Sound familiar? You are not alone. After all, junior high and high school curriculum has basically dictated your areas of study until this point. Rest assured that many young adults do not yet know what profession they want to pursue upon graduating high school at age eighteen.

The good news is that you can begin college now and still have time to make an informed decision about your major. Most college degree programs require that you take a set of core classes for any degree, which can keep you busy for the first year or two of college while you assess which degree program to explore further. While you are enrolled in basics such as English, Math, Foreign Language and other required core classes, use the opportunity to speak with professors, advisors, other students and professionals who are familiar with fields you are interested in pursuing. You may want to take (or just attend) classes within majors you are considering. Choosing a degree program is a major decision that will affect the types of jobs for which you qualify after college, and one that warrants your time and attention.

Deciding on a major requires taking an honest look your goals, your personality, your strengths and weaknesses, and what you truly want out of life and your career. When you enter the workforce after college, your job will become a significant part of your everyday life. Research what specific positions you can obtain with different degrees, and use that information as a guide in your decision. For example, just because you love history does not mean that you should get a degree in history, unless you have determined that a job you would love requires that you have a history degree. If you cannot imagine sitting at a desk for eight (or more) hours per day, you should probably consider professions that will not require you to do so. If you love art and thrive on the creative process, look into fields that accommodate your talents and desires. Research real job openings to help determine what degree would set you up for the types of jobs that would satisfy you.

While speaking with counselors and professors is a great way to learn more about the jobs available for graduates in a particular field, speaking with people in the workforce and visiting places of employment can give you the best insight into what specific positions entail. Look for every opportunity to get more information about jobs in a field you are considering, even if it requires pressing the limits of your comfort zone. Many companies do not mind giving tours to interested college students, which can be a great way to learn more about jobs in a particular field as well as make connections. Other resources may be so obvious you have not even noticed them, such as the knowledge of your parents, their friends and other relatives. There are likely professionals in your life who are active in different industries who can provide valuable advice and guidance about the job market.

While the advice of your parents, relatives and other trusted individuals should certainly be valued and respected, do not disregard your own instincts when making this important decision for your future. Many parents have biased views about what career direction they want to see their children follow. Some parents want their children to follow in their footsteps, while others want to prevent their children from making the same career mistakes as they made themselves. Either way, you and only you will enter the workforce armed with the knowledge and skills acquired through earning your degree. Only you have the power to select a degree program that prepares you for the work that will prove satisfying to you. In selecting your major, be diligent in researching the opportunities it will afford you and make a decision with which you will be truly satisfied when you walk across the stage on graduation day.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of student loans and information on how to get private student loans as well as consolidation. 

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What is social work?
Social work is an important branch of human services. Major objective of social work is to help individuals, families and groups. They have ability to use available resources to solve individual and community problems. Professionals also work on broader problems such as poverty, unemployment and domestic violence. Social Work is the blend of specific values, knowledge and skills. Skilled professionals work in diverse settings such as family service agencies, children’s aid agencies, hospitals and federal and provincial departments. They can also work on their own private settings.

Who are social Workers?
Social workers are exclusively qualified personals who have specific skills that enable them to help people in effective way after observing all different aspects of culture and life. They know how to utilize all the best available resources to provide help. Social Workers help people at every stage of life from child to adult stage. They help to overcome challenges and troubles of everyday living that includes poverty, stress, discrimination, abuse, physical illness, divorce, death, addiction, depression, unemployment, disability and mental illness.

Online Social Work Degrees
Minimum education necessary to work on entry level positions in human services or social work is bachelors in social works. Social work degrees enables you start your career as social worker. You will learn basic concepts of psychology, sociology and other related areas. Online Masters degree in social work gives you chance to work on high grade posts such as directors and managers. If you want to teach in university or want to do research you must earn doctorate degree in social work. Different Online Social work Degrees are available. Some of these degrees include the following
• Online Associates in Human Services
• Online Bachelors of Science in Human Services
• Online Bachelors in Human Services
• Masters of Science in Human Services
• Human Services Administration Certificate
• Online Masters of Counseling
• Masters of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling

Many top accredited online universities offer these Online Social Work Degrees. You can earn any degree according to your needs. Professionals who are already working in human services department as social worker can upgrade their skills by earning suitable degree. Further earning social work degree from any top accredited online university or college offers you several advantages. Major advantage of online education is freedom to attend classes any time from any where. Online programs are often accelerated and degree can be completed in few months.

