One of the easiest ways for busy, yet employed adults to complete college is through an online degree program. While online schools certainly have their benefits, online degrees also have earned a bad reputation from some. Often times, this’s simply a matter of being uninformed on what it’s really like to get a degree via an online format. Before you make the decision about online schools, it’s important to understand how they work and whether or not online schools are right for you.
The first myth is that online degree are not taken seriously by employers. This myth is largely false. When it comes down to it, employers actually do care about your level of education and how long you’ve been out of school. They are looking at your resume, your past job experiences, your achievements, and your transcript. So, whether you’re working, you’re retired or you’re in high school, employers understand that online degrees can provide you with an edge over other candidates.
The second myth surrounding online college degree programs is that they are not accredited by employers. Keep in mind that not all employers are responsible for the programs that their employees take. Even if your employer does not require an online degree, you should still include your earned diploma when you apply for off campus drive, especially if you’re applying to work in customer service fields, education, and other vocations that require professional certifications.
The third myth surrounding online degrees is that they are expensive. Keep in mind that there are many financial aid options available to students seeking to further their learning while attending an on-campus or online school. In fact, tuition costs for on-campus degrees tend to be more expensive than online degrees. However, if you are a low ,accesses, you may actually qualify for financial aid based on your low access score! There is a comprehensive list of student aid available to financial need cases.
The fourth myth surrounding online degrees is that they aren’t taken seriously by employers. Employers know that online degrees are very legitimate and they take them seriously. Employers also recognize that they can provide students with the skills they need for the modern workforce. For this reason, online degrees are offered at many career centers. If your employer doesn’t offer a career center that offers these classes, consider signing up for classes at a local community college, or technical school, as well as online schools.
The fifth most common myth surrounding online degrees is that they are not transferable. This is simply untrue. Keep in mind that while many employers do not recognize a degree earned online, some do. This is especially true if the classes were taken on an accelerated schedule, such as with an accelerated Master’s program. Therefore, it is possible to transfer some or all of your credits from an online program to an existing educational facility.
The sixth myth surrounding online degrees is that they are less desirable than traditional higher education programs. This is simply not true. While online degrees tend to be less respected than their counterparts, they are still very much sought after today. In fact, more people are earning diplomas online than are getting them from a traditional campus-based institution for the first time.
Finally, the last myth we will address concerns the negative stigma that is often associated with online schools. It’s certainly easy to see why some would be skeptical about an online education. With all of the challenges, rumors, and false stories that surround the internet, it’s easy to think that there is something to be afraid of. This is not necessarily the case. In fact, the opposite is true: online schools often prove to be much safer than traditional colleges.
Which College Degrees Are the Most Common?
The most common degree type is a Bachelor’s degree, followed by a Master’s degree, a PhD, and a doctorate. The different types of academic qualifications earned can be broken down by specialty. Those interested in studying to become a Pharmacy Technician must earn a degree in that discipline, while those hoping to become a Dentist will need to earn a degree in the same discipline. Earning a degree in the field of Business may require individuals to take additional modules that offer them a deeper understanding of that particular area of expertise.
With all of the hype surrounding online degrees these days, it’s easy to assume that there’s no good reason not to pursue your college education via the web. There may very well be some good reasons not to do so, however. In fact, there are quite a few. Just clearing up all the jargon is probably not enough. So, learn more below about online degrees, their differences from traditional college learning, their advantages, why it’s still worth it, and what other options are available.
The first reason to consider online education is the obvious reduction in the amount of time that you’ll spend in a classroom: an online degree takes about half the time as a traditional one, so that’s almost a full-tuition savings! The second reason to consider an online degree is the increased perceived value of your education: if you get an online education, you can almost guarantee that your potential employers will see a graduate of that college with a master’s or PhD in hand. This increase in perceived value is likely to boost your own interest in pursuing further education, since it suggests that you have the drive and motivation to succeed.
Thirdly, and on a related note, online degree program lets you do away with the hassles of commuting or making long trips back and forth to a campus. Traditional learning involves setting up a classroom, furniture, and maybe a teacher, but that’s about all. You also need to supply your own study materials and supplies, although this is easier nowadays with the widespread availability of free online education resources like websites that offer downloadable material and educational videos. Another big difference between online learning and traditional learning is the pace. In traditional classes, students are given their own individual pace. While there’s nothing wrong with adhering to a certain pace provided by your instructor, you may not enjoy the freedom of learning at your own pace.
With online courses, however, you can set your own pace. The courses are often self-directed, so you choose which ones you want to read, learn more about, or take more classes in, according to how fast you want to proceed. You also have the flexibility to complete the requirements for a particular online degree program at whatever pace works best for you.
One of the biggest benefits of online courses is that they often provide more convenient options than traditional degrees. Online learning generally offers more online coursework and less on-campus programs. Many colleges now offer online degrees – including some that are highly respected members of the National Association for Colleges and Schools (NCCS) – which give students an accredited degree. Some colleges now offer online courses for graduate and post-graduate students. You can even earn an online degree through an online course that was initiated as part of a community service. In some instances, a group of students took an online course and then submitted their results for peer review.
When it comes to your learning experience, online degrees also offer more individualized programs and a more personal development approach than the typical in-campus learning experience. Students can pick and choose the topics that they wish to study, take the lessons at any time of the day or night, work on their own schedule, and often take courses from different locations around the world. Because of the greater flexibility students have when it comes to the type of courses that they can take, they tend to have a higher retention rate for the courses.
Of course, not all online degrees are equal. There are some that offer better credentials and more career options than others. For example, some online degrees focus on areas that are not considered relevant to traditional face-to-face education. In other cases, employers may question whether the specific training provided, including the coursework, meets the requirements needed for employment in a particular field. Students who have taken an online education may also have a different career goal in mind when choosing which online courses to pursue. Employers can tell from the very beginning if you do not intend on sticking with this particular education long-term.
The bottom line is that while online degree programs allow you to study at your own pace and in your own home, employers still expect certain standards are met. If you want to have a solid college education and impress employers upon your graduation, make sure that your coursework is up to par with the standard of your field. Determine what employers expect in online education. This will give you the tools necessary to make sure you get the most out of your online degree programs and put forth the greatest effort during your employment search. With employers expect certain standards, make sure your online courses meet them. It’s always easier to find a job with good credentials when they are expected.
