Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
September 2, 2009
With an ever-degenerating economy, education is becoming increasingly important. Perhaps you have considered going back to school and earning a bachelor’s degree. If you are ready to make that step, there are a few things you might be interested in hearing.
One reason you might be hesitant when you are considering earning a bachelor’s degree is that it is quite expensive to go to college. Most importantly, you need to make sure to keep things in perspective. Though college is expensive initially, the degree pays off.
In addition, the average price of college tuition rises each year. This year, you can expect to pay up to $1,398 more in tuition than last year. What this means is that you should think about earning your bachelor’s degree sooner rather than later. Every year that you wait means you will pay more at the outset.
In good news, over $143 billion is available in financial aid, so your education is most likely affordable. In addition, earning a bachelor’s degree practically pays for itself. On average, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn over 60% more than those who have only completed high school. With a degree, you are also 5% more likely to be promoted, which will only open up the doors to financial security.
When you factor in the statistics over an entire lifetime, those individuals who took the time in earning a bachelor’s degree will make over $800,000 more than those who did not. Therefore, even if you go to an expensive college, the initial cost is very little when compared to the long-term benefits.
Additionally to the financial benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree, you gain other benefits for yourself and family. You provide a better future for your family, as any children you might have will be more likely to attend college if their parents have.
When you have finished your degree, you have accomplished something that no one can take away from you. The personal satisfaction from completing your education will help further your career path, and provide you with the financial security you need to be successful.
Earning a bachelor’s degree is an achievement that you will look back on as one of the best decisions you have ever made. With a degree, you have the potential to make more money, and have a better job that you enjoy. After you have weighed the costs and benefits, you will see just what earning a bachelor’s degree can do for you.
Brage Charley is an educator with quite a few years of experience writing articles on how to earn a college degree. He helps people from all walks of life earn an online college degree
Professors As Teachers
August 14, 2009
Chronicle of Higher Educations has been around forever and remains perhaps the most respected course for information about what’s going on in higher education. Why is it that only now the Chronicle is starting a new section with the title “Professors as Teachers.” This underscores one of the major differences between most traditional universities versus online universities. At traditional universities professors are primarily researchers, while at online universities professors are primarily teachers.
UC-Berkeley Moves Forward with Opencast Matterhorn
August 2, 2009
The University of California at Berkeley recently received a $1.5 million grant that will allow the university to develop open-source software that would let colleges around the world easily post lectures from their most popular professors. The new software should be available for release in July of 2010.
Life-Long Learning
July 15, 2009
These days, a large proportion of the professional knowledge will become obsolete almost as quickly as it’s acquired. It is not the fault of our education systems, its just that professional knowledge is changing that fast.
Most professions now require continuous education and development. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will require continuous education for most exempt jobs. Professional education does not end when you complete a college degree or two. Having a successful career in a profession requires a commitment to life-long learning.
New Global Education Research Project
July 9, 2009
Personal computer maker Lenovo announced an ambitious research project at the annual Think Tank educational conference held recently at the University of North Carolina. In addition to being global in scope, the research project will look beyond simply how students use computers and other devices. The scope of this project will include how learning institutions can streamline their operations using technology, how various participants in the learning process can communicate more effectively, and the most effective role for technology in effective learning environments. The results from this research effort should provide educators and administrators with best practice information and recommendations relevant to K-12 and higher education institutions around the world.
New Global Education Research Project
June 25, 2009
Personal computer maker Lenovo announced an ambitious research project at the annual Think Tank educational conference held recently at the University of North Carolina. In addition to being global in scope, the research project will look beyond simply how students use computers and other devices. The scope of this project will include how learning institutions can streamline their operations using technology, how various participants in the learning process can communicate more effectively, and the most effective role for technology in effective learning environments. The results from this research effort should provide educators and administrators with best practice information and recommendations relevant to K-12 and higher education institutions around the world.
A Site for Peer-Reviewed Articles that is Student-Friendly
June 16, 2009
A trend among top-tier universities is developing to share some of their research results and scholarly publications through open-access formats. An example of this trend is a site introduced by the Nature Publishing Group at: www.scitable.com. This site initially contains approximately 200 articles that concentrate on genetics, but plans have been made to significantly expand the scope of their offerings.
With some prestigious peer-reviewed professional journals charging universities in excess of $10,000 a year for subscriptions, my institutions are seeking ways to share research in a more cost-effective way. The Obama Administration has expressed its commitment to fund university-based research, but they want to be certain the results are shared.
In addition to the fact articles found at the scitable website are free; they are also presented in a clear and concise format when compared with many peer-reviewed journals. Science is an intimidating subject already, so students will appreciate this simplified format and style. Too many scholarly journals are written primarily for academics and researchers, when they should be more concerned about furthering learning and education among students.
Enrollments Growing for Online College Degrees
May 22, 2009
Online accredited degrees provide an affordable, flexible option for both first-time and adults students who wish to complete a degree. Whether your ambition is to get your first college degree, increase your earning potential, or pursue a degree as part of a career change, an online university is a sound choice that will let you achieve your higher education goals without disrupting your current career or lifestyle.
The scheduling flexibility and self-paced aspect of online degree programs make them perfect for parents, working professionals and busy students to complete a college degree while maintaining other work or life responsibilities. Because you may study anytime and anywhere it is convenient for you, online degrees allow you to spend more time with your family, earning a living, or even partaking in your favorite hobbies.
Self-paced online classes are perfect for individuals who are motivated to work quickly to complete an accelerated degree program, as well as for those students who prefer the ability to schedule course work around other responsibilities, or who could benefit from the opportunity to take more time to fully absorb course materials before moving to a new subject.
