning my degree online allowed me to continue my career, support my family and study at the same time. True, it was hard work and there were some very late nights getting projects done, but overall, it was a great experience and I would do it again. As a matter of fact, I am doing it again, working on my Master's, though at a completely different school. Having been through this experience, I have given a good deal of consideration to what I might say to others who are thinking about online learning. Here are my thoughts:

• How is the school accredited? Schools with very low tuition rates frequently have sub-par or no accreditation. The highest level of accreditation is through one of the regional authorities (not national.) Such accreditation is not needed in all fields of work. However, this is something you should consider, especially if you think you may want to get an advanced degree. It would be a pity to earn a Bachelor's from on school only to find that the degree was not accepted at the school where you want to earn your Master's or Doctorate.


• Does the program have a brick-and-mortar equivalent? Unfortunately, some online programs have received a bad rap in spite of the fact that most are doing at least as well, if not better, than their non-virtual counterparts. Most state schools that have online programs, and nearly all of them do now, issue the same degree to online students as they do to traditional students. Depending on the field you are going into, this may be very important to you. Also, if you are looking at a school nearby you may be able to take certain class in the traditional setting where that works to your advantage. I wish I could have taken Statistics that way!


• How does the program run? Many programs will put you in a cohort with other students and this group takes each course in lock-step through the program. Others are asynchronous, which means you are free to move from one course to another on your own pace. There are advantages to both, so think carefully about which is most important to you.


• How much does it cost? Prices for online programs are all over the board. Some time ago I was looking at MBA programs and was stunned at the disparity. The cheapest I found was less than $6,000, the most expensive over $50,000. (The most expensive program included spending six months in China working on a major project, though living and travel expenses were extra.) Doing a cost analysis to see which school gives you the best bang for the buck is well worth the effort.


• What is the demand for the degree you intend to earn? Face it, the market is glutted with some degrees and starving for others. Do your homework and make sure that the degree you earn will put you in a position to get the kind of job, career and salary to make it all worthwhile. It's a travesty that far too few students go through this exercise and then graduate with a mountain of debt and no way to pay for it.


• How many will be in your class? My wife teaches at a major university and has taught several online units. They tend to be labor intensive with lots of writing for the students and lots of reading for the professor. For that reason, a limited size class will mean you get a lot more direct attention when you need it... and you will need it.


• Does the program you are looking at require you to do some training at their facility? Again, programs differ a great deal in this area. Many do not require any on-campus participation, but others require anywhere from a few weeks to a full year. It's something you need to know before you make a decision.


• Will you have to be in class at certain times? Some programs require that you be online for chat sessions or for live lectures: some don't. You need to know if you can work your schedule around their requirements.


• What kind of online library will your program offer? Online programs typically require a lot of writing so have access to a topnotch online library is essential. The school I went to gave me access to all the best programs and, as a bonus; I still have access to them as an alumnus.


• Finally, do you have the self discipline to follow this through? One of the major charges against online programs is that their graduation rates are very low. Part of this has to do with the fact that this is something fairly new and some of the kinks need to be worked out, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that people are not afraid to dip their toes into the online programs and quickly bail out at the first sign of trouble. I would suggest making a long list of all the reasons you want to earn a degree and post it where you can see it every day. The going will get tough, but if you are properly motivated you can overcome.

I was fortunate in that I didn't know to ask these questions but the program I entered ended up working the way I would have chosen. Not to mention the fact that there weren't nearly as many choices when I got my degree. Still, if I were to look for a program today, these would be among the first questions I would ask and at least some should make it to your list as well.

Lee Reed earned his Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing from the University of Phoenix and is currently working on his Master's in Education from the Teacher Ready program at the University of West Florida. This summer he and his wife will be traveling to Cambodia to teach there. You can see more of his thoughts at his blog: http://teachingadayatatime.wordpress.com/

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Online Education - Is It Right For You?

Online education has risen in popularity in the recent years and has been called the next best thing to actual physical classroom learning.

There are multiple benefits to online learning that regular classes and on-campus programs cannot provide. An online course is usually much cheaper and comes with added flexibility for you, the learner. It will allow you to earn a college degree from the comfort of your own home and the quality of education received is the same as regular classes.

You don't have to commute, since after enrollment, you receive all the courses you need to study and the assignments so you can start right away.

There are a few factors you should keep in mind before deciding if an online college is right for you.

It is much easier to earn an online degree, but this shouldn't be your only factor to help you decide.

Your career path might improve if you further your studies. This means better paid jobs, more offers from different employers and a better first impression when going on job interviews. It could mean climbing the corporate ladder in your own company. Make sure you know what you want from the degree you're pursuing before you even start consider an online learning program.

The amount of learning done both in physical classrooms and through the online medium is the same. The things you learn are the same, so don't think that by enrolling in an online college you'll have less to study.

The online learning option is better because you don't have to travel to the actual class itself, instead you can access it using your computer. This time saved should be spent on actual learning. The requirements for online students are the same as with regular students.

You should find out if the course or degree you're pursuing is offered by a top college through an online learning platform. The course needs to be accredited so it would add value to your resume.

Before you make any decision regarding the college to enroll in and which course to take, do your research. Make sure the institution you enroll in is the best one for you and your needs and that it can teach you the things you need to advance in your field.

Before you enroll, you should take some time to familiarize yourself with computers and the way online learning works. Basic computer knowledge and skills should suffice so make sure you own a decent computer with a fast internet connection, so you don't run into any trouble with the online platform.

If you're interested to know more about online colleges and where you can find a top college to enroll in, you should visit the www.IndianaOnlineSchools.com website since it can help you find the perfect school and degree for yourself.

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Regular Education Versus Online Education

Technology, computers and the field of communications are pushing forward and they bring about many benefits.

With the appearance of online education, everything has changed. It doesn't work like it used to in the old days. The online learning platform has been a major step forward for people looking to further their education but who are also very busy with their regular job.

This makes education even more accessible and the learning process comes with added flexibility. Enrolling in an online class means you can study any time you want and at your own pace.

Online education is very useful for professionals who don't want to quit their jobs but are looking to advance in their field by earning a degree.

Serious professionals who are looking for a boost in their perceived respect, more benefits from their jobs and increased paychecks, find attending an online college the next logical step for advancing in their careers.

This is a major trend that keeps getting more and more popular and many organizations have come to realize its various benefits.

The fact is, online education has gained a lot more respect over the recent years, and has moved past the skepticism about the quality of learning that's being received.

The main advantage of taking an online class remains the flexibility it provides. This flexibility means scheduling when to learn and at what pace.

Since many people are generally busier nowadays they tend not to think about furthering their education, when it would be only a click away.

A major percent of these busy individuals would like to further their studies but feel like they don't have time, they are too busy and have too many responsibilities to even squeeze in a few extra hours of learning. They also think there are high prices involving commuting to on-campus programs and the required rent for lengthy stays.

If you think about it, most of these problems don't even exist with online education. After you enroll in an online college, the courses are downloaded to your computer, in your own home and you can begin studying immediately.

There are no commuting costs, no need to get a rent somewhere near a physical school and no class schedules to keep track of.

Online learning has allowed people to have total control over their learning experience. They learn in their own free time, complete the required tasks at their own pace and so on.

All the lessons are taught online by experienced teachers. Some might think that this way of learning comes with a lack of interaction with the teachers or classmates. You can contact your teachers through chat and discussion boards.

An online degree comes with many benefits. Aside from enhancing your skill set, it provides a boost at your workplace and may come with better paid jobs and even more offers from employers.

I enjoy writing articles about general education topics for websites like www.ColoradoOnlineSchool.com.

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