Education Articles from College Matching Service

Know the chat room signs and symbols. Some online schools, to facilitate a civil conversation, give certain signs and symbols special meanings. For example an ellipses (…) sometimes is put at the end of a sentence to mean there is more to come. Find out what the recommended signs and symbols are before the chat starts. You can learn the basic signs at Netlingo.com, Thinkquest.org, and Safesurfingkids.com. (Hint: If you don’t know the signs and symbols and you type in the middle of someone else’s thoughts, you will be seen as rude!)

Be patient. Some people are very slow typists and others have dial up issues. Sometimes it takes a long time for a thought to get out, so be patient. Let your professor be the gatekeeper for the discussion. (Hint: If the chat is going really slowly, review your topic notes or have baroque music playing in the background to keep your mind active and focused.)

Read what your professor has to say. In the beginning of each chat, most professors will go over the rules; let you know the order of the chat, the time limit for the chat, what’s acceptable in the chat, etc. Pay attention to these comments. The chat room is a time where the professor sees you interact with others in real time. You want to make a good impression. One of the elements of grading a chat room is almost always about following directions. (Hint: A professor may not state the element of following directions, but it will affect the subjective part of your grade.)

If you are looking for online degree, the internet the right place to look. You can select from the wide range of courses available online. The internet can provide links to some of the best online universities as well as campus colleges.

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.

Just like a job interview, applying for an online college can be nerve-wrecking. By meeting some basic application targets, you’ll position yourself as the ideal applicant in the eyes of many online colleges. But, don’t forget to check with your chosen college’s applications counselors. Knowing their specific requirements is the best way to ensure that acceptance letter makes it to your mail box. Here are some tips for preparation:

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.

This first impression process occurs in every new situation. Within the first few seconds, people pass judgment on you – looking for common surface clues. Since Distance Learning is a new concept or idea to some individuals, it is possible that they may have some common on the surface ideas on what this kind of education is all about. However, just like first impressions, they might be able to pick up some common fictitious beliefs on distance learning. One fictitious belief that people usually have is that distance learning schools aren’t as good as traditional schools. Another common fictitious belief that people usually have is that if you come from a distance learning university, employers will not accept your degree. Let’s see why these two beliefs should be corrected.

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.

There have been doubts on the quality of education that spring from online degree holders. A lot of job-seekers who graduated with an online degree encounter having to defend the effectiveness of their education. A recent study has been made and the researchers have been able to come up with some advice and recommendations for those online degree holders who need help in getting a job.

Some of the comments and recommendations the respondents made might help online degree holders land a job even if the interviewer is hesitant about the value of the degree. Some of the those recommendations included:

Tell employers and potential employers that your degree was earned online. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said this should be a requirement.

Bring along transcripts and course study examples, as well as letters of recommendation or authenticity about the program and its accreditation.

Have industry experience to back the degree.

Traditional courses like public speaking, debate, public forum and group dynamics might be helpful to show that you have people skills. (This is probably more helpful if you don’t have a long work history behind you.)
Other sources, such as Thomas L. Russell of North Carolina State University, did studies that revealed that there is little if any difference in the quality of education received through online distance learning versus traditional classrooms. John Losak at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale found similar results in his own study. He analyzed graduation rates, time to graduation, and knowledge, as well as other elements. He found the students performed as well or better in online courses.

The big question in everyone’s mind is, “Is an online degree from an accredited college or university seen by potential employers as a lesser degree?” The jury still seems to be out on this. On the plus side, the IT fields appear to place more value on online degrees because of the nature of the work itself. As would be expected, human resources (HR) professionals tend to place more value on degrees from established universities rather than virtual universities they’ve never heard of. A career network Web site did a survey of 239 HR professionals and found just that. According to the results, which were released in February 2001, 77 percent of respondents believe that an online degree earned at an accredited institution like Duke or Stanford is more credible than one earned at an Internet-only institution.

Here are some other findings from Vault’s study:

Twenty-six percent believed that online bachelor’s degrees were as credible as traditionally earned bachelor’s degrees, while 37 percent believed that online graduate degrees were as credible as traditionally earned graduate degrees. This perhaps follows the idea that people seeking graduate degrees are doing it online because it’s their only or best option due to current job demands. These people may be seen as more driven and self-motivated.

The most commonly cited drawbacks of online education were the lack of social interaction with peers (61 percent), lack of data about the effectiveness or quality of the education — it’s too new to gauge (53 percent), and loss of real-time teacher/student exchange (39 percent).

The three industries most likely to embrace online degrees were Internet/New Media (70 percent), Technology (46 percent), and High Tech (44 percent). Media and Marketing (29 percent), Telecommunications (29 percent), and Consulting (22 percent) followed.

