Posts Tagged ‘Online Colleges’

Is Community College Right For You?

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

If you are like most high school seniors, you’ve spent a good deal of time exploring what it takes to find the right college.  Part of this process has no doubt been learning about private loans for college, college savings programs and financial aid and grants.  Just trying to understand the financial part of the college equation can be a great deal of serious work!

During this research, you may have discovered that you just can’t find a way to pay for a traditional four-year degree at a college or university.  You may also be worried that your grades are not going to be good enough to get you into one of the schools of your choice.  The good news is that if you fall into these categories, there are still good options.

The community college system is diverse, works well and is more popular than ever.  The inexplicable and continued rise in college tuition in the last few years has fed something a renaissance for community colleges.  Also if you are thinking that only large communities and cities have community colleges, then guess again.  The fact is that there are more community colleges than you might imagine, and the odds are good that there is one within driving distance of you.

Community colleges offer a great, if not fantastic, value for the money.  When compared to the increasingly astronomical tuition rates at private and even some state schools, community colleges are nothing short of a bargain, if not a super bargain!

Attending a community college for two years and then transferring to finish your degree can save you a massive amount of money.  Plus, if you don’t have the grades or the SAT scores to get into one of your top picks or any of your local schools, this could be a second chance!

If you consistently pull good grades in a community college, you should be able to transfer to a four-year university or college to complete your degree.  You will also have more time to find the right college and look into financial aid and grants as well.  Thanks to community colleges, thousands of students, of all ages, who could not otherwise attend college, have the opportunity to do so.

5 Key Ways You Could Benefit from Attending a Community College

  1. Earn credits to transfer to a four-year college or university
  2. Save money
  3. Have additional time to investigate how to pay for college
  4. Have additional time to explore what major you will choose
  5. Gain access to knowledgeable facility, professors and instructors who can help guide your education and career path

These are only some of the ways that you can benefit from attending a community college.  If you think the four-year university or college route is closed to you, then you should consider community college.  In short, community colleges have a great deal to offer.  Community colleges help countless people every year, and they can help you as well.

5 Online Degree Programs That Will Really Pay Off

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

When you’re trying to decide whether you should pursue an online degree program, there’s one question you want answered—will this be worth it? After all, no one wants to spend hundreds of hours and potentially thousands of dollars for a degree that goes nowhere. You need to be sure that there will be a job for you when you graduate—preferably one that pays well!

Consider your interests to find the best online degree program that will pay off!

Consider your interests to find the best online degree program that will pay off!

We have good news—My College Guide did your homework for you! Online degree programs targeted toward any of the five careers mentioned below are almost guaranteed to pay off! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they’re among the fastest growing professions in the country!

Scientifically inclined? Choose online degree programs in healthcare.

Registered nurses will be in high demand, with job growth percentages in the double digits! You can begin your career with an associate’s degree in nursing, but many nurses go on to get their bachelor’s or even master’s degree!

Medical assistants will also be sought after—especially as the baby boomer generation becomes elderly. The lowest paid medical assistants can receive all of their training on the job, but an associate’s degree will ensure you’re qualified for a broader range of (potentially higher paying) opportunities.

Doctors and surgeons always have a pretty healthy job outlook, but as the elderly population in the United States grows, so does the demand for physicians. And online degree programs can get you started!

Got a head for business? Choose one of these online degree programs.

Accountants have never lacked for opportunities. But job growth is expected to be higher than ever—increasing by more than 20 percent! To become an accountant, you’ll need to get a bachelor’s degree. However, to qualify for the highest-paying accountant jobs, you’ll need to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. The good news? Many online degree programs can help you prepare for it!

Management Analysts—also called consultants—will experience almost a 25 percent growth in job opportunities! If you’d like to help companies learn how to become more efficient and profitable, you should start by getting a bachelor’s degree in business. But to really hit pay dirt, you’ll want to get your MBA.

These are just a few of the many fast growing occupations in the United States. Do your research and you’re sure to find online degree programs that will quickly get you on your way to a rewarding career!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Evil Erin.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the best online degree programs to get you on the road to the right career for you!

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7 Invaluable iPad Apps for Distance Nursing Degree Students

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

My College Guide collected five of the most useful Apple iPad apps for distance nursing degree students. As an adult learner, you have most likely recognized the importance of multi-tasking. The iPad can be a great study tool when you are on the go — especially with the addition of these applications!

Distance Nursing Degree Students: Invaluable iPad Apps!

