Reader’s Question:

I am working in one of the hotels here in East Seattle Washington WA. Work here is unpredictable, there are times when it can be really tiring but there are also times when we have nothing to do. I am thinking of getting an online college education. What course can I take?

Jada

East Seattle, WA

Hello, Jada, I’m glad to hear from you today. And it’s also nice that you’re thinking on ways to improve yourself and there is no better way than to get a college education.

I understand that your work requires you to be physically present in the hotel you work for in East Seattle Washington WA and that’s why you can’t go to a university. So the online education system is perfect for you. You get to work at it at the hours you dictate and if your boss allows you to, you can even work for your online college degree when there is a lull at work, or during breaks. When looking for an online degree, the default would be the industry you are now in.

If you are happy with your present job and want to go up the ladder, you might want to take an online college degree related to your line of work, which will give you more chances of getting promoted, or seek other opportunities elsewhere in the same line of work.

You might want to get online degree for business administration or management courses so that you can learn more about the business of managing a business, or there are also online degrees available for hotel and restaurant management. Basically, Jada, you can get online college degree for anything you might be interested in so just evaluate your options.

Tags: college online degree, earn degree online, online college education

Reader’s Question:

I am a retired professor and have heard of online degrees for college. I was intrigued because in my days, you couldn’t have a college degree without actually attending the classes. How do online college degrees work? I used to teach in Berkeley California CA.

Audrey

Berkeley, CA

Probably online college degree has gotten more recognition these days, but it’s actually been around for quite some time. But perhaps the nature of our life and society nowadays makes it more conducive for online education to thrive.

Many of us are usually tied up with work to pursue higher or a second education, or some of us may have been forced to provide for themselves early on, and therefore were not given the opportunity to finish their college education.

Those two categories I’ve mentioned are the ideal target for online college education. Online education affords the student flexibility in his schedule. Of course, that is not to say that online education will be less demanding than traditional schooling. In fact, it is just like going to a physical school with lectures and home works and examinations, just done through the internet. When you look at it closely, it can even be more taxing since you have to perform well in both your pursuit of online degree and your job, lest you let one of them suffer.

I am pretty sure that universities in Berkeley California CA will be offering this, but you can check the internet to be sure. Who knows, you might even want to teach in one of them, Audrey.

Tags: college online degree, university online degree, earn degree online

Reader’s Question:

Online colleges, do they really work? I can’t help but think that employers, at least here in Overland Park, Kansas, might look down on degrees earned through the internet. Can anyone comment on this?

Julius

Overland Park, KS

Did you know that distance education through course correspondence has actually existed since the late eighteen-hundred? A lot of people have taken distance learning as their primary means of education, and the invention of the internet has made this type of learning experience richer, more convenient and more accessible to many who are just unable to attend a traditional college/ university.

Over the years, more and more colleges and major universities have started offering degrees and classes online, the benefit is that this is just like taking regular college classes and subjects are accredited and transferable. I’m sure that if you search you’ll find a lot of reputable colleges and universities there in Overland Park, Kansas that are offering degrees online. As for employers looking down on someone who have earned an online degree, this may be a matter of how you convince your employer of the advantages you got and the skills you’ve learned from earning your degree online, such as time management skills, as well as the ability to work or learn with minimal supervision. It would also be a factor if your degree came from a major or reputable institution however it is more of what you have learned and how you can apply it, rather than how and where you got your degree, that should be the deciding factor for an employer to consider hiring you.

Tags: online colleges, online courses, online degree, online universities

Reader’s Question:

I would really like to finish my degree but my job requires me to stay here in Phoenix, Arizona, so I’m interested in getting to an online college instead, how do online colleges work?

Snyder
Phoenix, AZ

The structure and delivery of online classes really depends on the institution or university who will be providing the classes. Before, distance learning used to work through regular mail correspondence however, with the great improvements of internet technology, and ever increasing availability of faster internet connections had made distance education a practical and attractive way of earning a college degree.

The classes themselves differ, some universities such as the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, have classes lasting about five or six weeks which usually starts when an instructor sends an email to the students outlining the week’s topics and assignments. Short lectures can be posted online; students themselves are the one to manage their time in studying for the said topics and completing all related coursework. Some universities will actually have chat and video conferencing sessions, usually scheduled once a week where students get to be in a virtual classroom. Exams can be taken either online as well or more often students will actually have to go to the university on specified dates to take major examinations for their online course. Take note that most online courses are designed to be as flexible as possible for busy, working people however you have to have self-discipline in completing the work on your own.

Tags: online courses, online degree, online degree exams, phoenix university degree

Reader’s Question:

I have recently given birth and chose to leave my job here in Corpus Christi, Texas for the moment although I still have plans of going back to work, once my baby is big enough. Will an Online degree provide me the opportunity to get my career back?

Shane
Corpus Christi, TX

It is definitely good to show that, while your child is your priority, you are still able to maintain professional growth by earning an Online degree, preferably related to your field. An Online degree will surely be an advantage since it shows employers that you are able to multi-task and prioritize, raising a baby while still keeping up to date with your profession by studying Online. Due to the flexibility offered by Online learning, you would still be able to focus and enjoy time with your child, something that normally would be almost-impossible to do on a traditional university/ college setting.

