The first step to finding the right online university is to
decide what degree you want. Do you want
an undergraduate or graduate degree? Are
you interested in a certificate program for work related study? If you are returning to school for work, you
may want to get feedback from your employer for this decision. List your long
and short term career goals to help you decide which degree will help you reach
your goals best. Once you have decided
on a major, you can start to research different schools.
Find out the requirements for admission into the
program. Each university has its own set
of regulations. All schools will want to
see your transcripts from high school or college. Some will ask for test scores as well. Make sure you can meet the minimum
requirements for admission before you apply.
Gathering the necessary documentation before beginning the application
process will save time later.
Distance education programs have different on campus
requirements. Some require that you come to campus a few times each semester,
while others allow you to complete the entire program at home. Programs offered completely online are more
difficult to find, depending on the degree you are seeking. Make sure you can commit to the schedule
required by the university. A program that requires you to travel to campus one
or more times should be within driving distance of your home.
Find out if the school you will be attending is regionally
accredited. Accreditation only matters
when you need financial aid or plan to transfer the credits you receive to
another university. Some accept credits
from schools that are regionally accredited, but others do not. Check with the college you plan on attending
later to make sure the credits will transfer.
If you are getting your complete degree from the same school,
accreditation may not be important.
Another time accreditation may matter is if you are
completing a degree that will require a state license. Degrees in nursing, social work and education
require licensing. Check with your state
to make sure they will accept your degree for licensing. Some states won't accept degrees from schools
not recognized by the US Department of Education. Check with your school, state or Department
of education to find out if the college is recognized.
If you have credits you want to transfer from another
school, make sure the online university you are considering will accept your
credits. Have your official transcripts
sent to the school for an admissions counselor to review. Ask about any restrictions the school has for
transferring credits. Most colleges
won't accept more than fifty percent of the degree requirements in transfer
credits. Some have a limit on the time
you can transfer credits, usually ten years.
Ask if the university offers credit for job or life
experience. If you have extensive
experience in the business world, some schools will give you some college
credits for this. You may be required to show documentation of your experience
or be given an exam. The requirements and number of credits offered varies by
school, so be sure to ask. These credits
can shorten the amount of time you need to spend in school and can help get
your degree faster.
Katie Robbins is the owner of degreeclick.com, a web
resource where she regularly publishes informative articles about online
education. Some of the topics she covers include online universities,
education master degrees and health
care degrees.
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