Quack712 / Antony Kwok

Medical Reference Apps for Distance Nursing Degree Students

When it comes to reference iPad applications, distance nursing degree students have quite a few choices! From free to paid, the medical apps below will go a long way in helping you prepare for what lies ahead.

Medscape – Medical reference, drug database for both name brand and generic options, this nursing app for the iPad even includes images! Get the scoops on common procedures in this handy and info-packed reference app. Did My College Guide forget to mention that it’s also free?

MediMath Medical Calculator – Don’t waste time trying to hunt down specific formulas in your college textbook. Using the MediMath Medical Calculator, you can easily reference 135 medical calculators and scoring tools. You’ll find plenty here! From APGAR score to Winter’s formula, this nursing iPad app could be just what you need!

Mediquations – An interface that differs slightly from MediMath Medical Calculator, this nursing app possesses over 200 formulas and scoring charts! Loads of information right at your fingertips. This could be a great supplement to your course textbook.

Micromedex Drug Information – Free is a good thing, especially when it contains more than 4500 search terms relating to drug information. Is that a good fit to your distance nursing degree or what? From directions, black box warnings, and even generic names, this free iPad medical app could just be your new best friend!

Study Tools for Nursing Students

Get familiar with the tools and terminology that you will need to know to advance in your distance nursing degree—and beyond! My College Guide found these interesting apps that could be great study tools.

3M™ Littmann® SoundBuilder — Sometimes, it’s the little things that help the most. Soundbuilder may seem like your basic free iPad app—but it is what it does that makes this one truly special! Learn to recognize the sounds of the heart, discover common problems and, more importantly, how to identify and treat them!

Med Mnemonics – Let’s face it: as a distance nursing degree student, you have a lot of memorization ahead of you! Make it easy on yourself. Using this iPad app, you can memorize the terms for subjects like anatomy, biochemistry, and even surgery. Perhaps the best feature of this medical app is that you can even add in your terms.

AnatomyLab – Only anatomy, not physiology, this iPad app is perfect for students studying for their distance nursing degree. Learn the parts of the body with detailed visual imagery. It’s applications like this that  were made for the iPad!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Subscribe via RSS or email and get information on distance nursing degree programs and find the right career for you!

Online Bachelor’s Degrees: A Wave of the Future

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Twenty years ago, if anyone told My College Guide that one day we could earn online bachelor’s degrees while sitting in our pajamas and sipping herbal tea, we would have told them they were being ridiculous. Well, fast forward twenty years and this dream is a reality! Adult students can realize their dreams of earning a degree that works for them.

With online bachelor's degrees, you can have your cake and eat it too!

emkeller / Emily

Online Bachelor’s Degrees Allow for Complete Flexibility

Are you a stay at home mom who can’t leave home every day? Do you need to keep your full-time job, yet long to further your career by earning a degree? Regardless of your walk of life, online bachelor’s degrees provide the busy, non-local student of all ages the chance to attend school and achieve the career or degree they desire!

Online Programs Offer Quality Education

Worried about the quality of online education? Potential students sometimes worry about distance learning schools and programs and whether they are equal in quality to in-class education. However, according to a study at California State University at Northridge:

  • Online students tested 20% higher than the students enrolled in their traditional learning programs.
  • Distance learning students generally spend 50% more time collaborating with other students online. This is a shocker!
  • Online learners are often students who possess more self-motivation and discipline (these are necessary traits to obtain an online bachelor’s degree)

The fact is that you can earn a quality education and achieve high grades in an online bachelor’s degree program. From an online business management degree to vocational careers, you can find it all online. You can succeed!

Formula for Success

Though studying via distance learning is the wave of the future and it is becoming very popular among potential students, it still requires a certain attitude and the ability to stay focused and disciplined. The main components to achieving success with online degree programs are motivation and determination. If you can work on your own schedule and continue to keep moving forward, you will completely nail it!

Step into the Future

Convinced yet? Online bachelor’s degrees truly are a wave of the future. Having the chance to work towards a degree program while staying at home or while continuing to bring in a full time income is a dream come true! Take advantage of this wave of the future and the flexibility it provides and realize your dream of earning a college degree.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on any online bachelor’s degree to find the right career for you!

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Balance Your University Online Degree Program: 5 Firefox Add-ons

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Balancing work and family with your university online degree program can seem overwhelming. That’s where your web browser can come in handy! Using a web browser like Mozilla Firefox can help you get organized and improve your distance learning study habits — so you don’t fall behind in your work, online studies, or family commitments.