Career Outlook and Economic Growth in Industry
According to Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth rate for Social Worker is expected to grow faster than average among all other professions till 2010 due to rapid increase in elderly population and baby boomer generation. Average per year salaries of social worker is ranges from $25,000 to $42,500. Social workers with sub-specialties such as health or substance abuse can earn $52,000 per year. Management professionals can also earn higher salaries.

If you need more information about online social work degrees you can visit this site. http://www.humanservicesdegree.net/ It will provide you brief knowledge about online social work degrees available.

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The answers can be complex and confusing. Search the web for the phrase "art school" for millions of choices. If you go to the web and Google (search) "learn to draw" you get to choose from 4,880,000 web sites (at least that’s what I found while writing this article). By the time you try it, there will likely be more.

If you do a web search using Google for the term "learn to paint" Google showed 854,000 web sites in the light blue bar at the top of the page under the "Google" logo.

There are degree granting and non-degree granting art schools, art schools with classrooms and online art courses. Some non-degree art courses give "Certificates of Completion."

Finding an art school course to learn to draw and paint that suits your personal needs, budget and available time is a challenge.

Here is a list of some of the options:

Option 1: A way to learn drawing and painting is to go to an art school, college or university like Pratt Institute (campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City, USA where I graduated and later taught). Two issues for many people are the time and money needed. The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree I took at Pratt now costs over $100,000.00 USD for the four year degree program. Of course, this web article is viewed by a worldwide audience. To see the great art schools around the world, there is a very good listing of them on the Saatchi Gallery web site page titled: "Art Colleges around the World: Universities, Visual Arts, Fashion and Design Institutions." The Saatchi Gallery Art Colleges page web site address is listed on the links page in the resource box at the bottom of this article.

The Saatchi Gallery list includes the college I graduated from (Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York City, USA) and art schools in many countries all across the world. The Saatchi Gallery art school listings had 57 pages with thousands of art schools listed when this article was written.

Option 2: Take a local art course either at a private art school, a local high school, secondary school or college. Of course, some localities don’t offer that option and the skills of the teachers are important, so you need to get recommendations and check these teachers out before you enroll. You can Google these choices, ask neighbors, friends and teachers in schools near you. You might also get recommendations from art clubs if you have them in your locality. Some artists give private art classes to individuals or groups. I used to give private group lessons in the basement of my home.

Option 3: Just pick up a pencil or oil paints and start drawing and painting. This works for some people like Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson) who taught herself how to paint starting at age 81. See the article about her on Wikipedia (address of Grandma Moses article on Wikipedia is listed on the links page in the box at the bottom of this article). Grandma Moses had no art training and her paintings, originally priced at $5.00 to $10.00 USD, now sell in the $10,000.00 to $60,000.00 USD range and her annual income was said to be $500,000.00 USD in the late 1950s. Grandma Moses died in 1961 at the age of 101.

Option 4: Buy some art books and/or video tapes on how to draw and how to paint at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble online or at your local book store and learn to be an artist. I once had a teacher who said take a few weeks in art school learning the basics (which end of the brush to use, etc.) and paint 200 pictures and you’ll be an artist. This works for some people.

Option 5: Online distance learning art courses are for students unable to attend on-campus classes. Online art courses provide flexibility as to when students study and practice and when they complete lessons. Some offer degrees and some hobby courses issue certificates of completion. Some consist of totally online step-by-step how-to lessons the student follows to teach themselves. Others send the students art textbooks, art supplies and lesson plans. The student reads the art textbooks and follows the recommended drawing and painting practice sessions. Next, the distance student completes and mails their assigned drawing or painting to their school. An instructor at the school draws or paints a critique with comments of each of the student’s assigned picture and mails the student’s work and critique to the student.

