Congratulations! You've decided to continue your education, and you'd like to do so through an online college program. Perhaps you're already working and want to advance to taking time off for school is not an option. Or, you could have children and other life responsibilities that simply preclude rigid school schedules or even night time class attendance. Now that you've made the decision to return, all you have to do a bit of research to find which is right for you from the many online schools.
In any college situation, advisors recommend students look for schools with programs and reputations that best meet their educational and career goals. Online college students might further incorporate lifestyle and scheduling needs into their search. Some schools offer entire degree programs online. Others offer "hybrid" programs that blend online schooling with campus-based offerings. And campus visits, for the online student, might mean exploring the web site that is its campus.
In addition to determining what online college program requirements are, students might consider factors that can enhance their educational experience and keep them working toward their goals: How flexible are deadlines and, depending upon the circumstance, do they keep time zones in mind? How accessible are online college instructors, and do they provide timely, meaningful feedback? How are online college classes taught, and do they allow opportunities to interact with the instructor and fellow students? Here are general search suggestions from the U.S. Department of Education and the non-profit College Board, modified slightly for online college program degree seekers specifically:
• Do your homework. In addition to visiting college web sites, you might review any promotional e-mails or brochures, digital and otherwise, from online colleges and traditional colleges that have online components. Consider attending college fairs where you can learn more about different online education offerings and speak with online college representatives. You might also be able to meet with online college students there.
• Make a list of online college programs that best meet your needs and goals. If you haven't yet decided on a major or future career, you might look for online colleges that offer a wide variety of majors and programs.
• Consider certain factors. Retention and graduation rates have traditionally indicated a school's quality and how satisfied students are with the education they receive there. With online colleges, positive relationships with instructors, well-planned and taught courses, flexibility and interaction have been said to increase retention rates and enhance satisfaction among students. When an online school is accredited, it means it meets the current standards of certain accreditation boards. Choosing an accredited online college might better enable you to transfer credits and qualify for financial aid. Employers might also be more inclined to accept an applicant with a degree from an accredited institution.
• Talk with others. You might speak with family members and friends who have taken online college courses or obtained online degrees, and find out about their experiences with specific online schools. Consider asking online college representatives if they can put you in touch with students or graduates. If you're planning to enroll in an online college immediately after high school, you might chat with a high school counselor about your needs and goals and how to best go about meeting those needs and goals. You might also look toward people who work in fields that interest you, and gather their input with regard to online college options.
• Determine the cost of tuition. And then consider how much financial aid you can receive and apply to the online college programs of your choice. Government grants, along with scholarships and fellowships from schools, civic groups, labor unions, large corporations, non-profit organizations and more. Some are awarded based on financial need, while others are intended for specific demographic groups or particular studies, or for academic achievement. The federal government also offers work study programs and low (and no) interest loans to qualifying applicants. Some forms of financial aid are awarded under specific circumstances, such as when classes are part of traditional or online degree programs.
Schools online offer all the advantages of traditional education, with virtually none of the drawbacks, such as commute time, changing or postponing work, and time away from home. Obtaining your distance learning degree will take some dedication, however, the rewards in the form of new opportunities should be substantial.
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