Your web browser can help you balance your university online degree program!

aretadobem / Areta do Bem

My College Guide collected together a sampling of add-ons that can help you do every day tasks faster and more efficiently. From list-making add-ons to the way you read, we’ve got the lowdown on what your browser has been missing!

Time Saving Add-ons

WebMail  Notifier – You don’t have time to waste! Keep from updating your inbox constantly and receive an instant update message instead. Using WebMail Notifier, you can find out if your Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or other email account has received new messages—so you can spend more time working in your university online degree program and less time clicking through windows.

AutoPager – Instead of clicking ahead to read more of an article, AutoPager will load it up for you! Get what you need without a bunch of waiting around. AutoPager works on the sites that you use most: Yahoo, Google, Digg, and even the New York Times. Spend more time on your university online degree program and less time waiting!

List-Making Add-ons

ReadItLater – If you find yourself becoming distracted by the latest on Mashable and LifeHacker when you should be searching for research paper resources for your university online degree program, you might want to use this extension! Simply click the checkmark and it is saved so you can easily ReadItLater—without cluttering your bookmarks with something you may never need to see again.

list.it – Composing the perfect discussion post for your online classes but suddenly remembered you need to pick up a gallon of milk? Don’t stop while you’re ahead! Instead, consider using list.it so you can simply write down a little note to yourself right from your browser. Fast, easy—and sure beats digging out the paper and pencil!

…And Then?

Stylish — So this one won’t save you time, but it sure will perk up your browsing experience! You’ll be spending more time online now than ever in your university online degree program. Why not make your browser (and then some) a bit more Stylish? The Stylish add-on enables you to customize some of your most used sites (Yahoo, Facebook, Google, etc.) with skins and themes.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the right university online degree program and career for you!

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Accreditation and Distance Learning Colleges

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

You have probably heard the cliché, “distance learning colleges are not real schools”. Are you wondering if you will become the next victim of the ever-burgeoning diploma mill scam? Yes, diploma mills (fake schools that sell degrees) definitely exist but most distance learning schools are legitimate and not trying to rip you off.

Considering distance learning colleges? Earn your diploma!

lumaxart / Scott Maxwell

OK, so it’s not as simple as picking out the pesky blue M&M’s from the “superfly”, original colors, but it is definitely easier than you may think! There are a few things you must find out about any online school you are researching.

First, just to ease your skepticism and fears about distance learning colleges, here is a fact you may want to know: According to a study from the DOE (Department of Education) in 2009, “Students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

Of course, how you learn will differ from person to person depending on your work ethic, environment, etc., but it is interesting to see that distance learning can be just as rewarding as traditional schooling!

Distance Learning Colleges Accreditation

When a school is found to meet standard criteria set by an agency, it is then said to be “accredited”. Accreditation will protect you from diploma mills and “shady” organizations; therefore, knowing the accreditation of the distance learning colleges in which you are interested will help you sort the good from the bad. Still worried?

Did you know that not much difference exists between the subject, materials or tests for in-class learning vs. distance learning as long as the school is accredited? So the age old question becomes…how can you determine whether or not a school is fully accredited? Here’s how!

This process is simple, easy, and shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes. Are you ready?

Gather a list of the distance learning colleges you want to check.

Go to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) website and use the following helpful link: “Accreditation/schools.”

Click the graphic to search and type in the name of each college and the site will take you to the information you need.

Make sure to click on the right school and verify the name, address, and phone number with the information you already have.

You can also check to see if the school is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) since a school could be accredited by an agency or organization recognized by either the DOE or CHEA. Simply go to the CHEA website, accept the agreement, and then type in the name of the school.

Putting it all Together

Is your head spinning yet? No worries! Take this process slow and understand that many adults going back to school are asking the same questions you are. Before you know it, you will be enjoying all the benefits of attending distance learning colleges and you will forget all about the preparation. Happy learning!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on distance learning colleges and find the right career for you!

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Number Crunchers Wanted: Accounting Degree Programs

Friday, March 18th, 2011

If you love numbers you may want to take a look into accounting degree programs! Adding, subtracting, and making sense of numbers is the chief job of an accountant. Go back to school and do something you love!

If you love numbers you might want to look into accounting degree programs!

chrisinplymouth

What’s Involved in Accounting Degree Programs?

