|
Earning a bachelor’s degree is a requirement for many
of the best jobs out there. Whether you’re interested
in psychology or computer science, animation or fashion design,
earning a bachelor’s degree is the first step toward
securing your dream job. Dropping everything to attend school
for four years isn’t a possibility for many working
adults and parents of young children. Thankfully, online colleges
make it possible to earn a bachelor’s degree entirely
online. When you earn an online bachelor’s degree, you
won’t have to worry about relocating, commuting, paying
for childcare, or losing your job.
If you’ve always thought online college might be right
for you, but you aren’t sure how to get started, here’s
how the process works from start to finish.
1. Request information from different online colleges.
The Online
Education channel on our site lists various accredited
online colleges, and many more online colleges exist that
are not accredited. The only way for a prospective student
to sort out the good from the bad and to choose a program
is to request information from different schools. By requesting
this initial information, students can also see what types
of programs are available and how different schools structure
their online courses.
2. Complete a FAFSA.
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid,
and as the name suggests, filling it out is completely free.
The FAFSA asks for data about income, marital status, number
of dependents, military service, and a whole slew of personal
information. If you’ve never filled out a FAFSA before,
be prepared to spend up to a few hours working on it.
Filling out a FAFSA is about as much fun as a root canal,
but it’s necessary for students who cannot pay for tuition
out-of-pocket. Unless you’ve got a ton of money burning
a hole in your pocket, you’re going to need to pay for
school somehow. The FAFSA is the only way to qualify for federal
grant and loan money. In addition, some schools use FAFSA
information to determine financial need when awarding scholarships.
3. Receive financial aid information from the schools.
Once you complete your FAFSA, you will have the option to
send your information to schools. This is where collecting
information ahead of time comes in handy. Send your information
to one or several schools on your list, and wait to see what
the schools send you in terms of a financial aid package.
Your financial aid package will have a breakdown of loans,
grants, and scholarships you qualify for. Getting a financial
aid document from several schools will allow you to compare
these packages to see what schools will offer you the most
free money and how much you will owe when you graduate.
4. Choose a program.
Your ultimate decision on which school you want to attend
will likely depend on finances and a combination of other
factors. Besides thinking about money, this is when you really
need to consider the specifics of each program to choose one
that’s right for you. For example, are you looking for
an accelerated program? Does your potential school have regional
accreditation, which is the highest form of accreditation?
Are textbooks included in the cost of tuition, or is that
considered an extra expense?
5. Apply.
Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to
pay the application fee and apply. When you initial requested
information, you were probably contacted by an admissions
advisor. If you have not yet been contacted by your school
of choice, give them a call and ask to speak to an admissions
advisor. This is the person who will walk you through the
details of how to apply and what to do after you are accepted.
6. Enroll in classes.
Your advisor will also help you choose courses in your degree
program. You may be assigned an academic advisor for this,
or your admissions advisor will follow through with you to
help you stay on the right track.
7. Participate in online discussions, write papers,
socialize with peers, ask your professors lots of questions,
and generally get the most out of your education.
Earning an online bachelor’s degree is like earning
a campus-based degree in many ways. Students participate in
all aspects of a “regular” class, but they do
it virtually instead of in the same physical space. For some
students, online classes are particularly challenging, because
it takes a ton of motivation and self-discipline to keep logging
in and putting in the hard work while also attending to everyday
life.
8. Keep in close contact with your academic advisor
and the financial aid department.
Throughout your online degree program, you should periodically
check in with your advisor to make sure you’re fulfilling
all of your degree requirements. You will also need to complete
a new FAFSA every year to keep receiving financial aid.
9. Graduate and be very proud of your accomplishment!
Many online schools hold graduation ceremonies that students
can attend either in-person or online. When you are close
to finishing, find out what your school offers in the way
of celebration. You will have earned it with all of your hard
work!
10. Use your school’s career services center
to help you find a job.
Earning an online bachelor’s degree doesn’t mean
much if you can’t find a job after you graduate. Use
all the school’s resources, including career services,
to help you achieve your final goal. Don’t be afraid
to keep in touch with classmates who can alert you to job
openings, and ask your favorite professors for letters of
recommendation.
Begin your search for online colleges and click on the schools
that interest you to request more information directly from
the school.
If this sounds interesting, take a look at all the schools
that offer an Online
Bachelors Degree
|
