Selecting an Online College; Do it Right
March 8, 2009 by Dr. Casper Poodel
Filed under Online Colleges
After you have made the decision to earn an online college degree, your first step is to find the “right” college or university. To do so requires some simple yet important research.
First, eliminate all unaccredited colleges from consideration. In most instances, a degree from an unaccredited college or university is worthless at best. Sometimes, it can be a negative. I don’t think I’m the only one who would rather hire someone without a degree than someone I thought might be trying to fool people with a degree that means little or nothing.
Look for a degree program which will best help you easily achieve your career goals; the kind of program most successful professionals in the field have completed. And, try to find a well established degree program developed with the needs of online students in mind.
You will probably want to choose a degree program which will allow you to schedule your academic obligations around the commitments of your work and your family. The ability to earn an online degree without impacting other areas of your life is the main reason so many people are now opting to pursue online certificates and degrees. In addition to convenience, look for the online colleges that offer you plenty of interaction with your professors (through emails, instant messaging etc.) and classmates.
Of course, cost is a consideration for most students. Most colleges and universities will inform you of their costs immediately, and costs are easy to compare objectively.
And, remember that your actual cost may be reduced by financial aid and/or scholarships. Be sure to explore your financial aid and scholarship options with all the colleges that meet your needs so that you can get an accurate picture of the financial investment required by each. And, ask about tuition installment plans…they can make online education much more affordable. You may also want to do a search for “college scholarships” on Google or Yahoo and try some of the free online scholarship matching programs. Like other college financial aid programs, the scholarships to which you are matched could end up saving you lots of money.
Generally, you should apply for scholarships and financial aid as soon as possible. Most colleges offering online education employ financial aid counselors who can help guide you through this process. Take advantage of the expertise they can offer you.
The keys in choosing the best online college and best online degree program for you are taking the time to analyze your individual needs and preferences and reviewing your options carefully. It’s very much like school; if you put in the time, you’ll get the result you want.