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