Option 6: There is a new kind of art school using the web to interactively teach drawing and painting.

A digital camera is included in each student’s sign up kit along with art textbooks and art supplies. Students who have their own digital camera deduct the cost of the digital camera, usually supplied with the course, from the tuition cost. The kit is mailed to the newly enrolled student. The student works at home, reading the art textbooks, practicing, and then doing the assigned lesson artwork from the assignments they get in their personal web folder on the school web site.

The student takes digital photos of their completed lesson artwork for each lesson and then sends those photos as email attachments to the school.

The art teacher at the online art school draws or paints a critique of the emailed student’s lesson artwork with comments on how the student might have better understood the lessons taught in the art textbooks and supplemental on line mini-lessons. That painted or drawn critique of each student’s submitted artwork is posted to the school website, a personalized how-to-do-It-better critique for the student to see 24/7/365. The student’s submitted drawings or paintings and the teacher’s critiques are shown on in the student’s personal web folder at the school’s web site.

Subjects covered are drawing, form, composition, color theory, perspective, still life, landscape drawing and painting as well as drawing and painting the figure.

This school offers a "Certificate of Completion" and a CD with all of the student’s submitted work, all of the critiques by the teacher and suggestions for continued growth as an artist on completion of the full art course.

The author has painted and taught for 50 years and has had over 30 art exhibits of his paintings. My USA based online art school has students in 19 countries. I have taught art classes at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and Manhattan, USA, Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, Famous Artists Schools in Westport, Connecticut, USA. I have also lectured on various art subjects all over the USA and in Holland, Belgium, France, South Africa and Australia.

Written by Barry Waldman

Links to web sites mentioned in the article above can be found at:
http://www.interactiveartschool.com/linksEzine.html

My online interactive art school is at:
http://www.interactiveartschool.com

Branson Fine Arts School students and teacher share memories:

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Want to study for an online degree program? There are many online universities and colleges offering high quality education online.

Online Degree Programs:

Online degree programs offer many advantages such as flexibility and cost savings. Learning can take place at anywhere in the world, individual student can choose where, when and how to study.

Online programs are offered at different levels ranging from Certificate program, Diploma program, Associate degree, Bachelor degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master degree to Doctorate degree. Subject areas include business, psychology, nursing, education, sociology, information technology and so on.

Top 10 Online Universities:

According to "The Best and Worst Online Degree Programs" 2007, the top ten online universities in the world are as follows:

(1) The University of London (UoL)

(2) The University of South Africa

(3) The University of Phoenix

(4) The University of Texas

(5) University of South Australia (UniSA)

(6) University of Southern Queensland (USQ)

(7) The University of Maryland University College

(8) Golden Gate University

(9) Ellis College of NYIT

(10) Stanford University

The University of London is ranked number one in the world for its outstanding online degree programs. It offers more than 100 online and distance qualifications through the University of London External Programme. Students studying through the External Programme are examined to the same standard as full-time on-campus students.

The University of South Australia is the leading provider of distance education in Australia. With more than 32000 on campus and offshore students, it is now the largest university in South Australia.

Prospective students are advised to check the accreditation and reputation of online universities and colleges before enrolling into a program of study.

Please visit the relevant guides for the Latest University Rankings and World University Ranking .

The author, Loke Yuen Wong, holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (UK) and a BCom degree from The University of Adelaide (Australia).

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If you think all you need do to create an online learning system is convert your existing instructional media into HTML, then this article is for you. If you think making the transition from traditional methods of learning to online learning is easy, then this article is for you too.

Despite the fact that people have been learning from multimedia, sometimes delivered over networks, online learning via Internet is a recent phenomenon that any educator, trainer or HR&D specialist needs to come to grips with; it’s here to stay and one day will be all things to all people. But for now, it’s an evolving technology with great promise that is under-researched and popular among universities wishing to appear trendy and reduce costs.

