Online Degrees and Careers
Today, one of the easiest ways to successfully upgrade your career is through obtaining further career education. This can be done in many different ways, but one of the quickest routes is through distance learning. Distance learning provides the flexibility and time schedule many individuals need to finish a degree while working or caring for kids.
However, since online education is still a relatively new phenomenon, many have extreme hesitation when entering this education system. The following series of articles cover the ins and outs of online learning. Articles go over everything from how online courses work to how employers will view your distance learning degree.
How Does an Online Education Work?
Many professionals would like to excel within their chosen career path or crossover to a related career path that pays more or has more opportunities for promotions. However, achieving these goals usually requires professionals to obtain more advanced or specialized degrees, training or certifications. Furthermore, many busy professionals may not have the time or financial means to take leave of their jobs to attend traditional intensive programs of study from on campus classrooms.
This is why online career education programs have seen more and more students enroll over the past several years. Online career schools afford busy professionals the flexibility they need to attend online classes at their own pace, while still working to earn their paycheck as well as valuable experience that applies to their field of study. Still many professionals may be wary of attending an online school, simply because it seems unfamiliar or they think employers will question their degree if it's from an online school. However, the bottom line is that in today's age an accredited online education is equally as valuable to employers as a campus based education.
How Effective is Online Learning?
Contrary to some professional's perceptions, online learning is highly engaging and fosters daily interaction with professors and other students. Instant messaging, email, video chat, conference video chatting capabilities, power point presentations, screen sharing and an entire host of other multimedia options bring a live classroom right to your home. The digital era has truly changed the game for web based learning experiences.
Online schools, teachers and students have long said that online learning is no easier than traditional campus based learning. As testament to this, many major leading universities have implemented online learning programs over the past few years. Lots of general education courses that typically have hundreds of seats occupied by freshmen are now being offered online. For instance, freshmen majoring in business at the University of Florida have the choice of taking an introductory economics class online or attending a live meeting in a lecture hall with several hundred other students. So in short even the best universities seem to agree that online learning is just as effective as campus-based learning.
What to Consider in an Online Career Education Program
There are three main factors that are important when considering online learning programs; making sure the program will help you achieve your career goals, making sure the school or college is reputable and making sure you can afford the cost of attendance.
First, you will want to study the details of the courses, training materials and backgrounds of the faculty to ensure that the program you are considering has the resources to help you achieve your career goals. Make sure the coursework will allow you to obtain any needed certifications and is highly relevant to your duties and responsibilities at work. Ask your boss or mentor for advice about online schools, so they can perhaps guide you as to which types of training will be most beneficial to your career aspirations. You should also ask the recruiters or counselors who work for the online program about the status of recent graduates and what they have been able to accomplish after receiving the web-based training. Lastly, research the educational materials the online school uses to make sure they are highly relevant and informative to what you need to know to advance at your job.
Next, and this is as equally important as the previous step, you will want to make sure the online program you are considering is reputable. To do this you will need to make sure the online school is accredited. Accreditation is what lets employers know that you attended a sound learning institution. By receiving a degree from an accredited school, employers can rest assured that you have been properly prepared for the job you are seeking. Today, accredited online schools have just as much clout as state and private universities and institutions that are accredited.
There are many accredited online schools in nearly every field of study, and finding out if they are accredited should not be difficult as most heavily advertise their credentials and accreditation status. However, you should look into whom an online school is accredited by. The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) accredits a fair amount of online schools, but other legitimate schools are accredited by regionally accrediting bodies. Regardless, the US Secretary of Education recognizes all accrediting institutions that have grown to respected authorities. You can find out if the online school you are considering has been accredited by an institution that is recognized by the US Secretary of Education by viewing a comprehensive list of such institutions on the website of the US Department of Education.
