Over the past decade online educational opportunities have blossomed, thanks to the convenience and ease of taking classes at home instead of on campus. At first, schools dedicated almost exclusively to online study have dominated the market, but these days even long established brick and ivy institutions have gotten into the game.

For some students, taking classes online is the only way that they can pursue a degree. Busy schedules, faraway campuses, or unavailable courses are some of the reasons prospective students have stayed away, problems that can be remedied through online course work.

But, not every program is equal and the results aren’t always what students had expected. Before you enroll in an online course of study, there are some questions you need to ask yourself, some of which will need to be asked of the educational institution as well:

What are your career goals? If you are planning a certain career path, what course of study would help you meet that goal? Do you need an associates degree or will a bachelors or masters degree help you realize your goals?

What programs are available online? Can your coursework be taken online exclusively or will you be required to travel to campus or some other location to take a test or accomplish some of your educational goals?

How does the professional community view the school? In some circles, online education is frowned upon, particularly if it is from a school that has no campus. Some long established schools have online courses of study, classes which are equivalent to what is taught on campus.

Is the school accredited? The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority that has national control over postsecondary educational institutions in America. Each state assumes varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs. Explore the accreditation given to that school and what weight the agency has in granting it.

Online study is convenient, financially comparable to on campus study, and perhaps the only way tens of thousands of students can further their academic pursuits. Explore your options, compare various programs, and acquaint yourself with the online school’s terms and conditions to make certain that this option is right for you.

Further Reading and Sources

Accreditation in the United States

College Planning Guides and Aid Tools

College Student Loan Guides and Tips

Save on School Supplies

Tags: college accreditation, college tools, online college, online study

College Planning Tips for the Week of:

Sunday October 05, 2008

Start the Month by Completing a Checklist On Prior Tasks October is the month to finalize your application so that they can be submitted on time. October is also scholarship search time. checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed Any idea that you want to do after high school: you need to start quickly to meet fall deadlines. Review our late-starter file to get started: see late starter file Finalize your list of colleges and review it with your HS counselor Register for your college admission exams October is the Month for College Fairs and HS Visits by Schools Check with your guidance office for schedules and interviews. Narrow your college selection into a grouping for college application submission Continue working on your college admission application. Items required: College entrance exams: take these exams as soon as possible and arrange to have your scores sent to your college of choice College admission application: will be discussed later Essays: most college applications will require 2 or more essays to give the college an idea who you are. These are important items that can get you accepted. So start working on them. High School Transcripts: arrange with your high school to forward required transcripts to select colleges. Note that everyone in your school will be making the same request So act early! Letters of recommendation: determine who can write your recommendations. Act now! That person you are thinking of may be approached by other students and they may not get to your letter of recommendation in time. Home Schooled: check with your college on what will be required since you will not be sending in "official" transcripts. Check this valuable resource for information: link to the amazon bookstore Other: check with your college admission’s office You should consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP tests to test out of some college courses.

More information available: view our complete college planning calendar for September

Tags: College Planning, college planning tasks, college tasks, college tips