| Choosing a college is always difficult, especially when | | | | Students of any age, race, creed, color, religion, |
| they are far away from home. This is even more | | | | location, learning ability, disability, or mindset can find |
| true with online colleges and courses where you may | | | | the materials, sources, and lessons he or she needs |
| never set foot in a college classroom. Here I give | | | | or wants from fully accredited courses. |
| some tips and advice on online courses and what to | | | | If you choose an online course you need to be |
| look out for. | | | | aware of a few caveats. Before applying check that |
| Many children, for many reasons, are unable or | | | | the online college courses is genuine and the |
| unwilling to attend a traditional bricks and mortar high | | | | accreditation is in place. There are some online college |
| school, college or University. They cannot attend for | | | | courses that are not qualified offer the qualifications |
| reasons including poor health, financial reasons or | | | | quoted in that they are not "accredited". If you are |
| even bullying. An inability to attend school or college in | | | | looking to use the online learning experience as |
| the past has frequently meant that our children have | | | | credited coursework (to transfer, to get a job or a |
| lost out in their education. | | | | degree), be sure that the online college is one which |
| Online education was pioneered in the UK by The | | | | meets the standards set by the state's, province's, |
| Open University ( but is now offered by many | | | | or country's accreditation body, agency, or board. |
| colleges and universities around the world. Online | | | | In the U.S. the Department of Education (the DOE) |
| education or distance learning was initially seen by | | | | oversees and regulates American universities, though |
| many as just a supplement to the brick-and-mortar | | | | each state is responsible for its own higher learning |
| classroom with traditional teaching and learning | | | | authorization standards. Checking the course |
| methods and materials. Over the last few years | | | | credentials can be a difficult task particularly if the |
| however, improved technology and educational | | | | institution is located overseas. In some countries |
| techniques have made online high school classes and | | | | unscrupulous and greedy "colleges" have been quick |
| online college courses viable alternatives to traditional | | | | to claim to be "licensed" to run a college but their |
| methods of learning. Today the student does not | | | | business is, in effect, a bogus degree mill, a fake |
| have to set foot in a classroom to obtain good | | | | college whos qualifications are worthless. |
| academic qualifications up to Masters Degree level. | | | | In the US, States have different ways of regulating |
| Today's students, can benefit in a number of ways | | | | their colleges. Even in the US con artists and |
| that previously they could not. They can get their | | | | scammers, claiming to be legitimate e-universities, |
| qualifications despite having no way to get to the | | | | have been known to link their pages to the real sites |
| school of their choice, or they may have children, a | | | | of DOE or of the Council of Higher Education |
| home, and one or more jobs that keeps them from | | | | Accreditation (CHEA). Always check accreditation |
| physically attending classes at a campus that might | | | | directly with the relevant body and do not assume |
| be too far away. | | | | that because of a link an institution is properly |
| These students can make use of online college | | | | accredited. |
| courses that feature lectures via Internet meetings, | | | | When looking into online college courses there are |
| video, audio, email, instant messages, bulletin boards | | | | online resources offering a range of studies at |
| and chat rooms, and online study and research | | | | accredited colleges. You can also also ask state or |
| sources. | | | | federal education authorities for a list of accredited |
| For the home-schooled, or the advanced high school | | | | colleges. Contact the examination board for the |
| student, the benefits of access and choice are great. | | | | qualification you desire and verify that your choice of |
| For students, who for religious or personal reasons, | | | | college is accredited and finally check with potential |
| do not wish to mix at school segregation or | | | | employers or industry bodies which qualifications they |
| integration are available. Equally those who prefer a | | | | recognise. Most of the time this just takes a few |
| religiously oriented curriculum can also be | | | | emails but could save you a great deal of expence |
| accomodated. | | | | and grief. |
| Online college courses are equal opportunity courses. | | | | |