Lastly, you will want to consider the cost of attendance for the online school you are thinking of attending. Check with the school about financial aid options if necessary and find out what you qualify for. However, remember that one of the best aspects about online learning is that you can earn your degree over a longer period of time if you choose, allowing yourself to earn and save money at the same time. This can really help alleviate the financial burden of pursuing advanced career education or degree programs.
How to Get Started in Online Career Education
The process to become enrolled in an online learning program is not difficult. The first step you will need to take is to find out the application requirements and meet them. Take all required tests, write the prompted essays and submit proper documentation such as previous degrees or test scores. Once you have been accepted you will need to apply for financial aid if you will need it while attending school. This can be done through programs at the online school and by completing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), which considers you for all eligible government work-study, grant and loan programs.
Next, you will just need contact an academic advisor at your school that will help you to register for the necessary courses for the semester. Then all you will have to do is order your educational materials and textbooks and begin your online career education program and your path to career advancement.
Article References
The U.S. Department of Education Accreditation Database
FAFSA
The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
University of Florida
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Who Benefits From Online Career Education?
Online educational institutions are perfect for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend school. Parents, people who work full time, and aspiring students who can't afford to move away to go to college are all able to benefit from online schools. With millions of students currently enrolled in these programs, there are many great reasons to consider attending online schools.
1. Cutting You Education Costs
Online degree programs cost much less than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, making them an attractive option for financially strapped individuals. Most online institutions give you the option of paying per course, allowing you the freedom to earn your degree at your own pace and a cost you can afford. There is no room and board to pay for, and since all your study material is online, there is no need to buy textbooks.
2. Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Students of online schools can attend class whenever, wherever. Busy parents, working students, and those who travel can attend class from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. This also means that course material is available 24/7, so students can go back to the lectures, discussions, or notes anytime.
3. Anonymity
For individuals with self confidence issues, going to school online is much less intimidating than the classroom setting. The online environment provides anonymity and a level playing field for all students. Students can gather their thoughts and think about what they want to say when contributing to a particular discussion more than they could in a traditional classroom.
4. Student Responsibility
Most online schools offer classes exclusively over the Internet, so the responsibility to learn is given almost entirely to the student. This makes the educational experience much more flexible, but it also requires that students have the discipline to study and achieve independently.
5. Professional Improvement
The benefits of earning a degree from an online school are also numerous for those who are stuck in careers they don't like, or are unable to get promoted because they lack a college degree. Employers value employees with degrees because they are more diligent, creative, and thoughtful than other employees.
Online schools can teach those otherwise unable to attend college to think critically and creatively, and to analyze information in an intelligent way – skills that are invaluable in the workplace. Not only will your career opportunities improve by attending online schools, but you can eventually expect to earn more money as well!
Article Resources:
Boston.com
Classes and Careers
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Advantages of Online Career Education
Today, more and more students are choosing to advance their careers and earn their degrees through online study and for good reason. Traditional campus based classrooms simply can't match many of the benefits online study comes with. Here is a breakdown of the several advantages online career education programs can offer you.
Flexibility and SavingsWhen it comes to earning a degree or license, flexibility is more than mere convenience. The flexibility that online degree programs come with can allow you to work full or part time while attending school at your own pace. You can go to work, come home and then use your leisure time to complete your online study requirements. This provides for a hectic lifestyle at times but it in turn can allow you to avoid incurring thousands of dollars of student debt since you'll still be able to work and earn money.
Being able to work while attending school has another benefit in addition to letting you earn money. If you, like many other students, aspire to advance in your career and climb the ranks of the corporate ladder, then you'll need experience. Attending an online education program will afford you the ability to obtain the degree or certificate and the valuable experience you'll need to land the promotion you've been dreaming of at the same time.
This flexibility is also a major perk for students with a spouse and/or children who want to participate in all the engagements that come with family life. The elderly who wish to go back to school and may have difficulty getting to campus-based classes can also benefit from the flexibility of online learning.