Higher education is easily accessed in an online environment, allowing single, working mom’s or wives the opportunity to get that big break in advancing their careers, or getting a new position and of course, earning higher pay. You should look into the top universities there in Corpus Christi, Texas, if you are planning to go with a mixed online education approach. These mixed programs are great for people who still actually want to go to an actual college but prefers to learn virtually most of the time. If you really have a tight schedule then a purely online coursework will be best for you. Remember that you have to manage your time effectively in order to succeed in an online learning program. Even though you are given a lot of liberty in how you finish college, you still have to actually finish it so procrastination must be avoided.

Tags: online courses, online degree, online universities

Reader’s Question:

I currently have an exciting career here in Albany, New York, but I’m still hoping to finish college. Do you think an Online college/university would be able to credit those subjects/classes I already took back in school?

Fisher

Albany, NY

Most universities and educational institutions that offer Online degrees are able to credit those subjects you took back in school; this generally means that your average grade would need to meet the standards of the university / Online College you are applying to. Additionally, you can also earn part of your credit Online while still attending classes in a traditional school setting. This is especially beneficial for people who are actively pursuing a career without having to put gaps in earning their degree.

You can find detailed information about transferring subject credits, as well as any required grade point averages for admission on most Online university/ college websites. Search Google and you’ll actually see all the available colleges or universities offering Online courses for residents in Albany, New York. You should also get detailed instruction on all the necessary requirements you need to acquire or information you need to know on how which existing credits can be absorbed in your Online curriculum and which subjects you’ll still need to complete for your course. Note that not all Online colleges/ universities might be able to accept your earned transcript. It is best if you find an affiliated and reputable college/ university offering the Online course of your choice to increase your chances of getting your college credits accepted.

Tags: online colleges, online degree, online universities

Reader’s Question:

I want to learn a foreign language but will online learning make me fluent and cover the complexity of the language?

Diane

Bloomington, MN

I don’t like the idea of learning a language only from an online lesson or a single book. I think if you want to cover up the entire complexity of the language, then you need to do so from several and through various methods. This will also add up some diversity to your language learning process and take the boredom and frustration away.

Aside from free language lessons online, you can try playing educational games. These games are always fun, despite your age. Another way to improve vocabulary and memorize words is through the use of flashcards. Translated texts can also prove to be very useful, because you can see how grammar rules differ from your native language to the ones you’re learning at the moment. If possible, try visiting the country where the language you’re trying to learn is the native language. Even a week stay there will do wonders to your foreign language skills.

Most importantly, try to keep practicing if you want to be able to use it in the future. Or else, it will simply fade away.

Reader’s Question:

I am a single parent and I took online degree to finish my Bachelor’s degree. I still have time to look after my son but I get so frazzled with the work load. How can I overcome the stress?

Carol

Burnsville, MN

Your stress is caused by a variety of factors, including the often heavier-than-normal workload, as many online courses are compressed to enable a faster completion time.

One way to minimize stress is to make sure that your computer is in good working order. A lot online students have experienced a computer breakdown or malfunction the day of a final exam, or when a project is due. Installing anti-virus software like Norton to weed out viruses that may disrupt the speed of your computer is important. You should also upgrade your memory if your computer is older than three years.

Along with your computer, your own physical conditional is of course very important. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of sleep can also cause your system to break down when it is put under stress.

Remember, as a distant learner, the purpose is to have fun and enjoy your learning experience and complete coursework at your own pace. So always make sure you have adequate breaks in between your study sessions to talk on the phone, mingle with your family, grab a snack, or even read something humorous and unrelated to your course.

Reader’s Question:

Hi, I have studied liberal arts at a university here in Camden, New Jersey but I stopped two years ago and started working. I never got to choose a major and I would like to do it online. Can you give me some advice?

Lidia

Camden, NJ

You’re in luck, Lidia, because liberal arts based programs are the most popular. It’s one of the online degree programs which offers students the chance to take several subjects per semester in a wide variety of course work.

The question is have you decided on what program is right for you? If you haven’t, there are a lot of websites and review resources that can give you information on which program will suit your needs. If you have a definite interest when it comes to programs for online degree, there should be a school out there for you.

Another thing you should take into consideration in choosing an online degree is financial aid. A lot people are unaware that last year, a landmark federal law was passed allowing online universities to grant financial aid to students who don’t have a physical campus present. What makes this law significant is that you should now have your choice of school, with a financial aid package that is as competitive as a physical university.

Then, once you have found the online degree program that you’d like to pursue, it’s time to apply, and start with enrolment. This means that you will have to fill out some sort of application, and probably have transcripts forwarded to the required location.

Reader’s Question:

I would like to know if there is such thing as online accounting degree? I am planning to pursue one. Would you know if this is a good career choice? I would like to know what kind of employers would hire me if I have an accounting degree.

Francis

Tampa, FL

Hello there, Francis.

People who have accounting degree will have very diverse industries to choose from as most companies and businesses would need an accountant to make sure finances run smoothly.

Yes, you may be able to get accounting degree online if you just spend ample research time. This way, you will be able to exhaust all the necessary information about the existing schools that offer accounting degree online and get to compare their fees and programs.

Holders of accounting degree will be able to enjoy employment opportunities in appraisal and brokerage firms, accounting firms, non government organizations, not-for-profit organizations, retail stores, banks, and almost all business establishments.

You can earn your accounting degree online from accredited universities which offer associate, bachelor, and master degrees as well as accounting certificates for entry level accounting program. In the long run, you can also consider taking a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) course which will lead you to enjoy a very in-demand career path in the future. You can also earn degrees in finance, financial planning, or financial management online.

You may start shopping online for accredited universities. Most schools now expand their curriculum to include budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services.