The Online Degree Dorm Room

It’s official - online degrees are just as good as traditional (at least per the US Govt)

Posted by bposton on December 1st, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

It’s been the great debate in recent years in higher education and employment circles…

Is an online degree as good as traditional degrees?

Well, it seems that the US Government set out to answer that question (with your tax dollars)

The United States Department of Education recently announced the results of at 12 year study and they concluded that online degrees (which they defined as a result of online classes and examinations) are “somewhat more effective” than the traditional degrees.

More effective? Yep, that was the conclusion. Most of which was based on the fact that online classes are convenient, interactive, and interesting (due to the audio, video etc materials used in teaching), not to mention the fact that having direct access to the professor or lecturer normally makes for a more effective experience that traditional face-to-face classes.

Now, i have to admit that if you’re a student in a traditional college environment, you can certainly make your classes more interesting by being more particpative, and you can always get access to the professor. But evidently an online environment provides those elements without you having to do much in return, which certainly makes it easier.

But no matter which way, the same old adage applies: you’ll get out of it what you put into it…

But hey, at least it’s “official” - an online degree is just a good of an experience (if not better) than a traditional one.

All night cramming parties excluded, of course

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The Most Popular Online Degree Programs - What online degrees do people want?

Posted by bposton on September 29th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

I thought I’d pass along some results of a recent survery that was done this past summer regard the types of online degrees that most popular.

There seems to be a trend shaping up if you look closely at the results, and the trend is that folks are getting more serious about the exact program they want to go for.

Maybe this is due to the fact that, with today’s job market, many are realizing that you have to be very focused on what kind of job you want, which translates to a more definiitive search for the degree program that fits that goal.

So people are make much more definite decisions about where they want to go, and how to get there, as well as understanding that they want to have a degree that will immediately prepare them for a competitive job marketplace.

So what are the most popular online degree programs?

The top 3 are business administration, nursing and criminal justice degrees, followed by health care, education and engineering.

Rounding out the remaining 4 of the top ten most popular online degrees are computers and IT, Psychology, Legal/Paralegal Degrees and Public Administration.

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7 Reasons Why You Should Get An Online Degree In Today’s Economy

Posted by bposton on September 2nd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

There are a lot of people from all walks of life who are seeking out a way to learn online in today’s tough economy. Should you be one of them? Well, here’s a few reasons why now may be a great time to get a degree online.

Help keep the job you already have.

While there is no such thing as an indispensable employee, if you focus on increasing your skill sets right now you can certainly bring more value to your organization. So if you still have a job - now is the time to take note of the areas that you could use improvement and seek out some online learning to help. In addition, you can also focus on new skills, like network certification, web design, etc.

Help if the worst does happen.

Even if you have a job today, the worst case scenario could occur - you could lose your job. In this case, if you have completed any courses online this could make you a more attractive candidate in today’s job market.

Put more in your pocket.

After you have your degree from an online university or online program, you still might be able to ask for a raise - yet. But when things get better at your company, you chances of seeing more in your paycheck improve.

. 

Helps if you have to make a change.

If you lose your job, or can’t find a good job, take some time now to explore other fields and careers that may increase your employment prospects. For example, consider getting an online degree in areas that aren’t normally affected by the economy, such as education or something in the health care field.

Get your share of the scholarship pie.

Lost of universities and online colleges will provide assistance to those seeking to get federal loans for their education There are lots of options out there, some of which don’t require you to pay anything until you finish your degree program. And if you’re still employed, make sure you check into your company’s tuition reimbursement policy. You might be able to get your organization to foot the bill. If you already have student loans, you may even be able to have those payments deferred if you enroll in an online degree program.

Get great gas mileage.

If you focus on getting an online degree, you won’t have to commute to school every day. That could save you a bunch of money on gas.

Be a spare time student.

Whether you’re still employed or not, it’s probably not possible for you to attend school full time. So if you look into an online degree program, and start in your spare time, you should be able to earn your new degree while balancing either a full time or part time job, or the adventure of seeking new employment, which is a full time job all by itself!

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Posted by bposton on July 4th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Drexel University recently announced that it will offer free to an unlimited number of military veterans. You can be full or part time, and you can get getting your undergraduate, graduate, or even doctoral degree. And, best of all, this applies to both on campus and online programs.

It’s all part of Drexel’s participation in the new GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program.

This is a partnership between the federal government and Drexel, and a part of this program, the University will match the government’s contribution to the cost of an education so that eligible veterans can attend Drexel with no out of pocket expenses.

Here’s how it works. The federal government will pay up to the highest in-state school tuition, with any remaining cost shared between the government and the University.

