Improve Your Future With An Online College Degree!

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:37:45 EST

With unemployment rates high and job applications abundant, higher education can improve an individual's marketability now and boost earnings down the road.The Internet makes going back to school these days easier, since students enrolling in Internet-based classes and online degree programs can study from home or work and when the demands of work and family subside.

There are a variety of Internet-only schools as well as "bricks and mortar" colleges with virtual classes and online degree programs from which to choose. But although students enrolled in online classes achieve grades similar to or higher than those who physically attend college, studies show that virtual learners have a greater tendency to drop out.

In a Today Show interview last year with co-host Ann Curry, Ladies' Home Journal Editor-in-Chief Sally Lee emphasized the need for online class and online degree program enrollees to be "self-motivated" and "self-disciplined." Distance learning has become a popular way for nurses to obtain Bachelor of Science degrees, and the demand for master's degrees in business administration has also reportedly been high, according to Lee.

But computer-based studies shouldn't be passive, she said, noting that many virtual schools feature online communities, where students can meet others from a variety of backgrounds. Students can also participate in virtual classes and online degree programs that utilize two-way video and audio, interactive offerings that the Institute for Higher Education Policy has encouraged.

An Institute for Higher Education Policy study known as "What's the Difference?" found that women, married people and individuals with strong literary skills are among the successful online students. Study respondents who thought of themselves as persistent with regard to tackling new projects succeeded with distance learning, according to the study. So too did individuals who considered their management skills to be organized and those who didn't feel the need for a lot of outside support or interaction.

In any higher education situation, students should decide on a school that's a good match for their requirements and objectives and take into account financial aid and the amount of tuition they're required to pay. Following are additional points to consider, particularly when opting for online classes and online degree programs:

Is the institution accredited? There are six regional boards and a Distance Education and Training Council that determine whether colleges and universities meets academic standards leading to accreditation-something that could affect the ability to get hired, transfer higher education credits and pursue goals such as the bar exam.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation Web site includes a list of accredited institutions and warns against "degree mills," such as those that bestow degrees in a matter of days or for life experience only.
How much support and interaction is associated with the online classes, and how much do you need in a learning environment?

Can you dedicate the time to online studies and take these studies seriously? Triumphant "What's the Difference?" respondents said they had time to fulfill their higher education plans and that consequences accompanied failure.

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Improve Your Future With An Online College Degree!