Accessibility and Interactivity
Online programs have sometimes been referred to as distance learning programs, but today these programs are anything but distant. Professors, students and teaching assistants have instant access to digital files of transcripts, assignments and other training materials. This increases everyone's overall productivity. Many online learning students report that they can often reach their professors right away and at anytime during the day through email or instant messaging systems. Traditional campus based professors are typically only available during preset office hours.
Furthermore, online learning is incredibly interactive. Online classes are able to find many ways to get students to interact with one another in the digital age. Professors delivering video lectures followed by live discussions, students working in groups via video chat and the sharing of multimedia presentations over the web are just a few ways that online learning facilitates interaction. Sometimes online courses can even be more interactive than campus based lectures and classes.
Accreditation and Endless Opportunities
Several years ago some employers used to question the validity of online diplomas, but that is not so anymore. Online schools go through the same accreditation process and through the same accrediting bureaus as prominent universities. Furthermore, many of the nation's leading universities now offer diplomas that are completely obtained through online study.
With an online education program you also have the ability to study anything you want from the best experts in the field. Years ago, if you didn't live next to a college or university you would have to relocate to pursue your desired field of study. Now you can stay in your hometown and study with some of the best schools out there. Also, sometimes even if you live next to a college or university they may not offer the specialty you want to study. However, with online learning you can find programs headed by the foremost experts in that specialty and not have to relocate.
Overall, online learning programs have a great number of benefits that far outweigh any disadvantages. While completing online programs take discipline and hard work they can really help you get ahead in your career by making you a more competitive candidate in a slowing job market.
Article References
Distance Education and Training Council
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The U.S. Department of Education
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The Top 6 Distance Learning Controversies
Some students may hesitate to consider distance learning as an option for higher education. Although distance learning can be very convenient and cost-effective, some people express concerns about the legitimacy of online degree programs.
There are a lot of rumors floating around about the effectiveness of online courses, some more accurate than others. Let's take a look at some of them.
#1: Distance-learning institutions are for-profit and only want your money.
While many distance-learning schools are for-profit, there is also a wide array of distance learning options available through traditional brick-and-mortar universities. Colleges are increasingly offering distance options for many reasons; greater convenience for students, increased demand for distance learning, and cost savings. An online degree (or a degree that involves a mixture of campus-based and online classes) is as reputable as the institution it comes from. The same is true of any other degree.
If you are looking at a school that seems too good to be true (earn a master's degree in two months!) stay away. Chances are that "degree" will mean that you learned nothing except how to give your cash to a diploma mill. Look to see if any students have filed complaints about the school's educational quality. Check to make sure any school you attend - online or otherwise - is regionally accredited by respected organizations. A good school is a good school, whether you take courses in person or online. You can find more information about school accreditation from the U.S. Department of Education.
#2: Employers do not like online degrees.
Again, there are many online degrees available that are just like regular degrees. If a traditional institution offers online classes, they will most likely appear as regular classes on your transcript; an employer might not even know that you took the classes online. Furthermore, getting an online degree while working can be a very intelligent use of your time, especially since you continue earning a salary while taking classes. Finally, taking classes online shows initiative, sometimes even more than taking traditional classes. After all, distance learning means that you are willing to take responsibility for your own learning to an even greater degree than traditional students might. You may also find that the tremendous variety of online classes means that you find courses that complement your work better than course offerings at a local university.
Ultimately, employers in most fields care far more about your skills, knowledge, accomplishments, and abilities than they do about where you got your degree. The farther beyond college you get, the more this is the case. Your degree-granting institution should be appropriately accredited and your grades should reflect your skills, but that is true of any degree, online or not.
#3: If you are a distance learner, you are not a "real" student.
Just because you are not wandering among ivy-clad building does not diminish your status as a student. In fact, your choices and goals may be even more academically driven than they would be for traditional students. It takes an extra measure of discipline to stay on top of your work without the structure of a physical class and teacher. Distance learning offers the opportunity for serious focus on knowledge and skills; choosing the right online program shows maturity and initiative. You are doing what is right for you, not just what everybody else is doing.
