If you have been thinking about earning your degree online, you will have noticed by now that there are hundreds of online schools offering hundreds of different degree programs. Just as looking over a menu with too many options can make any diner hesitant and indecisive about what dish to pick, having so many different schools and programs to choose from can intimidate any prospective distance education student – especially since this is such an important decision.
However, it is possible for online students to weigh their options and select the best school and program for them. This can be accomplished by employing some of the same methods that traditional students use to narrow down their university selections.
Deciding on a Degree
Campus students often begin the process of choosing a school by not considering any school at all, instead focusing on what degree program best aligns with their career goals. If you wish to pursue a certain profession, be sure that you understand what educational qualifications are necessary to get you there. To find out what educational prerequisites are needed for your career goals, talk to those in the field or research the occupation on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Keep job market trends in mind when you are deciding on what degree program to enroll in. While most fields go through some ups and downs in prosperity and growth, there are some fields that are in a rapid decline and show no signs of recovering.
For example, the job prospects for inspectors, file clerks, and telemarketers are dwindling, according to a report published by the BLS, making it unwise to pursue an education tailored towards those professions. On the other hand, the prospects for biomedical engineers, financial examiners, and physician assistants are on the rise, the BLS reported, making those great areas to earn a degree in.
In addition, remember to consider your own strengths and weaknesses when deciding on a degree program. If you have always struggled with mathematical concepts or have no interest in it, it may not be a good idea to enroll in a degree program that relies heavily on math. After all, you will be using the skills and knowledge you earn in college for the rest of your career.
Factors You Should Consider:
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Accreditation. Once you have settled on a degree program, find the accredited schools that offer this program. In many cases, you will find that dozens of online schools have your desired program available, just as would be the case for campus-based students. Considering schools that are accredited will ensure that your degree is legitimate and that your class credits will easily transfer from one school to another should you decide to switch schools or continue on to a graduate. Both online and campus students should consider several factors when determining which colleges would best fit their personal preferences and academic goals, including each school’s notable alumni, instructor quality, student services, and curricula.
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Reputation. Consider how a future employer may view your degree and what the general opinion of your degree program and school may be. Choose a school that offers a curricula that will truly challenge you and prepare you for a professional career.
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Graduation Requirements. The graduation requirements for every school can vary as well. For instance, in order to earn an MBA from Ashford University, students must take 14 courses to earn 42 credits. On the other hand, to earn an MBA from Kaplan University, students must take approximately 15 courses to earn 60 credits. With this in mind, it should be noted that there is not an industry-wide standard for what a credit hour consists of. This means that one school may count a single course to be four credit hours and another school may count a single course to be two credit hours. Therefore, when researching degree requirements, look into exactly how many actual courses are required in addition to looking at the credit hours.In addition, while Kaplan’s curriculum for MBA students does not include a separate course devoted entirely to business law, Ashford University’s curriculum does. These are the types of differences that you should be aware of as you look into programs from varying schools, as some may be longer than others, require different classes, or offer different types of projects and assignments. If you would like to take a particular class during your degree program, make sure that the school you choose offers that class. In addition, be aware of any special requirements your school of choice may require, such as mandatory campus visits, and residency or internship requirements.
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Graduates. Pay particular attention to schools and programs that have successful graduates in your field. For example, if your goal is to pursue a career in nursing, focus on what the alumni of healthcare programs have to say about their experiences during and after their education at that school. You can search for alumni through the school’s alumni associations, professional organizations, and social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook.
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Faculty. You should also talk to instructors. Though there are some programs where your class instructor may use standardized lecture materials and act solely as facilitators, you should still research the faculty of each school. You may be surprised by the quality of the instructors some programs have. For example, Liberty University Online alumnus Jeff Kennedy discovered while researching the school that Christian scholar Gary Habermaas was a professor there. “That sealed the deal for me,” Kennedy said.
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Student Services. In conjunction with investigating a school’s alumni, instructors, and curricula, you should explore what student support services are offered. Though you will obviously not be enjoying traditional campus-based amenities like a student gym or health center, online students do nonetheless typically have access to some great services. For example, online American InterContinental University (AIU)students can take advantage of the school’s extensive electronic library, which includes access to more than 11,000 books and reports, 80,000 journals and magazines, and 20 licensed articles and book databases.In terms of student help, Strayer University provides its online students with one-on-one tutoring through the Learning Resources Center if they are struggling in a class, ensuring that they will always get the help they need. Most institutions also provide online students with career help through resume services, interviewing advice, and job boards.
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Cost. Budget is another important factor that you should take into consideration. Tuition varies greatly from school to school, so you should find out how much a degree program will cost by calculating the total number of credit hours needed with the cost per credit hour. Keep in mind that some schools also have additional fees, such as technology fees, when determining the overall price of a degree. If you find that a school you are interested in is too costly, remember to factor in any financial aid, scholarships, and grants you may receive. You can even contact the school’s financial aid office to see what the school can do to lower the costs for you.
Your School Choice is Personal
All factors considered, it is important to keep in mind that picking a school is a relative process. There is no “one size fits all” approach because a feature that makes one school great for one student may be considered a disadvantage by another. For example, the University of Phoenix requires students to adopt group-oriented studying habits. In fact, it is typical for students to be assigned to a learning group of three or more students, whom they will work with for the duration of the course, according to the school.
For those who desire to network and build relationships even when they are not in a classroom, or for those who simply prefer working with others, this is a great benefit. However, some students may not like the interactive nature of the University of Phoenix’s group-oriented learning and prefer to engage in more individualized study and work instead. Both learning preferences are valid; it just depends on what you prefer.
But no matter what college you decide on, remember that you will get as much out of your online education as you put into it. Earning your degree online is not any easier than earning your degree in a traditional classroom setting. In fact, online classes can even be more difficult than traditional classes because students need to be even more independent, responsible, and self-motivated to learn online, according to an article published on the Chronicle of Higher Education.
“On the one hand, students can complete coursework around their own work and family lives,” the article reported. “On the other, online courses require students to be more proactive about finding time to do assignments and make it easier for struggling students to fall behind.”
Liberty University Online student Michael Wright agreed that online learning can take some adjustment and is not for everyone. “It depends on your situation,” Wright said, “but remember: Whatever that is, it’s up to you to work out a schedule that will allow you to accomplish [your degree]. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but it’s never impossible unless you let it be.”
