Essential Tips When Searching for an Online Degree

Transcription

1 5 Essential Tips When Searching for an Online Degree American College of Technology 2700 N. Belt Hwy St. Joseph, Missouri 64506

2 Introduction Finding a reputable, online degree program can sometimes be a challenge in today s world. Many colleges and universities have made the leap into the realm of online education, knowing their students are looking for affordable and accessible education opportunities. This has resulted in a number of school programs seeking to meet the growing demand for such services. Some are good. And well, others are not so good. The following list of criteria will ensure you are able to sort out the bad apples from the good and ultimately make the best decision for you. 1 - Accreditation In order for a school to be considered accredited there are certain academic standards that must be met and kept. Such status also speaks to the quality of education and workforce preparedness which some employers place great importance upon. The colleges that have such a status granted to them usually proudly display this fact. There are some instances where phony accreditations from bogus or non-reputable institutions exist, so you ll want to make sure the colleges you are reviewing are legitimate. An easy way to do this is to check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the Department of Education. The Department of Education has a useful tool called College Navigator that allows students to verify such information. 2 - Curriculum and Credits Prior to enrolling in any online college program, you will want to make sure and verify what existing credits you may have and whether they will transfer to your school of choice. Another important question to ask is, if by chance you were to change colleges, if other schools will accept your credits. The issue of transfer credits and whether other schools will accept them is an aspect of online degrees that catches many students by surprise. Many schools will only accept credits they deem as satisfactory for their own academic standards. Be sure to ask these questions of your schools of choice before moving forward.

3 3 - Technical and Academic Support Services Finding an online school that offers the technical and academic support necessary for you to succeed is very important. Prior to selecting your school of choice, do some research and find out who is going to be available to help you out and how often. Make sure the school you choose will be ready and available to answer the questions you may have and give you the support you need. The more transparent and reponsive the school is about these services and their ability to serve you, the better experience you will ultimately have. 4 - Financial Aid Services Financial aid can be one of those more confusing aspects of any enrollment process. Be sure to fully understand what financial aid packages you qualify for and what they entail before signing anything. Be especially wary of attempts by the financial aid counselors to pressure you to take out private loans to finance your degree. The school s readiness and willingness to answer the tough, important questions you may have is a clear indication of whether or not they are truly there to help you, or to help themselves. 5 - Success Rates Graduation rates can tell you a lot about an online college. A high success rate is indicative of strong academic support for their students and a low rate of student loan default can tell you very quickly the school places emphasis on protecting the student and providing sound advice. Another red flag to keep an eye out for is low employment success rate for graduates. Make sure the school you are going to attend has a Career Services Department that can help you effectively transition back into the workforce with your new degree. In Conclusion A little bit of research up front can save you a lot of grief in the long term. Furthering your education with an online degree is an exciting step toward a profitable future. Asking the right questions can help take the stress and uncertainty out of such a decision and help you focus on choosing the right school and program for you. To put these questions to the test, why not give the American College of Technology a call? We ll be glad to answer any and all of the above questions and more.

4 Why American College of Technology? ACOT is affordable, accessible, and accredited. Highly competitive tuition rates - far less than the national average Courses are 100% online, live, interactive, and recorded to fit your schedule Choose from a great selection of leading industry accredited courses, certificates, diplomas, Associates, Bachelors and Masters degrees Easily apply and qualify for scholarships that encourage debt-free education Take advantage of our unmatched ability to convert your existing transfer credits Military spouses and dependents have access to special discounts Voted Military Friendly four years running And so much more! Our mission is your success. We ve assembled a fantastic team of world-class educators and staff members that will passionately help you pursue your goals. We ll be honored to help you accomplish them. So don t put it off any longer! Contact us today to see if we are the right school for you.

5 "Whether you are fresh out of high school, seeking career advancement, or a soldier transitioning back to civilian life... an accredited, online education is one of the best investments you can make toward your future." - Lute Atieh, ACOT Chief Operations Officer Still not sure? Read some testimonials of students who are loving the ACOT experience! I highly recommend this college. The instructors and classes are top notch and they truly care about the students. - Shannon Rose, ACOT Student Awesome College!! Very easy to transfer other college transcripts here. Going into my second year. Thanks ACOT, you make it simple, yet challenging to further my degree while working a full time career. - Jeffrey Maines, ACOT Student ACOT is a great online school and the instructors and support staff are very supportive to the students need to succeed in passing the coursework. Virtual is the way to go. - Hattie Bolar, ACOT Student