#4: Online degrees are expensive, and there is no financial aid available.
Federal aid is available to online degree students just as it is to students at brick-and-mortar institutions. If the online school you choose to attend is properly accredited, their students are equally as qualified to receive financial aid. Double check to make sure that federal aid is available for your specific program of interest; contact your school's financial aid office for details. Online students save money in other ways as well. Transportation costs and residential fees are eliminated, plus online degree programs offer more flexibility so that students can continue working as they earn their degrees.
#5: There is less interaction in distance learning.
While you may never see your instructors or your fellow students face-to-face, there is still a fair amount of interaction in distance learning. Participation in online forums, class list servs, and other virtual spaces may be mandatory. Distance learning can actually be far more personal and interactive than a 500-person introductory lecture on a college campus. You might be invisible to your classmates, but you certainly won't be anonymous.
If you need human interaction with your education, look around at a lot of schools to get a feel for the different approaches each school takes. There are some online universities that do have a low level of interaction. Most have creative ways to engage students by connecting them to professors and other students.
#6: Online courses are less challenging than traditional classes.
In any class, each learner plays a role in determining how challenged he or she is. Sure, you can cruise through some distance learning classes without much effort, but the same can be true of some in-person college classes. With online education even more than traditional learning, the more work you put into a class, the more you will learn. Online courses can be even more challenging, demanding a great deal of personal initiative.
Ultimately, if you research and choose your program carefully, distance learning can be just as challenging, rewarding, and useful as any other college degree. More and more distance learning programs are being established as online degrees and certificates become ever more popular.
If you want to see what real students have been saying about their experiences with online courses, visit the Career College Reviews page.
Article ReferencesFederal Student Aid
U.S. Department of Education
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How to Avoid Diploma Mill Scams
Earning a legitimate diploma can lead to personal satisfaction, greater career advancement opportunities, and higher wage earning potential. And yet, you will not receive these benefits if, after forking over thousands of dollars, you realize that you have fallen for a diploma mill scam.
These types of scams involve selling diplomas to whoever is willing to pay for them. Little or no course work is required of purchasers, who end up obtaining authentic-looking diplomas without actually having to do any of the work that would normally be required to earn a real diploma.
The diploma scam problem is a significant one, and various entities are taking proactive measures to do something about it. For example, in November 2008, Missouri's KSMU radio station reported that the Missouri Department of Higher Education was campaigning to make it against the law to obtain a job in the state by using a fake degree. It also cited officials as saying that perhaps some 200,000 fake diplomas are purchased in the United States annually.
What can you do to help? You can avoid contributing to the problem by steering away from fake diplomas that are without question worth considerably less than the paper they are printed on. What follows are a few pointers on how to avoid diploma scams that can have an unflattering impact on your career prospects, self-respect, and professional reputation.
Tip 1: If it is too easy and too quick, it is not legit.
Institutions that offer to grant diplomas in less time than it would take to earn similar diplomas at reputable brick and mortar institutions of higher learning should be viewed with caution. A diploma worthy of the name will require you to put in a diligent effort and to complete assignments, tests, and examinations in order to demonstrate your grasp of the subject matter.
In a bid to take on a more reputable appearance, some of these disreputable institutions will, for a fee, grant you a diploma based on so-called life experience reflected on your resume. However, any offer to "earn" a degree courtesy of resume is a scam.
Tip 2: If the accrediting body is not officially recognized, it is not legit,
Most diploma granting institutions boast the approval of some sort of accrediting agency that proves their legitimacy to the outside world. Unfortunately, many institutions are not actually recognized by an accrediting agency that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. To be sure that you are attending a nationally accredited school, you must make sure that the accrediting agency representing your institution actually exists. Diploma mills often set up their own accrediting agencies and then have these agencies give their diplomas accreditation status. Any accrediting body that the U.S. Department of Education does not officially recognize should be considered the product of a diploma mill. Check out the following links to find out whether or not an institution you are considering is legitimately accredited:
U.S. Department of Education's Accreditation Database: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation
Council on Higher Education Accreditation: http://www.chea.org .
