The Online Degree Dorm Room

What did YOU do this summer? Some of us helped out a bunch of great kids…

Posted by bposton on September 22nd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hi there my little dorm room buddy.

Now that Fall has officailly begun, I was wondering how everyone spent their summer. Hopefully it was a great one full of sun and fun.

I do know of a few that actually did have a wonderful summer, and for one I was happy to play a very small part in their stories.

I’m talking about the nearly 8,000 kids who attended a Fresh Air Fund camp this summer, and had the time of their lives.

You’ve probably read a few of my posts about the Fresh Air Fund before, but just in case, they are an independent, not-for-profit agency, that has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877

Yep, you read that right - 1 8 7 7!

Want to know how it all started? Well there’s a great story about that on their website that you can read HERE.

Oh, and while you’re there, you can see a great video “highlight reel” of some those 8000 kids having a great time this past summer.

If you ever wanted to feel like you’ve “made a difference”, then do something for a child. Trust me

And one of the best things you can do is give a child a great summer! So head on over to The Fresh Air Fund and check out how you can help.

Believe me, it’s well worth it

Ben

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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.

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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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Poor ecomony sends adults flocking to online degrees

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

It’s almost a fact of nature that when layoffs go up and the economy goes down, the enrollment at online degree colleges go up.

Case in point. Drexel University recently accounced that it had completed its highest enrollment ever during the 2008-2009 academic year. Drexel Online saw a record 20 percent growth in enrollment from the past year.

A 2008 survey by the Sloan Consortium states that online school enrollment increased more than 12 percent from the previous year. The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide finds approximately 3.94 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall of 2007.

So are you considering heading back to school. Well, you’re certainly not alone. Adults of every age are trying to find work in a stable industry or government sector (like teaching), and young professionals are decided to ride out the recession in grad school so they can come out with a more competitive degree when things start to turn around.

And unlike the typical high school senior, these folks don’t care that much about the great the meal plans are or how pretty the campus looks. They care about cost, convenience and flexibility.

So make sure that when you start looking at the myriad of online degree programs out there for adults, keep these options in mind:

Degree programs that offer multiple start dates and evening courses.

For example, online MBA programs typically meet one evening each week with occasional course offerings on Saturdays. Some offer semester-long classes, and other offer inter-session courses that are intense four-weekend electives. 

Hybrid courses that mix online and classroom time:
Another option is to attend a school that offers both online and classroom courses. These may be better accepted by employers.

Ease of testing out of classes and/or credit for experience:
Some colleges allow students to test out of some courses. And the fee to test out is much less that the free for the credits. And of course you can say a ton of time as well.

Now, most schools do not give automatic credit for work experience, but here’s a tip - ask your professors about doing some special research on topics that are based on your background and experience. You can also to demonstrate your knowledge with a presentation or portfolio of your work. And there are organizations who provide training programs that colleges will award credit for, such as the American Council on Education, the American Management Association, etc. 

Scholarships and grants for adult students, financial aid deadlines, and employer tuition reimbursement options:
The full tution for going back to school is a lot, but don’t let that deter you. Make sure to apply for federal assistance by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before April 1. State and institutional aid is also determined by the information on this form. And once you are a student, check into the many institutions that offer recognition scholarships for achievement.

Check into Federal or State programs that offers dislocated worker funding for professionals who’ve been laid off and want to seek more education. 

The online education industry is thriving, and online schools are becoming a popular and attractive education option for prospective students of all ages. So check out your options on how to circumvent the current recession, save time and money — and get a jump on your career goals.

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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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Do I need an IPhone to be a Gator?

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

OK, since my daughter (and a lot of my money) when to the University of Florida, when I read this story, I just had to pass it along to all my dorm room buddies…

Looks like UF announced recently that for students enrolling in one of it’s programs would be required to own either an IPhone or Ipod Touch. It seems that UF is the second university to require the Apple product.

According to information on the College of Pharmacy website, all students entering UF’s PharmD students must “have a iPod touch (or iPhone) and a computer meeting minimum UF and College of Pharmacy (COP) requirements,” 

Now, don’t get me wrong, UF is a great school (in my humble opinion ). It’s usually ranked in the top 10 every year by US News and World Report. The school began offering its Doctor of Pharmacy online degree program way back in 1994, and now, according to the school, this program has become one of the sought after pharmacy programs around. 

But, an IPhone? Give me a break. Why do I have to go out and get an Iphone (and subscribe to AT&T’s lousy service to boot)?

Sure, health care is one of the more recession proof career paths out there, and evidently, Apple’s developers have added a ton of software apps like medical reference applications, blood glucose monitor accessories, and the like. But why make it required?