Let’s take a look at some of the issues involved in online learning. Essentially, most of the traditional issues don’t disappear, and a few get worse. For example, the age old challenge of tailoring instruction to meet individual learning styles and personal needs is still a challenge. Online learning methodologies can include multiple paths, but generally don’t and unlike a classroom teacher, can’t adjust a delivery on-the-hop. Language, literacy and numeracy challenges remain as do participant motivation and management. Students are responsible not only for their own progress, but often to ensure their technology is up to speed. Just establishing contact with the learning provider can be an insurmountable challenge for the most experienced computer user, let alone the novice. This leads to frustration, disappointment and ultimately people discontinue programs.

Other issues, such as not being able to contact a lecturer, lack of socialization, slow download times, links that don’t work, poor quality media, and uncertainty about what to do and where to go can be very disheartening, even for the most durable and experienced distance learner.

Unfortunately, many organizations place documents on their Internet/intranet sites and promote them as online learning. It isn’t. At most it is an Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS) where people access rules and procedures, legislation and other related information. True, people may learn something from reading their firm’s manuals. That’s great! But my view of learning (and some of you will disagree) is that it must be structured and include a form of assessment. I don’t deny the existence of other learning, including hidden curricula, but from a practical perspective, if you can’t measure a change in the learner’s skills, knowledge, or attitudes, then you really don’t know whether learning occurred.

Added to these difficulties is the poor access to broadband networks in other than the major capital cities. This means that it is a brave organization that produces instructional media with audio/video content and no guarantee that anyone will actually be able to access it. This type of media works well on CD-ROM computer aided instruction programs, kiosks and sales media, but not necessarily on the Internet.

So what are the solutions? One day we’ll wake up and Internet delivery will be capable of lightning speeds, virtually no wait times and with prices that are minimal. In fact, pundits expect free Internet access will be the norm within a few years. You’ll simply talk to your microwave and it will download an Internet menu for apple pie with crumbed biscuit on top – yum!

Until then, my advice is to use multiple media. When you design your instructional sequences include multiple options for delivery, interaction and assessment. There is no reason why you can’t integrate a telephone networking session with online delivery of written media. Or use a chat session to follow-up a classroom session. Email might be used to gauge individual progress through questioning techniques. An objective test can be designed, delivered and marked online. Audiotapes are still very useful, especially if you work for an organization that has staff traveling thousands of kilometers in motor vehicles each year, as I do. (Their travel time is more productive)

Information can be downloaded as compressed ZIP, Abobe PDF or MS Windows files, read online in HTML, or all of the above. Students can be assigned to teams to collaborate and achieve group project outcomes. And somewhere, if you must, you can have the 90 mb video/audio footage of yourself discussing particle physics – just in case someone is able to download it.

Not only is multiple media good for accessing the differences in learning styles and technological capabilities, but it provides individuals with options. Everyone these days wants options; the more the merrier.

Although using multiple media is time consuming, it’s an excellent way to train your learners so they will be technologically ofay when the big day comes and all of us can learn through our microwaves. Hang in there, it can only get better.

Copyright Robin Henry 2005

Robin Henry is an educator, human resources specialist and Internet marketer whose firm, Desert Wave Enterprises, helps individuals and businesses improve their performance by using smart processes, smart technology and personal development. He has a number of tertiary qualifications including a Master of Education degree majoring in education technology and online learning. He lives at Alice Springs In Central Australia.

Visit Desert Wave Enterprises.

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There are various kinds of online learning modes that the students can use as per their preferences. Each of these types is well-defined and linked to study resources and useful articles. Some of the models of online learning are described below:

Synchronous e-Learning/Live: In this type of learning, communication between the participating individuals occurs instantly and the participants can access the information at the same time. Some of the examples of synchronous e-learning include virtual classroom or video/audio conferencing and real-time chart. One of the major attributes of synchronous e-learning is that it offers instant feedback of the participant’s performance. This gives a scope for adjusting the training to suit the requirement of the candidate, depending on the kind of feedback he/she has got.

