Going to the government is a good idea when you are in need of a loan for education, because every year the U.S. Department of Education gives out over $67 billion as educational loans, campus-based aid and grants. Now before we move on to the process of applying for a federal loan, you will need to know the eligibility requirements for getting the loans. They are-

• You should qualify for financial need (some loans do not require this condition to be met)
• You must possess a General Education Development (GED) certificate, diploma from high school or at least a pass a test that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education
• You must be studying towards earning a degree or a certificate
• The program for which you need the loan, should meet the eligibility requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education
• You must be a citizen of the U.S.A or at least be an eligible non-citizen
• Your past academic performance should have been satisfactory
• You should not have been convicted under the state or federal law for the possession or sales of drugs

Moving on to the actual process of application, you should visit the website of “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” or FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov ). From there you can apply for all kinds of loans, campus based student aid programs and grants. You will find instructions that would guide you through all the required steps and processes. The process of application is divided into three parts:-

• Gathering all the documents and information required for the application process
• Filling your FAFSA in seven steps that would require you to provide details about your school plans, financial information among others
• After having filled up your FAFSA you can periodically visit the website to get various information like the status of your application, the student aid report among others

]]> http://collegematchingservice.com/education/a-guide-to-government-loans-for-education-2.html/feed 2 http://collegematchingservice.com/education/doing-online-research.html http://collegematchingservice.com/education/doing-online-research.html#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:19:46 +0000 theProfessor http://content.collegematchingservice.com/?p=964 Define your topic when doing online class research. Narrow it down, but don’t constrain it too much. Develop a solid thesis statement that gives you room to develop an argument. This is a great time to do brainstorming. Clusters, mind maps, concept maps, decision trees, and free-writing are all very effective.
Determine what fields of study your research question will address. Identifying the fields of study will help you determine which journals and subject or field-specific databases to search.

Make a list of items that interest you about the topic. For example, you may be required to write an essay on an aspect of Hamlet in your English class. At first, you feel overwhelmed. Later, however, you think about the characters and situations that most interested you and you recall that Ophelia’s speech and then her subsequent death were interesting to you. You wondered about the psychological state, and how she was perceived by the others in the play. Does her situation illustrate something essential about the human condition? You don’t have any idea, but you’d like to explore it. So, you start by looking into what others have said about Ophelia in Hamlet. You find that her madness and death reflect and reinforce the overall themes of death, madness, murder, and betrayal. How does Ophelia’s madness contrast with Hamlet’s? You start jotting down ideas and key words. These will help you develop search terms and to focus your search by going to the correct types of journals and publications.

Narrow your topic. This requires another round of brainstorming, but this time you will be focusing on what others have written. List terms, ideas, and concepts that occur to you, and then focus on the subcategories that you find most interesting. Then, use the list to narrow your topic. Avoid worn-out subjects and ones that are too narrow or too broad.

You can earn while you learn. You can continue with your full time or part time job while doing your online college course. Online degrees are becoming more popular for the person who wants to study and look after the family at the same time.

Other reason why people are more interested in getting online degree is because it comes to you at a very low price as compared to the money spend in campus colleges.

In online universities, you can study according to your own time; there is no fix schedule as you have in campus colleges. So it becomes very easy to adjust time according to your job, business or family.

You have wide range of learning methods available. If you like reading you have access to vast study material online or if you like hearing then audio lectures are available online. There are online instructors present to answer any of your queries.

You can earn your degree in your desired subject from the comfort of your home. You can learn while being with your family and at your own time.

Internet gets updated regularly, so you get the latest study material online. You don’t have to buy new books or articles to get the latest information.

Extracurricular and professional activities. Online schools may not offer a vibrant campus life, but they do want students who will make a difference in their own communities. Volunteerism and leadership are particularly important. If you’re a mid-career professional, let the school know about your achievements related to your field of study. Whether you’ve spent your Saturdays at an animal shelter or run a successful internet venture, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn.

Well-written essays. The application essay is your chance to let your personality show through. Online colleges are looking for articulate, thoughtful essays without grammatical mistakes. Let a professional proof-read your essay and offer suggestions. But, don’t let your voice get muted. Admissions officials want to “see” who you are by reading your essay – authenticity counts.

Stellar recommendations. Online colleges also want to know how other people see you. That’s why many programs require several letters of recommendations. When deciding on recommenders, choose people who know you well. Some colleges ask that recommendations remain confidential – if you’re not sure that person will give you an excellent recommendation, don’t ask.

Acquaint yourself with the class structure. Each online course has its own structure. Spend a few minutes exploring the course webpage before jumping into the lessons. Make sure you understand how you can access all of the necessary online class components (lessons, lectures, chat rooms, message boards, multimedia presentations, assignment submission forms, etc.) Take note of any optional components that can be used to help you with your coursework.

