Archive for the ‘Online College and University’ Category
Online Education as Preparation for the Future
Friday, December 12th, 2008
There is more than one way to prepare for the future. In some countries, the educational fate of a student is essentially decided before puberty. Students are tracked and tested early in their primary years. By the middle school and high school years, college-bound students are siphoned off for entry into high schools with an academic focus. The others are given little choice but to enter an educational system that teaches basic skills for independent living, and terminates with home economics or vocational instruction. For them, an associate’s is a two-year terminable degree. The credits cannot later be applied toward a bachelor degree even if the student develops the maturity, motivation, and intellectual curiosity necessary for the rigors of academic life.
Fortunately, in America, students get a second chance… and usually a third, fourth, and fifth, too! Students take many paths to college – there is no right one. One size does not fit all. Some students are home-schooled, some are tutored, some matriculate through the public education system, some enroll in private schools, some take the requisite four years to complete high school, some opt to earn their diploma early, some drop out entirely, some go to nigh school, and some drop back in and take the high school equivalency test in lieu of earning a diploma. It is simply never too late.
Online learning makes education accessible to virtually everyone, at any stage, on the path to achievement. Students are not bound by physical disabilities, poor life choices, geographic limitations, or socioeconomic status.
Posted in Online College and University, distance learning, online degree, online education | No Comments »
Online Learning for Higher Education
Friday, December 12th, 2008
American youth who wish to return to school and aim for higher education, gets to do just that, get their chance. Some students adhere to a degree plan generated with input from their academic advisors, and choose to make steady, regular progress toward their degrees. Others may choose to reduce their course load, take a semester off here and there, or change their areas of study. Some may plan to earn an associate’s degree and later apply those credits to a bachelor’s degree. Indeed, the same holds true for certificates, which can, at some schools, be applied to a master’s degree. Online learning makes education accessible to virtually everyone, at any stage, on the path to achievement. Students are not bound by physical disabilities, poor life choices, geographic limitations, or socioeconomic status. Online learning makes the playing field about as level as it can get. A student who is determined enough can and will succeed.
Opportunities abound. If you have landed on this page, that means you are already considering an online education experience. Congratulations. You have made a smart move. Enroll and you will be in good company. According to a 2005 survey, “Growing By Degrees: Online Education in the United States, 2005”, backed by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, online enrollments increased from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004. Over 360,000 new students are expected to enroll in online courses each year. The number of students are rapidly increasing. They are unlocking their potential and you can, too!
Posted in College Tips, Online College and University, distance learning, online degree | No Comments »
Health Tips for Distance Learners
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Believe it or not, distance learners require health tips to achieve optimum performance in their studies. Below are some health tips that may be useful.
Schedule regular check-ups. Avoid waiting until you have annoying symptoms before visiting the doctor. Scheduling check-ups with your family physician, dentist, and chiropractor is an important step in preventing illness and injury.
Add vitamins to your diet. A busy schedule may leave you eating in a rush and making poor food choices. Now is a good time to get into the habit of taking vitamins and minerals to supplement your nutritional needs.
Medicate early. Uh oh, is a cold coming on? You know that feeling…the scratchy throat, plugged up nose and just all around feeling of being out of it. Act now and don’t wait for it to get worse. Try sucking on a zinc lozenge or some other stop-that-illness-in-its-tracks remedy like Airborne. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you wake up feeling great and ready to tackle another day.
Hand wash regularly. Nothing wards off germs more than good hand washing with soap and water. Hand washing is the single, most effective way to stop the spread of germs and infections. Antibacterial gels can help in a pinch, but nothing beats scrubbing up and washing those germs down the drain.
To properly wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
- Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
- Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
- Rinse well.
- Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
- Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
Posted in College Tips, Online College and University, distance learning, online courses, online education | No Comments »
Making a Stellar Online Essay
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Writing an entrance essay is one of the most important things that applicants must do in order to be admitted to the online college of their choice. Writing a stellar college admissions essay takes time. By following these basic steps, you’ll be able to craft a piece to be proud of.
Emphasize your strengths. The application essay is the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your strengths and explain any blemishes on your record. Many colleges ask students to write a separate essay that explains what sets them apart from the crowd. If you have an assignment like that, don’t be shy. Describe your many talents in a confident, non-boastful manner. If you have blemishes on your academic record such as poor grades or an expulsion, now is the time to own up to these issues. Explain any extenuating circumstances (such as dropping out due to a family tragedy). If there is no good excuse, explain what you’ve learned from your mistakes and why you’ll never make them again. Even if you are not assigned an essay about your strengths, you can demonstrate your talents in just about any assignment. “Show” the reader what your strengths are by setting up a scene. For example: In an essay about a defining moment in your life, you may want to “show” the reader how you’ve demonstrated leadership under stress. Don’t brag about it, just set the scene.
Edit your work. Once you’ve completed the application essay, let it set for a few days. Then, go back and edit your work. Taking a break will help you look at it with fresh eyes. Ask yourself: “Is there is anything I can change to make the essay more powerful?” Be sure to run spell check and analyze every sentence for grammatical mistakes. If your online school does not prohibit second party help, ask a former teacher or essay editing service for additional assistance.
Posted in Online College and University, online courses, online degree, online education | No Comments »
Getting Good Recommendation for Online College
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Online colleges rely heavily on the recommendation letters that they get from the applicants. This is due to the fact that if not most, all of online schools do not entail having to do face-to-face interviews. That is why it is very important that an applicant passes top-notch recommendation letters. If you come and think about it, the recommendations can either make or break your application. To ensure that you get good recommendations, follow these tips.
Draw a list of possible recommendation writers. You should sit down and think about who could be good sources of fine recommendations. You might want to consider the following people:
· former teachers
· current teachers
· counselors
· employers
Make the best choice. Make sure that the person/persons you will choose will write positive things about you. It is also important that the recommender is reliable with deadlines and a capable writer. Avoid people you have a more casual relationship with, as well as those who only know you on a superficial level. Remember: the most obvious choice isn’t always the best.
Observe measures established by the admission office. Before talking to your chosen recommender, find out what your school requires. If your school has strict procedures, make sure to communicate those with the recommender and make is as easy as possible to follow. For example, if the recommender must mail the letter, you will want to provide an addressed, stamped envelope.
Talk to the recommender directly. Don’t tell the writer your deadline for turning in the college recommendation letter. Instead, say: “I need the letter (or the letter must be mailed) by this date.” Set your must-have date at least three weeks before the school’s application deadline.
Give background information to the recommender. Include the following documents in the information: your college application essay, your personal statement, your resume, and a list of ways you are connected to the recommender (i.e. you were in the top 10% of his Calculus course). Highlight any information that is particularly important.
Send your thanks. Let him know how much you appreciate the time and effort that was spent on your behalf.
Posted in College Tips, Online College and University, online degree, online education, online school | No Comments »