Doing this will offer eligible service persons a free education.

There are under institutions participating in the new program, but Drexel is different because they will have no cap on the number of veterans who may enroll. They are committing 2 million for this program, and it will allow veterans who meet government and University admissions requirements to receive a completely free education at all of the University’s schools and colleges including the Drexel University College of Medicine, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel at Burlington County College and the Sacramento Center for Graduate Studies.

Here’s another cool thing about the new Yellow Ribbon Program. The government will pay each student’s costs directly to the University rather than requiring those veterans to request a reimbursement, which was what they had to do under the original GI Bill. And the program includes a new set of educational benefits such as monthly housing and textbook stipends.

According to Drexel: “We are proud to be able to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to serve their country,” Greenberg added.

Three Cheers for Drexel!!! 

OK, so here’s the lowdown on who is eligible, per the Veteran’s Adminstration. You must have served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.

For information on the new GI Bill and specific benefit questions contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1

For more information about Drexel’s on campus programs contact Drexel University at 800-2-DREXEL For more information about Drexel’s online degree programs contact Drexel Online at 877-215-0009.

For more information about using your military benefits to fund a Drexel education contact Jeffrey Linskens, associate director, Student Resource Center, at 215-895-6413 or jeffery.r.linskens@drexel.edu

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The 5 Habits of Successful Online Degree Students

Posted by bposton on June 28th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, I just have to say it…

Using an online degree program is not for everyone.

(glad I got that off my chest )

But it is true. There are some folks who are just not cut out for doing studies via an internet connection.

Some people even believe that the obstacles to getting a degree online are even greater than those at a traditional university. I’m not sure about that, but I will agree that these hurdles are at least different.

So how to you make sure that you’re doing the right things to increase your chance of successfully getting your degree via an online education?

Well, you need to develop what I call the 5 Habits of Successful Online Degree Students:

Habit number 1.
Get the right program for your needs.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a bachelors degree, masters degree or doctoral degree program, if you just pick a program for it’s degree alone you’re could make the wrong choice.

Make sure that you’re interested in the subject matter, research the professors, other student’s experiences, etc, just as you would if you were going to apply at a campus based college.

Oh, and make sure that you’re only considering fully accredited online degree programs and courses.

Habit number 2
Be patient with yourself. Different students take different amounts of time before they become adjusted to online classes.
Alway keep in mind that your goal is to balance your online study with your family and your job. But it will take time to get that balance the way you want it to be.
Habit number 3
Make and follow a time schedule. Time can be your biggest asset when getting an online degree, but it can also be your enemy if you don’t take control of it.

Believe me, you’re going to be faced with many choices between conflicting responsibilities and you’re going to be swamped with day-to-day activities from time to time, leaving little or no time for studies.

But do your very best to practice good time management. It’s critical to your success as an online student.
Habit number 4
Break it down to daily tasks.
You’re going to have what I call major projects to accomplish as a student. Like term papers or reports that are due in 2 week.

Break those projects down in to daily tasks to make them more manageable and to fit into your time schedule. For example, ready the course material you are given on a daily basis. Many students often put off reading the lessons and books until the last minute since the professors cannot pressure them into answering or reciting anything. Make sure you don’t neglect doing the daily assignments and many other activities you need to do in order to get your papers done and projects turned in on time.

That way, when others are running around with their hair on fire when exam time or mid-term is around the corner, you’ll be calm and collected - and you’ll have the confidence that you know and understand the subject matter.

Avoid getting yourself into a cram for exams. Do your school work DAILY no matter what.
Habit number 5
Attend the online classes (or at least MOST of them )
You should make sure that you have time to attend all of the scheduled classes.
Sure, you can probably just download notes or even recorded lectures that the professor provides, but remember this - it’s nothing like BEING THERE. You’ll learn so much more by attending, and getting involved in the live discussions in class.
Remember, you can learn from the other students, not just the professor…

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Bad News and Good News about the College Dropout rate

Posted by bposton on June 23rd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey there my dorm room buddy

Hope you’re enjoying the summertime.

I thought I’d pass along some good news and bad news on the college education front. 

Back in the 1960’s the college dropout rates were as low as one (1) in every five (5) students.

You DO remember the 60’s don’t you?

Well, this 1 out of 5 ratio got worse over the years, and stood at one (1) in every three (3) in the 1990s.

And it’s even worst today. Figures from the Department of Education for 2000 through 2008 show that 30% of student enrolled on schools leave in their first year and 50% never graduate.

Believe it or not, these numbers are expected to go even higher. Why?

The biggest reason is the lack of funds to finish college. Another is the fact that most who drop out of college think they can never go back since they (hopefully) have a full time job.