Record tests and assignments on your calendar. Don’t expect your online class professor to give you regular reminders. Many instructors only mention big assignments at the beginning of the online course. As soon as you receive a syllabus, record all of the assignments, tests, essays, and projects on your personal calendar.

Establish a regular study time. Figure out how much study time you will need each week and set a regular schedule. Let your friends and family members know that you’ll be unavailable during that time. If you establish this routine early on, you’ll be more likely to stick to it.

Get a head start on the assigned work. Jumpstart your online course by beginning upcoming assignments and papers during your first week as a student. When the assignment deadlines draw near, you’ll feel confident knowing much of the work is already completed.

One myth that people hear is that distance learning credits don’t transfer to other colleges. Diplomas and credits from online schools that are accredited by the proper regional agency will be accepted by traditional institutions in the same way that diplomas and credits from “regular” colleges are accepted.

Another characteristic that people hear is that accredited schools always offer a good education. Anyone can claim to be an accrediting agency, and many do. However, in order to be widely accepted, your degree needs to come from a school approved by one of the six nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies. Be aware that many “diploma mill” schools make up their own accrediting agencies in order to trick students into feeling secure. Checking with one of the big six agencies directly can help you avoid being scammed.

Lastly, people believe that online schools are faster and easier than traditional schools.

While some online students choose accelerated programs, others select online schools that let them do their work slowly, over a longer period of time. Just like traditional schools, some online institutions are known for being easier and others are known for being harder. Flexibility is key in the world of distance learning and the majority of online programs tailor their curriculum to fit the needs of specific students.

A common mis-belief is that distance learning schools aren’t as good as traditional schools. Online universities can offer as good an education as any traditional school. You just have to choose the right online program. Many quality programs allow students to interact with expert teachers and learn through multimedia software. Distance learning can help students develop skills, build a portfolio, and advance in their careers.

One other mis-belief is that employers won’t accept degrees from distance learning universities. While this may be true of “diploma mills” and other fake schools, degrees from properly accredited schools are accepted by employers in the same way that traditional degrees are accepted. In fact, there is usually nothing on a diploma to indicate that courses were taken online.

Class size is as important in online education as it is in a traditional college classroom. Investigate average class sizes at the institutions you are considering.

Find out about the faculty in the program(s) of interest to you. What degrees do they hold and from what institutions? What experience have they had “in the field”? How long have they been teaching? Have they had prior experience teaching online classes? Get answers. And, if more than one or two faculty hold degrees from the college at which they are teaching, be careful. It is often a bad sign.

How easy does a college make it for you to contact your instructor or a tutor if you have questions or need help? The level of support offered to students varies considerably from college to college. Choose one in line with your needs and expectations.

One of the great things about online degree programs is that you can begin almost anytime. So, don’t let anyone (including a college admissions officer) rush you into beginning until you are ready to put in the time and effort required for success.

It is very important that you do the proper research and really think about what you want for your online course because it will dictate the way things will work out during the duration of your study. Taking into consideration the different aspects above will greatly help you in this endeavor.

How is the course presented?

Investigate the method by which the instructor gives lectures. Does the instructor simply put the lecture online as text? Are there accompanying slides? Is there any interaction? Is there video or audio? Are exams given? How are assignments turned in? The format of the course is sometimes as important as the content. Great content is more easily absorbed if it’s done in a dynamic and innovative manner that involves interaction between the student and instructor as well interaction with the content itself. Online learning technology provides many opportunities for innovation. Find a school that takes advantage of it.

How do students interact with each other?

Is there an established method for interaction and congregating? Online programs can use chat rooms, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to communicate. The key is to find a program that has this interaction built into it and even requires it. How the online community functions should be very important to both the instructor and the educational institution.

Are the instructors qualified?

Check out the credentials and degrees the instructors hold, as well as their knowledge of online learning and its differences from classroom learning. What kind of support do the instructors get for their online courses? If technical problems arise, is there someone to turn to? A school that is dedicated to its online programs will have the development staff and the support staff to make it successful. Instructors (and students) have to be able to adapt to changing technology.

Working for a master degrees online takes hard work and excellent time management skills that can be used after graduation. You may also need to obtain teacher recommendations before being accepted into the latest way of having a good education, which is having a master degrees online program. Just because a distance education school provides you with a great deal of flexibility, you shouldn’t expect earning an online masters degree to be a simple walk in the park. In order to be accepted into a master degrees online program, you usually need to take an advanced test such as the GRE, the GMAT, or the MAT. Master’s degree programs, often two-year commitments, are specialized graduate programs offered after earning a bachelors degree.

Masters degree programs provide you with specific knowledge and vocational expertise necessary to advance in your career. Additionally, schools offer more specific Master degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA Degree). An online degree is the same as an equivalent degree from a campus program. All classes are taken entirely online from the comfort of your home using the latest distance learning technologies. These are just simple facts with regards of online education so be sure to make more research for your own benefit.