Accounting majors don’t just “do math.” He or she may also provide consulting service for clients or instruct them in how to make the tax process run a little smoother and may choose to focus more on one of these specialized areas.

Where Can You Work?

Your clients can range from government organizations, corporations, non-profit organizations, and even individuals. You can choose to become a public or private accountant.

In a recessed economy, companies need your services more than ever! Companies want to stay on top of finances and find ways to save themselves money. Accounting degree programs can be your way to stability!

What Direction Will You Take?

Accounting degree programs will give you more than a few career choices! You can decide which area you would like to focus on, public or private, taxes or consulting. You may choose to become a:

clip_image003 Government Auditor and Accountant – Accounting for local, State, or even the Federal Government will mean dissecting the files of government agencies. It could also mean working closely with various businesses or even people who work in fields that are monitored by the government. You may analyze the budget of a particular sector or work as an Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, agent.

clip_image003[1] Management or Private Accountant This branch specializes in analyzing financial information at a specific company. They are involved in managing the costs associated with running the company, like the budget. They may work in a team and develop financial reports to share the financial status of the company with stockholders, tax authorities, and other groups.

clip_image003[2] Internal auditors – Employment at a specific company may mean verifying how accurately that company is portrayed. You may need to look for financial discrepancies and mismanagement: even fraud. This side of the field means getting to know the inner-workings of a company and to evaluate them for their effectiveness. You may need to know not only the operation guidelines of that specific company, but any governmental restrictions as well. Don’t be put-off by the fancy title: internal auditors and information technology auditors or Compliance Auditors are essentially the same thing but with a slightly different daily focus.

It all adds up! Accounting degree programs are a great choice for any adult going back to college that wants a challenging career with a monetary benefit to match.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on accounting degree programs and find the right career for you!  Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

What is Online Education

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Have you been wondering, “What is online education?” But aren’t really sure what it means? My College Guide is here to help! Online education is a different style of learning that doesn’t happen on-campus—this kind of higher education takes place in your home!

What is online education? A flexible way to earn a degree so you can better balance family and work!

Our Lady of Disgrace

If you have an internet connection and a desire to go back to school, online education might be just what you are looking for! Instead of meeting for classes at specific times at the college campus, you will simply log on to your computer and your classroom site by whatever days and times your online class professor instructs.

What is online education? A different way to take on college classes while juggling family and work commitments. With online college courses, you don’t have to set aside specific hours of the day for school—you can complete assignments as you please while working toward an actual degree!

Balance Your Career and Your Life

For non-traditional students, those aged 25 years or older, answering the question “what is online college” and “is it right for me?” won’t necessarily be easy. There’s your day job, your family, friends—maybe you have a schedule that frequently changes. But, online education works with you, not against you, and is a great way for adults considering returning back to school to obtain a degree on their terms.

The Right Fit for Non-Traditional Students

You work on your classes when you can, fulfilling specific graduation requirements like at any brick and mortar college or university. Online education comes in all shapes and sizes—you’ll find varied college majors like business degree programs to arts and design programs and even outside activities that online students are able to participate in (if they live close enough, of course!).

Hopefully, this article has helped you answer the question, “What is online education?” Now all that’s left is to decide which online college is right for you! Subscribe for free to My College Guide to receive instant blog updates–and stay on top of the latest information just for adults going back to school, like you!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. What is online education? Get more information and find out! Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

University of South Florida Teaching Internship with a Virtual Twist

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Don’t think that internships won’t help you out in the real world – at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, the College of Education now provides online training so USF grads can learn new technology in addition to the traditional internship experience! We met up with Steve Sanders, Director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, to give you the low down to this unique twist to the internship experience.

Students participating in the virtual teaching internship at the University of South Florida

Courtesy of the University of South Florida

We’ve heard of internships before but we’ve never heard of a virtual teaching internship! What is it?
The College of Education at the University of South Florida has teamed with Florida Virtual Schools (FLVS) to provide our undergraduate teacher education students with practical experience in teaching middle and high school students online. Technology has certainly transformed the way we teach and learn. Giving our teacher education candidates the opportunity to learn to teach online will provide them with the knowledge and experience to effectively teach K-12 students in virtual settings. In the virtual internship our teacher education candidates are paired with certified teachers employed by FLVS and share in the responsibility of teaching high school students who are enrolled in FLVS online classes. The experience is similar to a typical face to face internship, the difference being instruction occurs online and not in the traditional school setting. Teacher education candidates plan lessons, communicate with students, and assist with assessment of learning, all online.