But here is the good news…

The advent of online degree programs are finally giving those who could not finish college a great opportunity to do so now. Sure it’s a struggle to hold down a job and go to school, but at least students can now fit online classes in their busy schedules.

As I hope I’ve pointed out time and time again, even though it is a challenge to study online it is a lot simpler to attend online classes than missing classes in traditional colleges. You can have a one-on-one interaction with your professor via emails and Instant Messaging. You can also attend lectures anywhere (and anytime) so long as you have an internet connection. And, most importantly, you can usually go at your own pace and time schedule. 

Now, what about the lack of funds? Well there is good news here too. It appears that the US government is working on a to help in offering financial aid to the many students who qualify for the federal financial aid – i.e. the Pell Grant.

Last I heard, Congress will now allow up to a maximum of $5500 to those seeking their degree and who have insufficient funds to help with their college education.

To learn more about the Pell Grant check out the US Government website:

http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html 
 

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Online courses help retirees live out their dreams

Posted by bposton on April 5th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Does this sound like you?…

Your children have grown and the nest is empty, your mortgage is paid off (or almost) and you’re thinking of retirement…

…or maybe a part-time retirement given the current economic mess.  

So since us Americans are living longer than ever (an expected 77 to 78 years according to the Centers for Disease Control), how will you spend your golden years?

More and more, retirees are pursuing their dreams through what some call “encore careers”.

Let’s say that you’ve always wanted to pursue a passion, or perhaps to run your own business. Retirement provides a great opportunity to finally be able to do what you’ve long dreamt of doing.

Although most retirees have a lot of work experience, starting a new career may require additional education and training. So dust off those old interests and refresh your skills by taking a course at home.

Today, one of the most popular ways to study at home is through online courses. From online degree programs to professional certification courses, more and more schools are offering a traditional education over the Internet.

Across the United States, thousands of schools offer distance education to students based anywhere in the world.

The possibilities are limitless, and age is not a consideration or a problem.

In fact many schools prefer to have students over the age of 25. With professional and life experience to enrich class conversation, classmates can learn from both the professor and you.

You can find class types to suit every schedule.

For example, self-paced courses allow you to study on your own time. As long as you complete all the work within six, nine or 12 months, you can take as long as you want.

Asynchronous online programs let you login whenever you want, but everyone is required to complete their work
on the same day.

Regardless of the type, all online programs offer the benefits of convenience and flexibility. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can still travel wherever you please, study whenever you want and still be able to earn your degree, or become certified in a professional field.

So, if you’ve always wanted to study photography or become a freelancer or consultant, now you can make it happen.

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Is this the number 1 online school in the USA?

Posted by bposton on March 12th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Here’s a newsflash, my little dorm room buddy… 

This year Nova Southeastern University, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was ranked No. 1 in OEDB’s 2009 Online College Rankings.

OEDB stands for Online Education Database, which is an organization that which ranks the top online colleges in the nation. 

In second place went to Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., followed by Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., in third.

While Nova boasts a 300-acre campus with classrooms and students living on university grounds, their online program is growing and now offers 78 online degree and certificate programs.  The school has virtual students in nearly every state.

According to the information used in the ranking, online classes at Nova take advantage of a number of web resources, including threaded discussion boards, chat rooms, email and other online tools. Course materials are all available online and there’s genuine student-teacher interaction as well.

The OEDB survey is based entirely on numerical data derived from eight metrics: acceptance rate, financial aid, graduation rate, peer Web citations, retention rate, scholarly citations, student-faculty ratio and years accredited.

Here’s how Nova sized up in those categories:
Acceptance rate: 51%
Financial aid: 96% of students receive financial aid.
Graduation rate: 47%
Peer Web citations: Close to 5,000. (Peer web citations are links to Nova’s web site from another college’s web sites. It’s kind of a popularity contest. Nova won this category by a landslide.)
Retention rate: 60% This measures the student body’s overall interest in what is being offered by the school.
Scholarly citations: 11,800. Through a Google Scholar search, Nova had 11,800 references to scholarly academic work, the most of any online school.
Student-faculty ratio: No data.
Years accredited: 38

Undergrads at Nova Southeastern can enroll in online programs such as education, computer science, health science and psychology. There are even more online programs for graduate students in the fields of business, law, education, osteopathic medicine, psychology and more.

So, is this the number 1 online school in the USA?

Well if you agree with the numbers, then it probably is. But just because it ranks well, doesn’t mean it’s the right school for YOU. Make sure you do your own research and decide if the courses, environment, educators, etc are what you need to succeed in your online education.