Online degree programs are also totally portable. That means students can study from wherever they choose, don’t have to commute to a classroom location, and can relocate as needed without the hassle of collecting transcripts from multiple institutions or applying to new schools every time they move. This advantage is especially beneficial for military service members and their family members, as well as any individuals who may need to relocate at any time during their degree program.
With the number of accredited online degree programs expanding and the increasing recognition from employers, online schools are quickly growing in popularity among new and returning students. Flexible schedules, inexpensive tuition, available financial assistance, and student support systems that rival any campus degree program are just a few of the advantages of distance learning that are enticing more and more potential students to become online learners every day.
Online college degree programs allow you to further your education while raising your family, working full-time or meeting other personal responsibilities. Advancing your education with an accredited program that offers inexpensive, flexible online learning will permit you to maintain your busy schedule while increasing your earning potential and establishing a solid foundation for your personal or professional growth.
Looking For Accredited Online Universities
May 19, 2009
More and more colleges and universities are recognizing the demand for alternatives to traditional education. With today’s busy lifestyles, many people find it difficult to find time to go back to school without sacrificing existing obligations. This problem is being solved, though, with an increasing amount of accredited online universities that allow for alternate means of earning a degree.
Advance Technology is being used by online universities to expose the student to the coursework required for the degree. This includes televised classes, online chat, emailed assignments and online classrooms.
Online students have similar classroom experience with the in campus students and they do not leave the comforts of their homes at that. The internet use is maximized as this is the means by which they learn their lessons, submit assignments interact with other online students in the same class and so on.
Be sure though that you get your online degree from accredited online universities. Beware of the scams offering degrees for a very short period of time which usually costs a lot of money. These scams costs lots of money and are illegal.
Fake credentials used in applying for jobs lead to many legal issues. When an employer discovers you got the job through false methods, you will be removes from the job and risk criminal and financial liability.
There are hundreds of unaccredited universities the Internet that try to defraud online students. In choosing the online university where you plan to earn you online degree, be very meticulous in checking their accreditation.
See if there are colleges or universities near your area that offer s online programs that you are interested in. Visit them and check their accreditation.
Research is the key to find an accredited online university where you will earn your accredited online degree.
Enrollments in Online Accredited Degree Programs Increasing
May 9, 2009
Online accredited degrees are now more popular than ever before for working adults who want to continue their education, but have a job and family obligations to maintain. Accredited online degree programs are good for people with busy schedules or those who can’t attend a traditional college due to geographic considerations. These distance learning programs are fast becoming the preferred method of study among many people all over the world because of the convenience and cost savings.
Online learning has come of age, in no time. A few of the benefits of online accredited degree programs include:
1. Tend to be less costly than traditional on campus programs.
2. Are available in nearly every subject you could imagine, including nursing, business, psychology, healthcare, and law.
3. Available to anyone who has access to a computer with an Internet connection.
4. May be finished quicker than traditional on campus degrees because most programs are self-paced, offer accelerated programs, or offer credit for life and work experience.
5. Offered by some of the best accredited universities and colleges. These schools generally utilize the same curricula for online courses as they do for classroom courses, so the quality of education is the same.
Obviously, the benefits of distance learning have expanded exponentially. Getting an online degree is convenient for students who cannot attend formal classes for various reasons including work, family, travel, geographic location, or ill health. Getting a degree online is equally as good as earning one in person, but only if it comes from an accredited university.
Online degrees are wonderful for anyone who wants to either jump-start or change their careers, and that’s no surprise.
Top Online Colleges Allow You To Advance Your Career
April 26, 2009
Online universities and colleges have revolutionized distance learning, providing greater convenience and opening new doors for a lot of people who want to increase their career potential. If you are interested in getting a degree online, there are a number of things you should consider.
The first thing you have to make sure of is if online education is right for you. Enrolling in an online university or college is ideal for working people or stay-at-home parents. If your other priorities leave you no opportunity to make it to scheduled classes, taking courses online is the best way to go, provided you have a good amount of self-discipline when it comes to time management. Online education is really for people who do very well with minimum supervision. It can also provide that second chance at further education for older adults who may not feel too comfortable attending classes with people who are a lot younger.
Signing up for an online law school degree doesn’t mean that you’ll be getting substandard instruction. An accredited online school ensures that students get adequate online guidance from their teacher with the use of internet tools. Challenging individual and group projects may be given by your professors, for which you can use various online resources. Forums, message boards and chat rooms are often provided in online postgraduate school websites to have a venue for and encourage interaction between online students.
Signing up for an online graduate school degree doesn’t mean that you’ll be getting substandard instruction. An accredited online school ensures that students get adequate online guidance from their instructors with the use of internet tools. Challenging individual and group projects may be given by your professors, for which you can use various online resources. Forums, message boards and chat rooms are often provided in online graduate school websites to have a venue for and encourage interaction between online students.
Once you’ve made up your mind to continue your studies through online learning, the next step is to choose the right degree program and online college to enroll in. Keep the following in mind:
1. When choosing a field of study, you should consider the career that would be lucrative for you.
2. For colleges who are not purely online and have physical campuses, check if there’s still a residency requirement or if you’ll have to occasionally show up for exams, etc. Consider if you can work these in your schedule.
3. See if the credits you’ll be getting from online colleges will be transferable just in case you’ll have to continue with another college at some point.
4. Check if the online college has resources like an online library and tutorial services. You may want to get more value out of your enrollment.
5. Beware online diploma mills, especially if what you’re really after is a useful education that can be helpful in your future career.
6. Most importantly, check if the online university is accredited by the appropriate regional agency. Your diploma will be useless if not issued by an accredited online college.