The three industries least likely to embrace online degrees were Medicine (68 percent), Law (56 percent), and Health Care/Bio Tech (52 percent). Academia (44 percent), Government (22 percent) and Finance (18 percent) followed.

In response to the escalating cost of higher education, many people have begun questioning the value continuing their formal learning beyond high school. Questions as to whether the high cost of tuition, the accumulation of thousands of dollars in debt, and the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment weigh heavy on the minds of those who are wondering if the investment will be worth it in the years to come. The expense of high-priced tuition and other college fees poses an especially significant threat to families living on a low-income, already struggling to make ends meet. In an effort to decide whether or not higher education is actually worth the investment, facts regarding the value of higher education and the rates of return on the investment both to the individual as well as to society should be examined.

Taking into consideration the monetary problems people interested in further studies face, new alternatives for formal education has come about. One substitute for going to regular universities is through taking up a formal degree in the internet. Online degrees are specifically designed for aspiring career professionals and working adults who want to further their education without placing their career on hold. There are many colleges and universities that provide a large variety of continuing education, associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs that can help you achieve your personal and career goals as quickly as possible. These online degrees not only help people acquire the type of education they need without the disruption of their careers, but they also provide extra convenience to those who don’t have enough resources to be able to afford the commute of going to and from the school.

Before enrolling in any online college, its safe to make sure we research first on the university that is providing it. All reputable schools will be very open about their accreditation. Accreditation also shows you that the school is regularly audited for admissions, financial aid and education policies and practices and as a good and reputable as a requirement of accredited college, all online instructors at an accredited school will need to have minimum qualifications and relevant life experience in order to teach the classes offered. Accountants and Auditors (CPAs) Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), help to ensure that the nation’s firms are run more efficiently, its public records kept more accurately, and its taxes paid properly and on time.

What more can one ask for when having to learn this type of degree online or what we call an accredited college. They perform these vital accounting functions by offering a wide array of business and accounting services to their clients. Like all things about the Internet, there is a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly out there. So how do you find that excellent educational experience and distinguish it from a lesser one? All top-quality online degree programs will have the following as essential components of their school. The first is accreditation by a recognized, national educational authority in the US is an essential. These services include public accounting, managerial accounting, governmental accounting and internal auditing. One type of accredited college is an Online Accounting Degree, which prepares you for a career in the detail-oriented accounting and financial management fields.

When you say ideal, usually the first thing that comes to your mind is something useful and convenient. When it comes to getting an online bachelors degree then you get the usefulness and the convenience right at your own home. Getting a bachelors degree online is now much easier due to improvement in the personal computer and internet/communication technologies. You can now access all the course work provided by your chosen university via email, Internet, discussion forums etc. Getting a bachelors degree online has been very successful over the past few years for those who are unable to go to school full time and at the same time want to have good career growth. This is your chance to earn a bachelors degree online in the program that matches your passion and skills.

Select from online bachelor’s degree classes either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in accounting, art, and business management, to communications, technology, education, and more. A bachelor’s online degree generally lasts four years with your choice of major and minor areas of study. Earn your bachelor’s online degree from the convenience of your home, work or even while traveling. You won’t find much difference between an online bachelor degree and a regular campus bachelor degree, so it is ideal for students who are working or have family commitments. A bachelors degree online is recognized all over the world regardless of whether it was earned online or in a traditional classroom setting. They do not demand any stringent commitment to specific times.

An online bachelor degree program will also allow you to earn a living while you are studying. Because there are no time restrictions, you are free to do what you like and take your own time to finish the courses. You don’t have to travel or relocate to study for your bachelor’s degree. There is absolutely no reason for not choosing an online program.

Simply put, because of all the technological advancements out there, education will not be left behind. Whether your goal is to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree or to focus on specific knowledge and skills with individual classes, online education learning is the answer and by instilling the thought of online education and by earning an online education degree, there is absolutely no need to take time off from work. Because all classes are archived online, you won’t need to commute to some remote location in order to secure your education. Equally important, you can retrieve those classes at times that are convenient for you. This is especially true at the college level when students spend large portions of their day with professors who help mold and shape the leaders of tomorrow.

Aspiring teachers or professors can earn a master’s degree and current teachers can add to their knowledge with specialty degrees in fields ranging from English and social science to mathematics. Critical thinking, basic reading & writing, mathematics, and teamwork are crucial attributes that every student should possess by the time he or she advances into the real world and beyond. Having said this, this is exactly the reason why online education degree is so important, and this is why universities and colleges across the country must take special care in selecting qualified instructors whom society can entrust with the educational rearing of America’s aspiring minds.

Quite naturally and quite seemingly, securing an online education degree from an accredited university is imperative. Earning an education online degree can further your teaching skills in the classroom as well as enhance the curriculum for students.