Archive for the ‘online education’ Category
Succeeding as an Online Student
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Online courses are an excellent way for busy professionals to gain advanced training and certifications or switch career paths. They can also be very effective for first-time job seekers who need specialized training. However, before signing up, here are a few factors that can ensure an online student’s success.
Time management may be the biggest factor in succeeding at your online course. Successful online students have to be very proactive in their studies and take responsibility for their own learning. To master time management, first determine what time of day you think you will be most focused on your studies. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you concentrate best after a cup of coffee or after lunch? Once you narrow in on a time of day reserve a designated allotment of time to dedicate to your course. Stay committed to that reserved time and treat it like an appointment that can’t be budged.
Balancing Personal Obligations. While there are many reasons to take an online course – one of the most frequent reasons students choose these courses is because of the convenience. Whether you have a full-time job, don’t want to fight traffic or are raising a family – balancing school and personal obligations can become a juggling act. The beauty of self-paced, online courses is that you can study around your schedule – so be sure to set study time during your down time – even if that means 11 p.m.
An ideal study environment is just that – ideal. Some students need absolute silence while others can’t seem to concentrate without noise in the background. No matter what your preference is, a well-lit place that is free from distractions is recommended. Note that you’ll make much better use of thirty minutes of disruption-free study than an hour’s worth of commotion-filled learning. If you can’t escape in-home interruptions, try the library or a coffee shop. Schedule your designated study time when you can be in a distraction-free environment and your chances for success will increase and the time you need to devote to your course will decrease.
Posted in College Tips, 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 »
Writing an Online College Essay
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Since most online colleges do not require face-to-face interviews, the admissions essay is the primary way administrators get to know applicants. You won’t be able to charm an interviewer with your witty banter or your knowledge of school history. Instead, you’ll need to make sure your personality shines through in your writing.
Here’s how to write an online college admissions essay that “wows” your audience:
Analyze the question. Admissions officers are looking for something; you need to figure out what it is. Think of the admissions essay question as a puzzle waiting to be solved. Don’t take it for its face value – think a little deeper. A question such as “Who is your hero?” is probably a way for admissions officers to find out what the applicant values. If you say your hero is style icon Paris Hilton, you’d better be applying to a fashion school.
Follow the instructions. Once you’ve figured out what the admissions officers are looking for, it’s time to write. Follow the instructions with exacting accuracy, even if that means stifling your creativity a bit. Many schools use the admissions essay to make sure students can understand and follow basic directions. If you’re asked to keep your essay under a certain word count, do it. An unfortunate number of applicants have been shocked to learn that admissions officers received only the first 500 words of their 1000-word essays. The applicants didn’t follow the instructions, and the admissions officers didn’t get the opportunity to read their brilliant concluding paragraphs.
Let your personality shine through. One of the most common admissions office complaints is that college applications seem a little too staged. Admissions officials want to make sure that your application essay wasn’t written by your guidance counselor or a hired essay-writing service. Break away from the generic and share your lovable quirks. At the same time, remember that you don’t have to reveal everything. If a bit of your history casts you in a bad light, it’s better not to mention it.
Posted in College Preparations, College Tips, online courses, online education, online programs | 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 »
Online Degree as the Cheaper Alternative
Monday, December 8th, 2008
With the current financial turmoil going on all over the world, everybody is seeking for the more economical alternatives for our basic needs such as choosing the cheaper brand of soap or toothpaste. For some, this extends to looking for a cheaper alternative from the traditional form of education – and one way is through getting an online degree. These are some reasons that show how online degrees as the cheaper alternative.
Learn Now, Pay Later. Many online colleges help enrollees take out federal student loans. You may be able to earn an entire online degree without paying a dime until you graduate.
Take Advantage of Employer Tuition Reimbursement. If you’re working for a company offering a tuition reimbursement program, now is a perfect time to take advantage. Improve your resume by earning an online degree on your employer’s dime. Double check to see if you qualify – even Starbucks offers tuition reimbursement payments to hourly workers.
Defer Your Current Student Loans. If you’re making monthly payments on a federal student loan now, you may be able to defer the loan by enrolling in an online college. This could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. Further your education now and resume payments when the economy recovers.
Save on Gas. Enrolling in an online college will help you save at the pump. Forget commuting to a brick-and-mortar school; earn a degree without fretting about rising gas prices.
Study in Your Spare Time. In a troubled economy, few professionals are able to forgo employment to return to school. With online learning, you don’t have to. Many students are even able to balance a full-time job while taking a full load of online classes.
Posted in Online College and University, online degree, online education, online school | No Comments »