How to Choose a Distance Learning College

With the advent of the Internet, the public has hundreds more choices in how to attain higher education. Cost, interest, and time availability are important factors to keep in mind. For instance, let us examine the possibility of a mother working full time and wishing to obtain a higher educational degree. What are the chances that this woman will be able to work eight hours a day, and then go to school for another four to six hours? Of course, depending on how old the children are and the helpfulness of her mate are key factors.

One solution to this dilemma is Distance Learning. Depending on the degree one is seeking, the first step is to establish a list of colleges that offer the degree. Printing out the contact information and financial information is necessary unless you have a photographic memory. Email a few questions right away to their councilors or contact persons. Be sure to glean from your list the colleges that do not contact you within four business days. Then continue to pare your list by comparing cost, classes offered, and any other pertinent information that is important to you.

Most colleges will request that you obtain and arrange to have official high school, and any other college transcripts to be mailed. The cost averages around $ 5.00 per copy. This can be time consuming, especially if you attended high school and graduated before 1979 in rural areas. It may take a little longer to obtain these records as most schools did not have computers and everything is storage. Be sure to pay a few dollars extra and get a few extra copies for yourself, just in case.

The next step is contacting a student councilor and discussing the application and admission process. Application fees may range from $ 100.00 to $ 250.00 or so, depending on the college. After they have received your application and transcripts, they will contact you with acceptance or rejection. The next step is enrollment and cost depends on the college. I found that distance learning is around $ 2,000.00 more expensive for me than the normal college would be , but it makes up for it in time spent with my family and being able to work at my own pace.

When accepted they will assist you in enrolling in classes. You may choose to buy books needed directly from the college bookstore, or you may obtain a list of materials needed and find websites online that may offer some discounts and special offers. I particularly like www.ecampus.com, www.textbooks.com, and sometimes the usual sites like amazon.com. The possibilities are endless.

Once the courses start, the next step is to register to take exams, either online, or at specified satellite campuses located in just about every city throughout the country. I travel 65 miles to Grand Junction Colorado for my Excelsior Exams and find that everyone is helpful and competent. The exams average $ 250.00 to $ 350.00. The total cost that I will pay for an Associates Science Degree in Nursing will cost approximately $ 17,000.00. Expensive yes, but I pay as I go and do not have to take any loans out so I will not have any expenses or huge bills to pay after the fact.

I think that anyone interested in continuing their education will be better off including distance learning into the query process and will not be disappointed in the caliber of schools out there that are attending to a growing need.