This type of learning also accelerates the formation of learning groups or communities for booting a higher level of interaction to enable better understanding of a particular subject. The best thing about synchronous e learning is that it enables greater involvement of the participants. This mode provides them an environment that encourages expression of synergism. Hence, participants can empower one another to construct knowledge.

The only disadvantage of this type of learning is the fact that it does not offer self-paced learning and logistics of scheduling. Moreover, it necessitates management of students’ availability at various time zones.

Asynchronous E-learning: This is also known as store and forward e learning, wherein the communication between the participants does not occur instantaneously. Some of the examples of asynchronous learning include - taking up a self-paced course, posting messages to various discussion groups, and exchanging e-mail messages with one or more mentors. Asynchronous e-learning offers convenience, accessibility, and the much desired self-paced learning.

However, one of the major disadvantages of asynchronous e learning is that a student may feel isolated or less motivated because in this process, there is no opportunity real time interaction with other participants. Additionally, unlike synchronous learning, asynchronous learning does not offer instant feedback on the student’s performance. Hence, any modification or adjustment to training, if needed, can be done only after the completion of the entire evaluation.

Blended Learning: This is often referred as mixed mode of learning, a blend of conventional face-to-face lectures, workshops, and tutorials with learning online through activities like emailing, discussing through discussion boards, tests, quizzes, and announcements.

In this type of learning, students receive their feedback from online quizzes and tests, which helps them to identify loopholes in their knowledge and ways to fill them. Almost all of the reputed online institutes offer blended learning for the overall benefits of the learning communities.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Online Education web site. For more articles and resources on Online Education related topics, Online Education Courses and degress visit his site at: http://online-education.need-to-know.net/

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The burgeoning obligations of our families, jobs, and all-around busy lifestyles can make the thought of going back to school seem like an impossible dream. But, online colleges and universities offer the flexibility to study for career advancement while taking care of business at home and on the job.

It is no wonder that online education and online schools continue to grow in popularity. As recently reported by Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) [1], 2006 proved to be another banner year for online schools; that is, schools that provide serious students online options for earning academic credits through distance learning programs.

In 2006, four million students were enrolled in online courses, and they are learning everything from carpentry to medicine right over the Internet! Students in online schools are most often adults with jobs and families, and most are taking undergraduate courses. Though undergraduate courses are a frequent choice for distance learning students, online master- and doctorate-level studies have increased, as well.

Online education offers students increasing options for earning college degrees. In some cases, the determined undergraduate student will take advantage of their schools’ distance learning programs to supplement their regular course schedule, so as to complete their studies in a shorter period of time.

Online colleges and online universities provide comprehensive programs in practically any field you can imagine - business, arts, sciences, language arts, real estate, technology, literature, engineering, herbal medicine, massage - these are all subjects of interest to today’s students. Students seeking to expand their knowledge and increase their earning potential can quickly reach their personal goals by pursuing undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as certificates and diplomas in hundreds of fields.

Programs differ greatly in online schools, making it imperative that the student carefully review courses and curriculums prior to enrolling in a particular school. Students should consider the quality of the education being presented, as well as the credentials of the institution (accreditation is essential). Students should also be sure to check into the availability of interactive communication with instructors and other students, as well as tuition cost, whether any onsite laboratory attendance will be required, and the expected length of time it will take to complete the chosen program of study. All can vary widely.

To be sure, online schools remove the stress of traveling to and from classes, parking, and meeting strict schedules. But online schools are no cakewalk, either. Students will find that maturity, perseverance, and discipline are important for achieving personal goals. Self-motivation is a key factor in the successful completion of online degrees.

Most students have reported being satisfied and very pleased with the online courses in which they enrolled. Instructors report that student achievement is often superior to traditional classroom student achievement, perhaps due to the maturity of the average online student.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Schools and other programs of study, please search our site for more information and resources. You are sure to find the right online school, college or university that can improve your future and help you achieve your most cherished goals.

1. Research was conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group in partnership with the College Board, and supported and reported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Sloan-C).

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com.

