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Online Degree Resources1. Is an Online Degree Right for Me? Only YOU can answer this question. Consider all the pros and cons of an online degree and make your choice. Here is a little help. If you are: • Disciplined and good at studying alone Then an online degree is very likely the perfect fit for you! 2. Pros and Cons of an Online Degree? It is indisputable that the quality of online education is continuously improving. According to the Sloan Consortium: “Most Chief Academic Officers believe that the quality of online instruction is equal to or superior to that of face-to-face learning.” They point out that “In 2003, 57 percent of academic leaders rated the learning outcomes in online education as the same or superior to those in face-to-face. The number is now 62 percent”. In addition to the growing quality it is important to note that “nearly 3.2 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2005 term, a substantial increase over the 2.3 million reported the previous year. The more than 800,000 additional online students is more than twice the number added in any previous year”. Growing acceptance and growing number of students choosing online education all add to its popularity. But there are some drawbacks associated with this type of degree program. An online degree requires greater discipline and self motivation. As a result, it may not be suited for young learners who may not have the skills they need to complete a degree program with high levels of flexibility. Some critics believe that an online degree lacks the enriching intellectual exchange of a face-to-face program and as such will never be as highly regarded as a traditional learning environment. Additionally, because the industry is so new, potential students may not know the difference between accredited institutions and diploma mills. Weigh the pros and cons of an online degree carefully. Only YOU can decide what is best for your future education path. Review school offerings as well as degree conditions before making a decision. Please use our Contact Us form if you have any questions or need assistance in making your online degree program choice! That’s what we are here for. 3. Our Top Online Degree Programs Picking top online degree programs is hard as the answer really depends on your learning style, degree program as well as future career field. But we have found that the following schools provide superior online degree programs in a number of different areas and meet student needs across the board. 1. University of Phoenix If you disagree, would like to comment on our top picks or would like to suggest a school for inclusion, please use our quick and easy
Contact Us form. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! 4. How to get Online Schools to Compete over You? Picking the right online school, college or university as well as the degree program is no easy task. Don’t rush this process. Take your time, research what is available to you and make the best, but more importantly educatated, decision. First off, carefully consider what type of education you want, what learning style fits you best as well as what your future career aspirations are. Search schools by location/degree program to obtain a selected list that fits your preset criteria. Research the list of schools, find out about their history, financial aid offerings, programs details as well as available student resources and support. Prior to making your choice, request more information from the schools directly. This service is FREE – use it! By requesting more information from the school you will learn more about their specific programs, be able to view their application forms, received detailed financial aid information, and other detailed background information. Requesting information from schools, by using our site, is free and very secure. Your personal information is always kept strictly confidential and used only by the schools you specified. 5. What to Watch Out For? If obtaining your college degree is too easy – watch out, it may be a diploma mill! A diploma mill is an institution of higher education operating without supervision of a state or professional agency and granting diplomas which are either fraudulent or because of the lack of proper standards worthless – Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. Diploma mills or degree mills usually do not require any work, or require minimal work, in an exchange for a highly priced diploma. Some offer diplomas based on an individuals life experience and offer a diploma solely on the description of this experience. If you are looking at a school that claims you can obtain a degree in MUCH LESS time than it would take at a legitimate institution, you are likely looking at a diploma mill. Advances in technology have made the ease of starting a degree mill alarming. A fraudulent school can start up, collect considerable amounts of money, go out of business, change it’s name and emerge as a new entity in a vary short period of time. Because these schools are short-lived, detection is extremely difficult. Fraudulent schools often have names similar to well-known colleges or universities, frequently change addresses, move from state to state, overemphasize the speed and ease of obtaining a diploma, focus little on the quality of their courses and faculty, offer little interaction with other students and faculty, are not selective having a very easy admission process with tuition and fees required up-front. To protect yourself, ALWAYS see if the online school is accredited and by WHO! To see which agencies are recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit colleges and schools click here.
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