So – Education Majors learn how to teach online? This sounds pretty rare! How does this program work?
The virtual internship experience at USF is in addition to a traditional internship where students work face to face with students in schools. Virtual internships are rare and USF and FLVS have been pioneers in this effort. USF College of Education students first participate in a series of online modules introducing them to FLVS online systems. They are then paired with a cooperating teacher from FLVS, and the cooperating teacher assigns these beginning teachers to high school students to begin online instruction. University students communicate with their high school students daily and monitor progress, introduce new content, and assess learning. This process is supervised by a university professor and a FLVS cooperating teacher just as a traditional internship experience would be.

Beautiful University of South Florida Campus.

kellogg / Amy Kellogg

What USF majors have this opportunity?
Undergraduate teacher education students in physical education, foreign language, and master’s students in school counseling are currently piloting the program. Other subject areas will be added as the program moves forward.

How long does this virtual teaching internship last?
The length of the virtual internship experience varies depending on the teacher preparation program in which the student is enrolled. For example, students in physical education do virtual teaching with high school students who are taking the state required physical education course. Undergraduate physical education majors are scheduled to be involved with virtual coursework 8 hours each week during one semester. They participate in this experience along with other courses required during that semester. Those eight hours could be any time during the day based on the schedules of the high school students.

What skills does this program teach or enhance?
Teacher education candidates participate in a number of activities and experiences prior to and during the virtual internship. The list below includes a variety of activities and experiences undergraduate students participate in during virtual internships.

Online training about the learning management system that houses the courses and how to maneuver through the course shell
Elluminate training, assigning of individual Elluminate room/account and instruction on how to use, how to host live Elluminate sessions, how to upload a presentation, how to record, etc…)
The interns learn about the course they will assist in teaching via a course training module, which covers course content and course assignments
Interns grade student assignments and help the cooperating teacher with student assessment
Interns create lesson presentations and present the information in a live Elluminate tutoring sessions and also record the sessions in Elluminate
Anything else you’d like to add about this program?
In addition to our virtual internship experiences for undergraduate teacher preparation students, practicing teachers may enroll in the College of Education Virtual Digital Educator Certificate Program that we are offering on the graduate level beginning January 2011.

Anything else that our college bound students need to know?
As more and more middle and high school students take online courses those future teachers interested in competing in the teaching job market will find that having the skills and experiences to teach online will become crucial to employment. College bound students should make sure the university teacher preparation program they plan on attending includes instruction and experience in teaching online.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

The Best of The Best: My College Guide’s 6 Most Popular Posts of 2010

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

What a year it’s been! My College Guide has gathered up all your favorite posts from the last year for easy bookmarking. But first, My College Guide is going to go all sappy on you for a minute and thank you for liking us on Facebook, for following us on Twitter, and for subscribing to our RSS or email list. It’s been fun! Now, without further ado, take a peek at the past year’s treasures and your favorite college related posts!

These pet friendly colleges let you bring your favorite pet to campus!

Adam Foster | Codefor

You Can Take Them With You: Pet Friendly Colleges and Universities –Go beyond a tiny little fish tank! Cats, dogs, and a few other unusual animals can be found in these pet friendly dorm rooms. Would you like to room with a rooster?

Colleges for Low Income Students: Free Tuition, No Loans, and Full Rides – Are you considered a low-income student? These colleges have your needs in mind. No loans packages or full rides for qualifying students mean you can graduate from college debt-free!

51 Four Year Colleges and Universities with Online Bachelor’s Degrees – Looking for a way to brighten your future but don’t have time to attend at a college campus? Many four year colleges and universities now offer online bachelor’s degrees! Check out our large list to get started.

Super List of College Scholarship Websites – Looking for college scholarships? My College Guide made your search so much easier: we’ve got a great list of college scholarship websites. It’s always a good idea to use more than one scholarship website – it helps boost your chances of finding that hidden gem!

Factors of College Admission or How to Get Into Your Dream School – Your GPA and standardized test scores are important, but they are only a part of the college admission puzzle! Make sure you don’t focus so much on your SAT’s or ACT’s that you neglect these other important factors of college admission!

How to Apply to College without Paying a Fee – If you don’t like the idea of dropping $40 here and $60 here in college admission fees (especially if your chance for admission is a toss-up), you might want to take a look at this article! My College Guide has tips to help you get those hefty application fees waived!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!