Tip 3: If tuition fee is per diploma rather than per semester or per course, it is not legit.
Diploma mills tend to charge on a per diploma basis. So as long as you have a valid credit card, they will be more than willing to accommodate you by billing you in one easy installment for a diploma. Legitimate institutions tend to charge on a per semester or per course basis, so alarm bells should go off inside your head if you must foot the entirely of your tuition in one large sum.
Tip 4: If the academic institution says you can call around the clock, then it is not legit.
Many diploma mills boast that you can call them seven days a week, 24 hours a day. This should strike you as odd because institutions of higher learning are never open around the clock, and they tend to close on weekends and holidays. Diploma mills, however, are ever ready to accept your credit card information and will provide you with every opportunity to do so.
Tip 5: If the academic institution lacks a proper mailing address, it is not legit.
If you view a diploma provider's website and find that the institution has no address or just has a postal box number, you should take that as a warning that the institution is not what it claims to be. Another red flag should go up if you find that a diploma provider focusing on the U.S. market has a mailing address outside of the United States.
Wrap Up
If you intend to go back to school, do yourself a favor by comparing your list of possible schools with an official list of credible accrediting bodies. If you do your homework, you are certain to choose the right school and to end up with a diploma that will be worth much more than the paper it is printed on.
Article Resources:
U.S. Department of Education
CHEA
How Employers View Online Degrees
The popularity of online institutions and distance learning programs is growing—there is no doubt about it. With more than 12.2 million students enrolling in college-level distance education courses in the 2006/2007 academic year, according to research from the National Center for Education Statistics, it has become clear that online education is here to stay.
What still isn't quite as clear, though, is how valuable these online-only degrees truly are and whether employers view them as highly as degrees obtained from brick-and-mortar universities. Although it can be difficult to obtain true data about this topic—since the way in which an employer views an online degree depends largely on that individual's personal perspective—there are a number of indications that online degrees are growing in respectability and reputability.
One of the biggest reasons for this increase in respect for online degrees has to do with accreditation. Thanks to an explosion in the number of distance learning universities that have become accredited in recent years, up to 170 in the United States as of 2007, online degrees have become more highly regarded in the minds of many employers and professionals in various industries.
Still, though, other hiring managers have remained hesitant to fully embrace online degrees. According to research published in The American Journal of Distance Education , 98 percent of employers given the choice of hiring a candidate with a doctoral degree from an online institution or a traditional university were more likely to hire the candidate with the more traditional degree.
Some of the most common reasons for this feeling, as explained in a 2007 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education , are that some employers still feel that online universities suffer from a "lack of rigor," and that there is concern over the "online students' true commitment." Nonetheless, this same research also explained that much of this distrust of online degrees stems from the incorrect belief that online universities are the same thing as so-called "diploma mills."
Still, other employers have reported feeling no bias whatsoever towards candidates with online degrees. According to Julia Parastino of Merck & Co., candidates with online degrees can actually be an asset to many companies, since "It's advantageous to the company to support employees in online education." In addition, Parastino told HR Magazine that online education, "draws more people to continue their degree, which can only benefit the company in the long run."
For students who may be enrolled in an online education program or thinking of registering in the near future, these statistics, personal opinions, and findings could mean a number of different things.
First a foremost, it is important that anyone hoping to enter the workforce after earning a degree from an online institution makes sure that the program he or she was enrolled in received accreditation from a recognized organization. Both state and regional organizations offer accreditation at online universities these days, which simplifies the process to a great degree. In addition, recent graduates who plan on applying for a career in the near future should attempt to allay their potential employer's fears by completing an internship or fellowship in the particular field they are interested in entering.
