For the new distance learner it will become quickly apparent that there a few things to think about that will make this educational journey a positive one. There isn't too much difference between an education gotten at a traditional college campus or getting that same education online.
It just takes a little common sense and some research to find a program that continuing education program that works for you. You will need to consider which program fits your lifestyle and stuffy habits best. Also think about your work schedule and how that might affect how you go about accomplishing your educational goals. Selecting a school that compliments these goals, study habits, and your lifestyle will make the experience more enjoyable.
The few following tips will help you get started on your distance learning experience and help you avoid some of the more common issues many online students run into during their education.
Which School Should You Choose?
This is probably the hardest part of starting the continuing education experience. There are a lot of schools out there offering online degrees and most are accredited and have good reputations. There are a few that have less then stellar reputations and are considered nothing more then diploma mills. It is best to avoid these kinds of schools because many employers know about them and would see any degree gotten at one as worthless.
Fortunately these bad colleges are few and far between leaving you with many educational opportunities to choose from. You can receive a top notch education from wide variety of colleges and universities, many of which are well known and respected in the professional world.
The first thing to do is to request school catalogues from all the schools you are interested in and take a look at their programs, what course are offered online, and what kind of support you can expect as a distance learning student. Also verify that any and all schools you are considering are accredited as well as the classes they offer. This is probably the most important part of choosing an online college program.
Keep the Tuition Costs Under Control:
Attending college isn't cheap, whether it be on campus or online. But it doesn't have to break your budget either. One of the first things to do is contact your college's financial aid office and ask if they have any programs that could help defray the cost of attending; scholarships, grants, and student loans are widely available to eligible students.
If you can try and get a scholarship or grant because these do not have to be repaid and can help defray the cost of your education considerably. And contrary to what you might think you don't have to be a 4.0 student to get one. There are a lot of financial aid opportunities out there but it will take some amount of work and research to find them.
Make Sure to Transfer Credits from other schools:
If you have attended college before you should be able to transfer any credits earned into your distance learning program. Any credits transferred means you are one step closer to graduation and won't have to take your current college's equivalent course or courses. Sometimes all your credits may not be accepted initially but you can submit a petition to see if they will be allowed.
There are schools that will give what are called life experience credits. These are normally granted upon completion of an entrance exam that will allow you test out of certain classes.
Hopefully these tips will get your distance learning experience off to a great start. A little up front time spent researching your options are the first steps to a positive experience.
It just takes a little common sense and some research to find a program that continuing education program that works for you. You will need to consider which program fits your lifestyle and stuffy habits best. Also think about your work schedule and how that might affect how you go about accomplishing your educational goals. Selecting a school that compliments these goals, study habits, and your lifestyle will make the experience more enjoyable.
The few following tips will help you get started on your distance learning experience and help you avoid some of the more common issues many online students run into during their education.
Which School Should You Choose?
This is probably the hardest part of starting the continuing education experience. There are a lot of schools out there offering online degrees and most are accredited and have good reputations. There are a few that have less then stellar reputations and are considered nothing more then diploma mills. It is best to avoid these kinds of schools because many employers know about them and would see any degree gotten at one as worthless.
Fortunately these bad colleges are few and far between leaving you with many educational opportunities to choose from. You can receive a top notch education from wide variety of colleges and universities, many of which are well known and respected in the professional world.
The first thing to do is to request school catalogues from all the schools you are interested in and take a look at their programs, what course are offered online, and what kind of support you can expect as a distance learning student. Also verify that any and all schools you are considering are accredited as well as the classes they offer. This is probably the most important part of choosing an online college program.
Keep the Tuition Costs Under Control:
Attending college isn't cheap, whether it be on campus or online. But it doesn't have to break your budget either. One of the first things to do is contact your college's financial aid office and ask if they have any programs that could help defray the cost of attending; scholarships, grants, and student loans are widely available to eligible students.
If you can try and get a scholarship or grant because these do not have to be repaid and can help defray the cost of your education considerably. And contrary to what you might think you don't have to be a 4.0 student to get one. There are a lot of financial aid opportunities out there but it will take some amount of work and research to find them.
Make Sure to Transfer Credits from other schools:
If you have attended college before you should be able to transfer any credits earned into your distance learning program. Any credits transferred means you are one step closer to graduation and won't have to take your current college's equivalent course or courses. Sometimes all your credits may not be accepted initially but you can submit a petition to see if they will be allowed.
There are schools that will give what are called life experience credits. These are normally granted upon completion of an entrance exam that will allow you test out of certain classes.
Hopefully these tips will get your distance learning experience off to a great start. A little up front time spent researching your options are the first steps to a positive experience.
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