Online Degrees Review

Highlighting the best online degree and distance learning programs.
 

Find Schools by Degree:

Associate
Bachelor
Certificate
Coursework
Diploma
Doctorate
Master

Find Schools by Program:

Administrative
Architectural Studies
Art and Design
Business
Culinary
Education
Fashion
Holistic/Alternative Medicine
Human Services
Interior Design
Legal
Liberal Studies
Media and Visual Communication
Medical and Dental
Nursing
Psychology
Technology
Technology Certifications
Travel and Hospitality
Web Design

Casino Gambling Sites
These online casino sites offer gambling tips and reviews of the best casinos for on line betting.
Online Casinos

Best Slot Machines
For top rated online casino slots you need to visit Slot Machines World guide to Internet slot gaming.
Slot Machines

Online Casino Slots
If you are looking for online casino slot machines then we suggest you try this online casino reviews forum and directory.
Online Casino

Newest Online Casinos
This online casinos guide offers new casino reviews and internet gaming tips.
New Online Casinos



Online Education Ideal for Non-traditional Students
By Martin A. David

The handwriting is on the wall. You've felt stuck for some time now. Your job is going nowhere and the promotions and raises don't seem to come your way. It doesn't take magic glasses to see what the writing says,

"You need a college degree!"

The college degree may be the one you started when you were younger, but never finished, it might be an additional college degree in a whole new field, or perhaps what's called for is an advanced degree from a graduate school. Whichever one it is, you need it if you're going to get ahead in your career.

But you're not a 19-year-old, fresh out of high school. You are a full-fledged adult with adult responsibilities. You can't afford to leave your job and go back to school. Besides that, you have a family to take care of, community organizations that depend on you, bills to pay, and all the other burdens that 19-year-olds don't have. An online college degree is the ideal solution.

Adult Education, the Old Fashioned Way
There are so many stories of heroic souls who slaved in factories by day and then went to school at night. It all sounds very romantic, but you probably shouldn't try to emulate them. Times have changed and life is very different. The expectations and responsibilities faced by those workers from bygone days were so much less complex than the realities you face today. A life consisting of nothing more than work and college for several years seemed like a worthy sacrifice to those earlier adult students since it could free them from the bondage of poverty.

Contemporary goals have more to do with advancement than with survival. There are more doors open to you and fewer obstacles in your way. However, you do need that degree and college degrees are not hanging from the trees in your local park. You still have to work to earn one and you still have to choose the academic path that connects to the career you choose. Fortunately, there is a way.

The Birth of the Internet
The birth of the Internet is a major change that has happened in your lifetime, a change that will bring you personal benefits as an adult learner. It allows you to go back to school as a re-entry student in a wide variety of online degree programs. You can do so in the privacy of your own home and earn an online college degree in almost any subject under the sun, including an online nursing degree, online business degree, or online doctoral degree.

How Do I Get Started?
The number of reputable online schools has kept pace with the rest of the computer revolution. In many ways, education online has led that revolution. A very simple Internet search will lead you to the school that is right for your needs. Most online schools have online advisors to help you. These advisors understand that you are not a traditional student who is fresh out of high school, and they know how to make the process easier for you. They know that, according to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 90 million people participate in some form of adult education each year. The American Council on Education points out that adult, non-traditional students are usually much more motivated, independent and achievement-oriented than younger, more traditional students.

Online degree advisors will also answer such questions as which online degree program or online courses are best for you and your overall goals. They will also help you arrange for financial aid. Of course, the good news is that, as an online student, chances are you will face much lower education costs than a student at the average college or university.

One of the first things you will realize as you start the profitable adventure of online education is that you have entered a world in which you can learn and study at your own pace, anytime and anywhere. You can attend an online course while you are keeping an eye on a small child or an elderly parent. You will be instructed and assisted by teachers who are not only experts in the particular field of instruction, but also understand how to make the most of the tools of an online university.

The Tools of Online Education
There are numerous ways that you, a returning student who has decided to earn a degree from home, can pursue your studies. The basic tool is lectures that come to you over the Internet. They may be written documents that you can read and reread at your own speed, but usually they are audio or video presentations that you access through your computer. These are almost always available for you to replay for the purpose of taking notes or understanding difficult passages.

You will probably have to buy or borrow specific books for use with your online courses, but most teachers also supply research materials that you can download and read on your computer screen or print out. You can also find online documents from other sources and use them for your courses.

Some education online courses use "live" classes and discussion groups through videoconferencing and Web-conferencing. In those cases, you are connected to the instructor and the other students in real time and you can ask and answer questions, using your computer keyboard or a simple computer microphone. You may also have opportunities to have live conversations with the teacher or the other students in chat rooms set up for that purpose. Class discussions also take place through e-mail and online forums. The teacher will use these tools to send or post messages for the entire class to read. Occasionally online college professors arrange for conferences or tutoring questions by telephone as well.

The Choice is Yours
When you schedule your online degree program, you will be able to choose the type of classes that are best suited to your schedule and your needs. Your online university will probably offer some courses that don't have specific meeting schedules. In that case, you can read or listen to the lectures on your own timetable and do your studying and coursework at times that are most convenient for your busy, adult life. At the end of some months that fit seamlessly into the rest of your life, you will emerge with a bachelor degree, masters degree, or even doctoral degree - without putting your life on hold while you return to school.

Regardless of which courses you decide upon, you will find that your online degree program is the perfect choice for you as a non-traditional student and that it provides a key to future career success.

About the Author

Martin A. David consults as a Senior Technical Writer for a number of Silicon Valley firms. He is also a translator, specializing in Danish, French and Spanish literary works. He has written numerous feature articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times. He has also published a novel, and a non-fiction book in the area of dance. Martin earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Brooklyn College in his native New York. He currently chairs the Santa Clara Cultural Advisory Commission in Santa Clara, California.

Copyright © 2004 Quinstreet Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved.


Degrees | Programs | Financial Aid | Articles

Copyright 2004 Online Degrees Review
All Rights Reserved

Featured Schools

University of Phoenix Online
University of Phoenix Online, a true innovator in distance education, allows students to earn their degrees and advance their careers – all online. Click here...


ITT Tech Online
An on-line education can offer opportunities for students to pursue their educational objectives when attending school in a traditional classroom is not practical. With ITT Tech's on-line education programs, a quality education is now available when and where it is convenient for the student. Click here...


Art Institute Online
Earn your degree online in record time, from AIU Online. No school makes it easier (or more rewarding) to earn a degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Visual Communication, and Education. Click here...


Devry University Online
Earn your degree 100% online. DeVry University Online provides the flexibility you need to complete your degree whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you. Click here...


Kaplan College
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan College. And do it without missing a day of work. Click here...


Capella University
Learn while you earn. Earn a degree online with Capella University and advance your career without interrupting it. Click here. Click here...