As a student or recent graduate, it is up to you to prove to potential employers that your degree came from more than just an online "diploma mill." No matter what the personal views of a particular employer may be toward online degrees, it is up to every student and recent graduate to highlight his or her own strengths and accomplishments in an effort to show why he or she should truly be hired for the job.
Article Resources:
National Center for Education StatisticsEmployer Perceptions of Online Degrees: A Literature Review
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Society for Human Resource Management
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How to Network in an Online Environment
The Web is an invaluable networking tool. It gives you the power to find and contact people anywhere in the world who are working in your field. It allows you to read their newsletters and even—in discussion forums—to listen in on their conversations. It allows you to put your resume permanently on display. However, the Web also poses new challenges for the networker. Networking on the Web demands new social protocols and requires you to make a good impression without being face to face with the other person.
Web Presence
The first step in networking online is to get online. If you own a business or sell a service, it should go without saying that you need a website. But having a web presence is becoming more of a necessity for individuals as well. Start paying attention to your web presence. Join social media sites. Though you won't make many connections on social media sites, it's good to have a passive presence. When you meet people at business functions they may run a search on you, and it's good if something pops up. Of course, make sure nothing scandalous is on your profile. You may want to join a professional social media site, such as LinkedIn or Ecademy. These have the advantage of separating your social and professional life.
Image control
Social media sites are designed to help you tailor your image, but who you are comes across in the text of your emails as well. When the person you're contacting can't hear your tone of voice or see your smile, what you say is even more important than it is in face-to-face networking. Make the best possible impression by crafting in advance a few sentences about who you are and what you do.
You'll be sending a lot of introductory emails, so having an excellent pre-written statement will save you a lot of time. Plus, when people you contact contact others—that's what networking is all about—they'll be able to cut and paste your snappy self-description into their email. It's in your interest to make it as easy as possible for people to network on your behalf.
Pay attention to the little things that help make your online image. Make sure your email is grammatically perfect and not too casual. And make sure you have a professional email address.
Be polite
Many of the same social rules apply to networking online that apply to networking in analog life. For example, don't shoot someone an email asking for a job or a favor: what is impolite in conversation appears doubly impolite in email. Networking is all about reciprocity: think about how you can help them and send them an email about that.
Because networking is all about reciprocity, always respond promptly to emails—even if you have nothing to say other than a thank you. If you don't reply, the person who contacted you will have no idea whether you got the email or what your reaction was. They might even be offended.
Research
Search keywords in your industry. You'll probably come up with trade publications, online business groups, and other useful resources. Subscribe to these organizations' newsletters. Read their forums. Follow the links on their pages. Soon you'll get a sense for who's who in your field and what they care about.
How to Ensure Your Employer Respects Your Online Degree
The quality of online degrees has come a long way in the past few years. Once known as simply "mail-order degrees" or "diploma mill degrees," today's online universities offer students who may not live near a traditional campus the chance to receive a top-notch education from the comfort of their homes.
Of course, not all employers see it that way. Because of the numerous misconceptions about the quality of online degrees—as well as past myths about how those degrees were obtained by students—some hiring managers and executives can occasionally be weary of hiring a candidate with one.
For the best chances of proving both yourself and the validity of your online degree, it is important to take a few steps ahead of time. That means doing a bit of research and finding a distance learning program with a solid reputation, making sure to enroll in a university that has received accreditation from a recognized governing body, and taking a look at what the university's transcripts actually look like—to ensure they are legitimate and professional—before forwarding them along to any potential employers.
Below, we have included these basic tips, along with a few others, to ensure you will have the best chances landing your dream job once you have earned a degree from an online university.
Look for accredited institutions.
First and foremost, it is important that students interested in earning a degree from an online university make sure that the program they are interested in has obtained proper accreditation. In some cases, an online university might claim that it has accreditation, but the truth is that accreditation came from an agency that was not recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a "reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education."
Not only will attending an accredited university help you when it comes time to find a job, but it will also be necessary if you hope to obtain any federal or state financial aid funds, as well.