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc., in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Online Colleges as well as Distance Learning Online Schools and other Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

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Distance education has been getting a lot of attention lately, but it isn’t new. Correspondence courses have been around for over a century, allowing students to complete assignments and mail them to an instructor for feedback. Advances in technology have presented more opportunities in distance education. Classes can be taken through telecourses and the internet.

Family and job related responsibilities make it difficult for many people to attend traditional college classes. Distance education makes it possible to complete degree requirements, while attending to other responsibilities. Online programs eliminate the need for long commutes and allow work to be completed according to your schedule. You will still have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other classmates.

Distance education is available in a variety of forms. Telecourses come with video taped lessons and lectures, which you watch on you home television. Assignments are then completed and mailed to the instructor. Online courses allow you to complete coursework on the computer and email assignments to your instructor. Message boards and chats with other students add to the experience. Video conference classes are held at one site with the instructor at another location. Students and the instructor interact through two way television.

Some colleges offer programs that don’t require you to travel to the campus at all. Other programs require you to attend an orientation at the beginning of the semester and may meet once or twice throughout the semester. Brief residency programs require students to attend a weekend long session at the start of every semester. After this initial meeting, you complete the coursework on your own. In some programs, all courses are offered online. In other programs, you may have to take some of the courses on campus.

Programs are structured to give students the same information and quality education they would receive in a traditional college program. In some cases, the textbook and assignments are the same. Opportunities for community involvement and exposure to a diverse student body are found in many programs. Several years ago, few schools offered degrees through distance education. More schools are now offering this choice in response to student needs. The availability of online degree programs continues to increase.

Older students often return to school to fulfill job requirements or to secure a promotion. These students like the flexibility distance education offers. You can work independently and gain skills valuable on the job market. You have the flexibility to study during your lunch hour, in the early morning or at night, according to your schedule. If your job involves travel, you won’t have to worry about missing classes.

Distance education offers flexibility in the amount of time you spend on each class or assignment. You can spend more time on difficult concepts and less time on those you find easy. If you are taking more than one course, you can schedule your study time according to assignment due dates. You may have a paper due in one class this week and another project due next week in another class. You can tailor your schedule to meet the changing course requirements.

Katie Robbins is a professional writer, providing content to help the online student. Check out her other articles, including accredited online universities, education master degrees and criminal justice degrees.

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If you’re thinking about signing up for an online degree program there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to earn a degree online so you don’t get caught up in one of the scams or diploma mills instead of one of the legitimate online degree programs whether you want a bachelor’s degree, masters degree, doctorate, associate or undergraduate degree, business, nursing, education or psychology degree or any other.

First of all what is a degree mill? A degree mill is a bogus college or university that sells college or university diplomas. It’s actually selling you just a piece of paper, not a document that verifies your educational experience form an accredited institution.

Getting a college or university degree is one of the most expensive items people acquire in their lifetime. Many jobs or careers require a college degree. Because of this the demand is high for college degrees and there are businesses that make big business out of selling these diplomas, especially on the Internet.

How can you tell if the college or online college is bogus, a scam or phony?

First make sure the online college or university is accredited. This is one of the easiest things to check. If the college or university is accredited you still need to check and make sure it’s accredited by an agency that is recognized by the CHEA (Council of Higher Education Accreditation.)

You’ll find that the majority of the online diploma mills are accredited. The chilling fact is that when you check the accreditation they seem legitimate enough. It appears they are accredited. However the startling fact is they have created these bogus agencies themselves. The names of the agencies can sound like they are legitimate and most people would assume that accreditation means just that. But this is not so.

The first thing to do is to contact the CHEA and find out if the accrediting agency is listed on their accreditation list of college and university accrediting agencies, both on campus and online. You will also need to do this for any online degree program or online degree course you’re considering.

If the admission criteria is based solely on owning a credit card or of previous academic records transcripts or GPA’s and test scores aren’t necessary for the online degree than be suspicious.

If you only need to fax a resume and acceptance is based on a review of it, be suspicious.
Many universities offer credit for career experience, but evaluating career experience for college credit is not a simple matter.

