Monday, March 16, 2009

Online School Selection: How to Choose

By Michael Fleischner

There are many ways to complete your education or get a degree today that didnt exist just a few short years ago. Many traditional institutions offer online learning opportunities as well as truly online universities. The only difference is that online universities may not require any on campus work.

Going to school online requires that students are comfortable with doing assignments and learning online. Additionally, they need to be disciplined and do their work in a structured way. Unlike sitting in a classroom, online universities require students to log on to access work and assignments.

Selecting an online program is easy if you know how to search and what to look for. Start your search by doing an internet search for accredited universities. This means that the school's curriculum has been approved by an accrediting agency. This is important if you ever wish to transfer or have your credits count towards another degree.

After starting your search, focus on the area for which you want your degree. If you are looking for an online degree in culinary, then dont seek out schools with only one offering. There are online schools that specialize by discipline. Your best bet is to find a school that has a strong program in the degree area you want.

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential online programs, start to understand how long it will take for you to complete your degree, degree requirements, and costs. This is the best way to narrow down your list of potential schools. Find something that meets your time frame and your budget. You dont want to be well into your classes and find out that you will never graduate.

Once you've completed the researching phase of your online education, it's time to begin completing the application. Most online universities offer applications online that have a number of requirements. You may have to access your secondary school transcripts as well as financial information. Take time completing your application as mistakes could delay the admissions process.

Once you have completed your application, focus on what you will need to start your classes. Your class schedule will most likely be based on a semester and a specific time frame. You want to check to make sure that you have all the necessary materials and that you understand class requirements. Since there is not physical class to show up to, you will need to log on to complete assignments.

Make sure you have a good computer and reliable internet access. Online educators are not very tolerant of assignments that havent been completed because of difficulty accessing the internet. If you have a good computer and reliable internet access, you are ahead of the game and are likely to succeed. Attending school online is a great way to learn. Investigate online learning options and be sure to ask the right questions.

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