Online Education: How to Succeed with an Online College

Perhaps you are a single mom who cannot leave your full-time job to attend college. Maybe you are getting tired of your current job and need more education to make a career change. You could even be a recent high school graduate who chooses not to move away from home. No matter who you are and no matter what your situation is, you recognize the fact that you want to further your education, but it seems impossible to rearrange your life to be able to attend a traditional college classroom. Thanks to today's technology, it is possible for you to achieve your goal of a college education via the internet.

You see advertisements every day on television promoting the concept of online education. First, do your research. I am sure that you have heard stories about people having falsified degrees and perhaps you have heard news segments about people who have lost money to online university hoaxes. Please do not let those stories scare you, but do keep them on your mind as you research.

Depending on what field of study you are interested in will play a big part in your choice of an online college. If you are wanting to go into the education field, first gather a list of colleges and universities that have campuses in your state. There is a very high chance that they will offer an entire degree plan from start to finish. However, if you are majoring in education and you find a college that does not have a campus in your state, make a quick phone call to your state board of education to be sure that they will honor a degree from that particular college. (Some online colleges are not accredited. That will be discussed later.)

It would be very sad if you spent time and money on a college education, only to find out that it is not honored by your state board or local school district.

It was told to me by my local school district superintendent that a degree from a college that has a recognized campus carries more weight than that of a degree from "ABC Online University". Again, that is just a local school district opinion, do your own research!!

If you are interested in a profession in the medical field, I am afraid that your chances of an entire degree plan being offered online is slim to none. I personally do not know of any. With that being said, you will be able to find continuing education classes offered online if you already have a degree of some sort in the medical profession. Once again, do your own research and be sure to contact the proper state boards in regards to your online educational plan.

If you are wanting a degree in business, the possibilities are almost endless. If you are employed by a corporation, you should contact the personnel department. It is possible that they have information for online education opportunities.

After you have gathered your information and have found the colleges that conveniently offer your field of study, now its time to take action. If you are searching online and the college of your choice does not offer a phone number, run away and run fast! When you have found a college with a phone number, make a list of questions to ask and begin making phone calls. The first question on your list should be "Are you an accredited college?" If they are not, your degree will more than likely be absolutely worthless, with the exception of the knowledge that you obtained in your studies. A college that is not accredited will not transfer class credits to another college and it will not be sufficient when applying for a professional license (such as in education). If you are still leery, contact the college's state board of education. They will be able to answer ALL of your questions in an unbiased, professional manner.

OK, so you've found the college for you. Congratulations! You are one step closer to your goal. Now its time to fill out applications and financial aid forms. The task can very easily be overwhelming and at times very frustrating. That is when you should have your school's phone number on your speed dial. The proper go-to person will be happy to walk you through any questions that you might have. Don't worry about "bothering" them. Their job is to assist you. Just ask.

With your application complete and your financial aid on the way, now its time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Some colleges may have a policy that states that new students must attend an on-campus seminar. I know that it is not convenient, and definantly not the most affordable, but you should plan to attend. Sometimes, scheduling a campus trip might mean that you will have to put it off for a semester, but don't let that discourage you.

The fabulous thing about online classes is that even though you will have deadlines, you can do them at any time (just don't miss a deadline).

Some online colleges have all of their material online, others send you the text books. You know what will work best for your everyday schedule.

The schedule that works best for me as I continue my education online is to read and write assignments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and listen to my online lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I do my school work early in the morning and again late in the evening after everyone goes to bed. I am a stay at home mom, so I am able to spend my days uninterrupted with my son. Another fabulous perk of an online education, is that you can keep up with your studies even when you are on vacation. As long as you have access to the internet, you can study anywhere.

I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your research. Make sure all of your questions are answered and all of your requirements are met. Congratulations on your future success. Best of luck!