There isn’t a university online degree program or distance learning university in the US that awards a master’s degree or doctorate online that is based solely on a review of career experience. But there are some undergraduate programs that will do it. They will usually limit the credit for experience to a maximum of ten courses or about 30 semester credits, which amounts to about one year of a four-year degree.

If you’re guaranteed a diploma within 30 days of application beware of a scam. Since degree mills are only in business to sell you a piece of paper they can make all the guarantees and promises they want.

Beware if it charges a lump sum such as $2,500 for an undergraduate degree or perhaps $3,500 for a graduate degree. Universities do not charge flat fees for degrees. Colleges and universities charge per the credit or per the course tuition and assorted fees.

Check with the online Better Business Bureau. See if they have any complaints on file about online degree mills or online degree program or courses and particularly any one that you have in mind.

If you’re told by the diploma mill representative that online universities can’t be accredited by the CHEA recognized agencies, this is not true. Many accredited universities have online degree programs.

Find out if the online degree program has a list of faculty who have attended schools other than those listed on bogus accredited agencies.

Beware if the online degrees are offered from another country but solely to US residents.

Armed with this knowledge you should be able to easily determine whether the online degree school or distant learning program is a diploma mill, scam or not. Be careful. Many do a lot of advertising and sound and look credible. Find out the name of the accreditation agency is and check them out. Taking the time to do this can save you a lot of money, time and energy later.

For more tips and info on avoiding scams, choosing the best online degree program or accredited bachelor degree online and finding the best online degree scholarships, grants, education loans or financing go to http://www.OnlineDegreesTips.com for all types of online degrees

You’ve already discovered - distance learning is a smart move. Distance learning online is convenient, particularly for someone who is currently employed; distance learning online includes multiple course offerings; distance learning online provides GED certificates, skill training diplomas, Bachelor and Masters degrees, as well as degrees for successful completion of advanced work.

But, is distance learning online affordable for anyone? What does it cost?

If you’re serious about wanting to learn a new skill, or equip yourself with more education in order to take your place in today’s highly competitive job market, costs of distance learning online need not be a stumbling block.

What costs are we talking about?

First off, you’ll need a personal computer, or access to one, having basic software and internet capability. This is your core element to a successful program of distance learning online.

Next, application, tuition, and registration fees, as well as the cost of course materials required by your program, are your responsibility.

The good news is - the expenses that distance learning online by-passes are considerable: you will not have to pay for room and board, a meal plan, commuting expenses including parking, to name a few.

If you are among those of us who have a hard time coming up with a substantial sum of cash, where does the money come from?

In your quest for the answer to that question, your first move is to contact the Financial Aid Office of the school you have chosen to provide you with the education you seek. Financial Aid is a highly workable system - in place for many years - enabling thousands of eligible students to attend (in person, or via distance learning) schools, colleges, or universities of their choice.

After you fill out and submit your application for financial aid (taking care to observe the deadlines), your eligibility to be awarded the funds you need will be determined. The decision will be based on many factors including not only your earnings but your savings, investments, assets, and any other sources of income you may have; also, the size of your family, as well as the number of other family members enrolled in college, will influence the decision.

What happens if you are found to be not eligible for a financial aid award you were relying on to carry you through your proposed program of distance learning online?

Don’t be discouraged, you have other options.

A student loan usually offers more favorable rates than ordinary loans; an (easy) pay-back schedule tailored to your individual circumstances typically begins several months after you have completed your studies allowing you to secure employment in the field your newly acquired skills and knowledge have equipped you to handle successfully.

Scholarships and grants do not require repayment, so don’t overlook them. They just might be the perfect financial ticket to the successful completion of your distance learning online experience.

Looking to increase your education with an online MBA degree? Try visiting http://www.guide-to-distance-learning.info - a popular distance education website that provides tips, advice and resources to include information on online high schools, online colleges, financial aid and online student successtips that can help you succeed in obtaining your online degree. 

 Learn about the cost benefits of an online degree: 

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