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Online Degrees - Don’t forget these important points to getting your degree online

Posted by bposton on March 4th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

In today’s down job market, one way to make your resume stand out is to have an advanced degree.

But you have to realize that it’s now as easy as some schools make it sound.

While it is true that Online masters programs are often less expensive and  more convenient than traditional degree programs there are several issues that you need to think about.

Regardless of how you earn your degree, remember that it’s not a ticket to six-figure paycheck or job security — consider the slew of MBA casualties on Wall Street in recent months. But if you think it will give your career a kick, here are a few points to keep in mind.

The first one is the fact that you have be self-motivated. This is a MUST.
An online degree program doesn’t force you to sit in a classroom and because of that you don’t always have social support group.

THe next one is picking the right school.

Many traditional universities also offer online courses. At some schools, such as Duke and Columbia universities, select masters programs are entirely online.

If you’re not set on getting a degree from a traditional institution, online-only schools can be viable options. For instance, the University of Phoenix offers master’s programs in business, education health care and psychology. Other career-focused schools, such as DeVry University, also offer masters programs online.

But be vary wary of any online school that promises a quick and easy time to get your sheepskin. They may ask for only a fraction of the total cost of a traditional degree in tuition and have names that echo those of prestigious universities. But when their mailing addresses is a P.O. box - run away - FAST

Always remember that the U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited schools on its Web site (www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation) and you can also check the site of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at www.chea.org.

Also, the admissions process for an online program at Duke or other traditional universities is the same as their on campus programs, while online-only schools have admissions that are typically on a rolling, monthly basis.

Another issue is your courses and cirriculum.

It you think that course work will be easier because it’s online - forget it, it won’t…

In fact, at traditional schools the online materials are usually the same or at least comparable to what’s taught in classrooms.

As with any degree related course, you’ll be expected to hand in periodic assignments - on time

So if you are more accustomed to the structure and disipline that a physical classroom provides, then meeting these deadlines with an online class might be a struggle.

Of course, the benefit to all of this is that you can study when and where you please.

Another beneft is the fact that you might actually interact with classmates and professors more with an online class than if you were in a lecture hall packed with hundreds of students. Chat rooms, frequent e-mail exchanges and online message boards are often integral elements of online courses.

Also be aware that for certain degrees, like those in the medical profession, you’ll likely need to complete some courses in person at some type of facility.

Another issue is cost - and with that - financial aid. Online degrees are typically cheaper than traditional programs, but tuition is still considerable.

At the University of Phoenix, for instance, tuition for full-time graduate students was $13,500 in 2007, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At the American Intercontinental University Online, it was $21,300.

But that doesn’t mean you have to pay the full price. If you’re getting a paycheck that will limit how much federal aid you can qualify for, but by all means, still fill out the FSAFA application. Another (and often better) resource for aid might be your employer. Professional associations also offer scholarships and stipends, and don’t forget the instituion itself - there are a lot of universities and online-only schools that offer scholarships.

You really should not worry about how a potential employer will accept your degree from an online program, so long as it is accredited by the right institution, especially if it is comes from a traditional university.

But ultimately, the decision to get a master’s degree boils down to whether you think an advanced degree of any sort will boost your career.

Here’s something that might help in that decision: According to the Census Bureau, median earnings for people with a graduate or professional degree was $61,000 in 2007. That’s compared to $47,000 for people with just a bachelor’s degree.

If you are currently employed, make sure that one of the first things you do is to talk with your human resources department. Ask what new opportunities additional schooling could open up or how it could affect your pay.

And don’t forget that even if your currently employer doesn’t offer you more money or a better position because of your new degree, any edge you can get is worth considering in this job market.

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So…what are YOU doing this summer? Here’s an idea…that pays!

Posted by bposton on February 9th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey my online degree dorm room buddies…

I know that it’s pretty cold outside, but let’s just relax and think about summer…

Warm sunshine, cool breezes…

WAIT - I need a JOB for this summer!!

If that kind of thinking has awaken you from your summertime daydream, then I’ve got some great news for you.

The wonderful folks at the Fresh Air Fund are hiring Camp Counderlors for the entire summer!

Fresh Air Fund camp counselors are young adults from all over the United States, representing diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, many international students spend their summers as Fresh Air Fund counselors. The most admirable quality in a Fresh Air Fund camp staff member - wherever they’re from - is a commitment to work with inner-city children.

The Fresh Air Fund also welcomes international staff who wish to apply. They’ll even help you with obtaining visas for summer work in the United States.

Can’t beat that!

So if you are thinking about that summer job (and you SHOULD be, should’nt you? ) Then head over to the Fresh Air Fund site to apply for any one of the many positions they have open:

http://freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/

later…

Ben

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