I’m a full-time mother and I’m re-considering to finish a degree in college here in New York. While I don’t have anyone yet to look after my kids, I plan to just get an online degree, but how do I choose a legal online degree provider?

Princess

Babylon, NY

It is very important for you to distinguish those legal institutions in New York or anywhere in the US that can be able to provide you an online degree. The foremost thing that you would have to do is to verify the accreditation of an institution you are considering to get your online degree from. The US Education Department gives out that accreditation to legal educational organizations in the country and they even have connections and partners all over the world, particularly in Europe and Australia. Make sure that an online school is acknowledged by the proper department of the government.

An alternative way to check if a University is legal is through the United State Council for accreditation operating under the Higher Education Department. In the event that a University is legal, they online degree they offer is also legal. You could seek help of the Diploma Mill Police as well that can validate the Internet Institutes that offer online education and providing degree.

A lot of people have endured hardships because they failed to choose a legal online school. Luckily for you, those unreal degrees could not serve you in any way in your pursuit for career advancement. For that reason, you need to do some research and look for a trustworthy Website that is a real provider of online degree.

I am seriously considering getting a degree online since I don’t have much time, what with my job here in Mississippi, but I am just hesitant because I don’t know if the degrees offered are really legitimate. Can anyone enlighten me on this matter?

Shayne

Biloxi, MS

The Internet is actually like another world on its own, and like in the real world, you cannot just trust everything that you see in there. Some universities found on the Internet would offer to send you a degree for a certain amount that you would have to pay them even though the degrees they offer are not legitimate and would not be accepted in the job market. This kind of universities is what we typically call as diploma mills. You have to be very careful in choosing the online university from where you would want to obtain your degree because in case you get your degree from a diploma mill and use it for employment or promotion, you might get into trouble and be faced with charges of fraud.

But you should not lose faith on online universities even in the presence of these diploma mills. You just have to seek out on the Internet an online university that is recognized by an accrediting agency recognized nationally or by an institutional accrediting agency that is found there in Mississippi. These accrediting agencies should in effect be also recognized by the United States Department of Education. The online universities that give legitimate degrees, along with the degrees they offer, are usually included in the Secretary of Education’s published list of establishments that provide quality higher education.

For more information about this issue, you could just check out the Web site of the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

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?  I was really hoping to find free college classes, but I guess I am just dreaming

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 enrollment. This means that you will have to fill out some sort of application, and probably have transcripts forwarded to the required location. You MIGHT be able to get your employer to pay for your college classes, so in a sense you are not really dreaming. My employer paid half of my college class tuition.