You’ve done it. You decided to take the plunge into the world of online education. You’ve chosen your major and have a general idea of the career you want to pursue. But what school you plan on attending requires a whole other search that can seem daunting if you don’t know what you are looking for. Simply typing in “online schools” into a browser search will leave you more confused than when you first began.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that all degree programs are alike. Online courses, as with traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, are varied and some might be more rigorous than others. As with all investments in education, it is essential to know the cost of courses, the average length of time it takes a student to complete the program, and how many credits are needed to graduate.
ACTION STEPS:
Find an Accredited Online School
Making sure that the school you plan on attending is accredited is perhaps one of the most overlooked essential tasks to complete when applying to online college. Accreditation ensures that the curriculum follows educational standards set by the National Educational Association (NEA). A useful list of all accredited schools is available on the NEA website.
Beware of “degree mill” scams, which establish their own accreditation organization that is not approved by the NEA in order to advertise that they are accredited on their website.
Read Online Course Descriptions
The course catalogue may be available online, but if not, you may contact the school to request a printed version. The course catalogue will explain the course objectives and goals, mandatory materials, time requirements, and level of difficulty. Understanding how the course operates will help you determine if it is something you are interested in and have the ability to complete in the allotted semester.
Talk to an Online College Admissions Counselor
Speaking to an admissions representative will help you determine the structure of each school’s online courses. Questions to ask the admissions counselor include:
- What is the student to instructor interaction consist of?
- Are students able to contact professors? If so, through what medium?
- What are the technology requirements for online courses?
- Is there technical support? If so, what are the hours, and how may they be contacted?
- What is the peer-to-peer interaction like?
- Does your school offer financial aid packages?
Check Out the Credit Transfer Requirements
Many students, especially those seeking a masters degree, begin their online education career with credits from a previous institution that they may wish to use towards earning their online degree. However, every school has different credit transfer criteria, so requesting an official transfer estimate from your prospective schools aid in your school selection process. As a rule, most schools accept between 30 to 50 percent of all transfer credits.
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