UF is the second school to post this type of requirement. Last May the University of Missouri said that beginning this fall, all of its journalism students will be required to own an iPhone or iPod touch.

So what’s going on? Well, a little research uncovered that UF later announced that they would not actually enforce the requirement, and that they only listed it so that students would have an idea of what to budget for in their estimates of financial need.

What? Students actually budget?

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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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Posted by bposton on June 25th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Just the other day I was blogging about the US Pell Grant and how it was being “beefed up” so to speak to help more students struggling to find the funds to finish college.

Well here is another avenue that you can consider. Grants offered by the institution itself.

Case in point. Ellis University, has announced what it calls an “Opportunity Grant Program” to make its degree programs more affordable to students across the globe.

The Opportunity Grant Program offers qualified students funding on a per credit basis, and is available to eligible new or continuing students for coursework that begins with the June 29th term.

The thing I like about this particular Grant program, is that it’s available for the student through the completion of his or her degree program. Of course, to remain eligible, the student must be and remain in good academic standing with the University.

Who is Ellis University?

Ellis University is an online university that offers certificates, undergraduate and master’s programs in a variety of disciplines. Based in Chicago, Illinois, they are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and they are a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.

For more information, visit www.ellis.edu or call (877) 355-4762.

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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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Privacy Policy

Posted by bposton on June 22nd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

The Online Degree Dorm Room takes your privacy seriously. This privacy policy describes what personal information we collect and how we use it. See this privacy policy primer to learn more about privacy policies in general.

Routine Information Collection

All web servers track basic information about their visitors. This information includes, but is not limited to, IP addresses, browser details, timestamps and referring pages. None of this information can personally identify specific visitors to this site. The information is tracked for routine administration and maintenance purposes.

Cookies and Web Beacons

Where necessary, The Online Degree Dorm Room uses cookies to store information about a visitor's preferences and history in order to better serve the visitor and/or present the visitor with customized content.

Advertising partners and other third parties may also use cookies, scripts and/or web beacons to track visitors to our site in order to display advertisements and other useful information. Such tracking is done directly by the third parties through their own servers and is subject to their own privacy policies.

Controlling Your Privacy

Note that you can change your browser settings to disable cookies if you have privacy concerns. Disabling cookies for all sites is not recommended as it may interfere with your use of some sites. The best option is to disable or enable cookies on a per-site basis. Consult your browser documentation for instructions on how to block cookies and other tracking mechanisms. This list of web browser privacy management links may also be useful.

Special Note About Google Advertising

Any advertisements served by Google, Inc., and affiliated companies may be controlled using cookies. These cookies allow Google to display ads based on your visits to this site and other sites that use Google advertising services. Learn how to opt out of Google's cookie usage. As mentioned above, any tracking done by Google through cookies and other mechanisms is subject to Google's own privacy policies.

Contact Information

Concerns or questions about this privacy policy can be directed to bposton@bellsouth.net for further clarification.

This privacy policy was generated by the Privacy Policy for WordPress plugin.

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Privacy Policy

Posted by bposton on June 22nd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

The Online Degree Dorm Room takes your privacy seriously. This privacy policy describes what personal information we collect and how we use it. See this privacy policy primer to learn more about privacy policies in general.

Routine Information Collection

All web servers track basic information about their visitors. This information includes, but is not limited to, IP addresses, browser details, timestamps and referring pages. None of this information can personally identify specific visitors to this site. The information is tracked for routine administration and maintenance purposes.

Cookies and Web Beacons

Where necessary, The Online Degree Dorm Room uses cookies to store information about a visitor's preferences and history in order to better serve the visitor and/or present the visitor with customized content.

Advertising partners and other third parties may also use cookies, scripts and/or web beacons to track visitors to our site in order to display advertisements and other useful information. Such tracking is done directly by the third parties through their own servers and is subject to their own privacy policies.

Controlling Your Privacy

Note that you can change your browser settings to disable cookies if you have privacy concerns. Disabling cookies for all sites is not recommended as it may interfere with your use of some sites. The best option is to disable or enable cookies on a per-site basis. Consult your browser documentation for instructions on how to block cookies and other tracking mechanisms. This list of web browser privacy management links may also be useful.

Special Note About Google Advertising

Any advertisements served by Google, Inc., and affiliated companies may be controlled using cookies. These cookies allow Google to display ads based on your visits to this site and other sites that use Google advertising services. Learn how to opt out of Google's cookie usage. As mentioned above, any tracking done by Google through cookies and other mechanisms is subject to Google's own privacy policies.

Contact Information

Concerns or questions about this privacy policy can be directed to bposton@bellsouth.net for further clarification.

This privacy policy was generated by the Privacy Policy for WordPress plugin.

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