| The dream of completing your college education or | | | | coursework meets your educational needs and |
| furthering your studies is no longer elusive. The World | | | | career goals. Check how current the course work is |
| Wide Web boom has brought education to your key | | | | and whether the textbooks and study materials are |
| board. Many established and renowned universities | | | | relevant. |
| are offering degrees in varied disciplines through | | | | • Ask if the university has a 24/7 customer |
| online courses. Studies done by the Distance | | | | service program and whether you will be eligible for |
| Education and Training Council in Washington and | | | | any technical help regarding the software or |
| other regulatory institutions indicate that over 2.25 | | | | programs you will need to use. Many universities |
| million people are registered for online courses at | | | | assign a personal advisor to students one who will |
| universities in the US. | | | | answer questions willingly and take care all nitty |
| Before registering for a course you need to spend | | | | gritties like enrollment procedures, course work |
| some time thinking. Do I want to do a course that | | | | submissions and so on right until graduation. |
| will further my career or learn something that I have | | | | • Check out the credentials for the faculty, |
| an abiding interest in? Will I be devoted and complete | | | | their qualifications and training to conduct an online |
| the course work in time? Take a look at your | | | | class room with ease. Otherwise it may be a question |
| schedules and find out where you will slot in time for | | | | of the “blind leading the blind.” |
| study. | | | | • Read the offer document carefully and |
| Online courses offer great conveniences, flexibility, | | | | ensure that the course is 100% online. Some |
| and a world class education brought to your | | | | universities are known to use mail, videotapes, and |
| computer. While choosing a college consider the | | | | on-campus programs as part of “online |
| following: | | | | course” work. Ask how long the online |
| • What are the basic qualifications you need to | | | | program has been in place and are there any rough |
| be eligible for a course are there any tests you need | | | | spots they have encountered. Read carefully the |
| to take. | | | | institution’s ethical standard document, most |
| • Is the college reliable? Does it have the | | | | reputed schools have a policy readily available for |
| required accreditations? | | | | review. |
| • How large are the classes? When the class | | | | • Check thoroughly the institutions financial |
| strength is smaller then each student will receive | | | | history and current position. Make sure you are not |
| more time from the instructors. On the other hand a | | | | registering with a fly-by-night operator. |
| large enrollment indicates success of the course. So | | | | • Find out what the accreditations of the |
| you need to carefully weigh all the different aspects. | | | | university are. In the US accreditations come from |
| • Research blogs and other online messaging | | | | Middle States, New England, North Central, |
| centers to find out about the opinion and experiences | | | | Northwest, and Southern Western. They have a |
| of students who have satisfactorily complete courses | | | | membership program as well as a system wherein |
| or are disgruntled. Read surveys and analysis about | | | | each others accreditations are acknowledged. |
| online education. Ask the college for referrals. | | | | • Most important ask about fees and financial |
| Examine alumni success. Find out what percentage of | | | | aid. Find out what the tuitions fees are and whether |
| students successfully complete the program and how | | | | any other costs like lab fees, technology fees and so |
| many work professionally in the field of study. | | | | on are to be paid. You will also have to cost |
| • Study the online curriculum as well as | | | | expenses towards maintaining your computer and its |
| suggested time-frame carefully. Find out how many | | | | peripherals like scanners, printers, and fax modem, as |
| students have been able to complete the course | | | | well as Internet costs and provider fees. |
| work within the given time. Determine whether the | | | | |