Research the program's reputation.
Before starting classes or forking over tuition fees at any online institution, it is important to do a bit of research to find out more about this university's reputation. Start with a simple Google search of the university's name, and expand your research from there.
It may also be worthwhile to put in a call to your state's Department of Education to determine whether there have been any sanctions or disciplinary actions taken against the university you are thinking of attending.
Check out your diploma and transcripts.
There is not much of a point in earning a degree from an institution if the diploma and transcripts you will get—and which you will likely submit to any potential employers or graduate schools—do not look legitimate. Before starting classes, be sure to call the university's admissions or records department and ask to see a sample copy of each document.
Additionally, it is a good idea to call this office directly, rather than emailing, to ensure that the school you will be paying money to attend does indeed have a brick-and-mortar office with traditional business hours. If not, it could be difficult for future employers to get ahold of the school should they have any questions about your qualifications or completed courses.
Do well on standardized exams.
For students who attend an online institution, doing well on standardized exams such as the LSAT or GRE is the best way to show potential graduate schools and employers that you have what it takes to excel. Because these tests are given to students who attended both traditional and distance learning institutions, they oftentimes serve as a measuring stick for hiring managers and graduate school admissions counselors to determine just how much a student learned during his or her schooling.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
The U.S. Department of Education
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How to Ensure Your Employer Respects Your Online Degree
The quality of online degrees has come a long way in the past few years. Once known as simply "mail-order degrees" or "diploma mill degrees," today's online universities offer students who may not live near a traditional campus the chance to receive a top-notch education from the comfort of their homes.
Of course, not all employers see it that way. Because of the numerous misconceptions about the quality of online degrees—as well as past myths about how those degrees were obtained by students—some hiring managers and executives can occasionally be weary of hiring a candidate with one.
For the best chances of proving both yourself and the validity of your online degree, it is important to take a few steps ahead of time. That means doing a bit of research and finding a distance learning program with a solid reputation, making sure to enroll in a university that has received accreditation from a recognized governing body, and taking a look at what the university's transcripts actually look like—to ensure they are legitimate and professional—before forwarding them along to any potential employers.
Below, we have included these basic tips, along with a few others, to ensure you will have the best chances landing your dream job once you have earned a degree from an online university.
Look for accredited institutions.
First and foremost, it is important that students interested in earning a degree from an online university make sure that the program they are interested in has obtained proper accreditation. In some cases, an online university might claim that it has accreditation, but the truth is that accreditation came from an agency that was not recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a "reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education."
Not only will attending an accredited university help you when it comes time to find a job, but it will also be necessary if you hope to obtain any federal or state financial aid funds, as well.
Research the program's reputation.
Before starting classes or forking over tuition fees at any online institution, it is important to do a bit of research to find out more about this university's reputation. Start with a simple Google search of the university's name, and expand your research from there.
It may also be worthwhile to put in a call to your state's Department of Education to determine whether there have been any sanctions or disciplinary actions taken against the university you are thinking of attending.
Check out your diploma and transcripts.
There is not much of a point in earning a degree from an institution if the diploma and transcripts you will get—and which you will likely submit to any potential employers or graduate schools—do not look legitimate. Before starting classes, be sure to call the university's admissions or records department and ask to see a sample copy of each document.
Additionally, it is a good idea to call this office directly, rather than emailing, to ensure that the school you will be paying money to attend does indeed have a brick-and-mortar office with traditional business hours. If not, it could be difficult for future employers to get ahold of the school should they have any questions about your qualifications or completed courses.
Do well on standardized exams.
For students who attend an online institution, doing well on standardized exams such as the LSAT or GRE is the best way to show potential graduate schools and employers that you have what it takes to excel. Because these tests are given to students who attended both traditional and distance learning institutions, they oftentimes serve as a measuring stick for hiring managers and graduate school admissions counselors to determine just how much a student learned during his or her schooling.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
The U.S. Department of Education
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