How I Became an Online College Student

Have you ever looked back in your life and wondered what might have been? Do you reflect on your life and wish you could change something? Deciding to go back to college was a turning point in my life. I had come to a fork in the road. Do I keep on the same old path? Unfulfilled, but successful? Or do I take a chance on achieving my dreams?

Regrets

No one gets through life without making a few bad decisions. Like many teenagers out there, I graduated high school and went to a local college. Unfortunately, like many twenty-something's, I did not graduate from college. Everyone has their own reasons for not finishing their degree program. Mine was running away to get married. Literally. I don't regret that choice but I do regret not finishing college when I was younger. I always wondered what could have been and wished for something more.

Fast-forward a decade after dropping out of college and I was a happy wife and mother. I owned a fairly successful business with my husband. The business was his dream, not mine. I was content and enjoyed the work; but I had this tiny voice in my head saying "I wish I had finished college when I had the chance". I thought that my time had passed and my opportunity for higher learning was long gone. I live in a rural area and there was little hope for me to commute to any local universities because of family and work commitments. I had heard about online colleges, but like many I was suspicious of their validity.

Taking action

Again, everyone has their own reasons for dropping out of college or never going at all. Similarly, everyone has their own reasons for deciding that now is the time to take action and enroll in college. For me, I had an epiphany. After a particularly stressful day, I realized that I was waiting for someone else to fulfill my professional dreams. I was waiting for "opportunity" to come knocking on my door. I was waiting for something that I could take action on now and make happen myself. I had the ability to do it all along. The answer was simple. Just do it. What an eye-opener.

I thought again of going to an online college and I made the decision to check it out. I was still extremely skeptical and nervous about starting my new adventure. I did not know anyone who had attended an online college. My thoughts were to email a few of the colleges and read over their brochures and catalogs. I requested information from a few websites and within an hour I received three phone calls from advisors. I felt a little overwhelmed and thought that all they seemed really eager to sign me up for their next session. I asked a lot of questions; mostly about their accreditations, financial aid and what kind of degree programs they had.

Choosing

Ultimately I enrolled with the University of Phoenix because they have the best schedule for working moms, in my opinion. Students take two classes at a time. Each week one class has a "work" week and the other class has a "discussion" week. This means that you never have more than one big assignment due on the same day, they always alternate. It's a great idea that really works for moms (or any other adult that has a busy schedule). Now I know a good schedule is not the only reason to choose a college, but at the time I was under the impression that all online colleges were basically the same. I just went with instinct and jumped in feet first.

Going to University of Phoenix was a great experience and I don't regret a single minute. I wish that I had a better understanding of what online colleges had to offer in the beginning. I've graduated with my Associates Degree in Business from UOP and am continuing my educational journey at another online university. I can honestly say that going back to college was one of the best decisions I ever made. But if I had to decide what online university to attend all over again, I would ask the "right" questions for choosing an online college. What are those questions? That's a topic for another article.