Monday, February 5, 2007

Free Online College and Graduate School Admission Essay Help.

Don't be intimidated by the essay portion of the school's admission application. While most schools require an essay, you can and will do well if you spend a little time preparing. EssayEdge.com offers a free online admission essay course. If you need more help, they will even edit your essay for you.

Free Online College and Graduate School Admission Essay Help.
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Put Harvard-Educated Editors to Work for You!
Business School Essay SecretsEssayEdge.com contains thousands of pages of free admissions essay advice by Harvard-educated editors.
Business school applicants face a uniquely difficult challenge, since most programs require a series of essays rather than a single, comprehensive personal statement. This fact alone should demonstrate the importance that business schools place on your written responses. Part of the reason for this extra required writing is that business schools place a higher emphasis on practical experience. Academic ability may still be the number-one element, but it's not enough to get you into a school, just as it's not enough to guarantee your success in the business world. Business schools pay careful attention to personal qualities, including your leadership, communication skills, initiative, vision, and many more. Grades and scores do not demonstrate this side of you, and neither does a resume.
So your admission will depend greatly on your ability to convey your experiences and goals in written form. Self-assessment is an important part of this process, as is a careful review of both your life and what you have done professionally. Many successful professionals have never had to articulate their accomplishments before and now for the first time must communicate this information in a very clear, concise, powerful manner that is accessible to anyone, even without knowledge of their field. The ability to convey both the substance and significance of one's work life is crucial for all applicants.
As the founder of EssayEdge.com, the Net's largest admissions essay preparation company, I have seen firsthand the difference a well-written application essay can make. Through its free online admissions essay help course and 300 Harvard-educated editors, EssayEdge.com helps tens of thousands of applicants each year improve their essays and obtain admission to business schools ranging from Harvard to State U.
Having personally edited over 2,000 admissions essays myself for EssayEdge.com, I wrote this article to help you avoid the most common essay flaws. If you remember nothing else about this article, please remember this: Be Interesting. Be Concise.
Why MBA?
Nearly all applications will feature a question that asks about your reasons for wanting to obtain an MBA at this stage of your career. Some will explicitly ask you to tie these reasons into your background and your goals. Even for schools that don't offer this specific direction, you should plan on such a discussion of past and future, as it provides essential context for your application.
"Why MBA?" is often the first question asked and without a doubt the most crucial essay you will write. This essay will include essential information about whether you're qualified, whether you're prepared, and where you're headed. The other required essays will fill in details about these fundamental points, but a strong answer about, for example, how you overcame a failure will not revive a candidacy that failed based on a lack of career focus.
Every application answer should contain the following elements, unless the application has separate questions addressing these areas individually:
1. Your long-term and short-term goals.2. Your most relevant past experience.3. An honest assessment of your strengths and any gaps in your experience or education.4. How an MBA will help to bridge your past and future and fill in those gaps.5. Why this particular MBA program is a good match for your individual needs.
There are no earth shattering reasons for pursuing an MBA. This is not the time to aim for bold originality. Instead, focus on articulating detailed reasons that are specific to your situation. At the same time, there is plenty of room to distinguish yourself when discussing past experience and future goals; the reasons themselves, however, come from a more limited set. That said, don't try to drop buzzwords into the essay for their own sake. Make sure you associate your specific objectives to other aspects of your application.
TOP 10 BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAY WRITING TIPS
1. Don't Use Company Jargon.As a prospective business student, you have probably spent the past few years in a corporate environment with its own in-house terminology, or shop-talk. Remember, your reader hasn't attended your company's meetings or contributed to its products. You should certainly describe several aspects of your professional life--your leadership skills, your career trajectory, your triumph in the face of obstacles, and so on--but write in language that is as accessible to your reader as it is to you. Pretend that you are writing a document for a customer who must decide whether to buy a particular product: you. Write clearly and personably.
2. Don't Bore the Reader. Be Interesting.Business school admissions officers have to read hundreds of essays, and they must often skim. Abstract rumination has no place in a graduate school application essay. Admissions officers aren't interested in a new way to view the world; they're looking for a new way to view you, the applicant. The best way to captivate your reader is to begin the essay with a gripping snapshot. Notice how the blunt, jarring "after" sentence creates intrigue and holds the reader's interest.
Before: I am a compilation of many years of experiences gained from overcoming the relentless struggles of life.
After: I was six years old, the eldest of six children in the Bronx, when my father was murdered.
3. Use Personal Detail. Show, Don't Tell!Great essays are concrete and grounded in personal detail. They do not simply assert "I learned my lesson" or that "these lessons are useful both on and off the field." They demonstrate it through personal detail. "Show, don't tell" means that if you want to account a personal quality, do so through your experiences without merely asserting it.
Before: If it were not for a strong support system which instilled into me strong family values and morals, I would not be where I am today.
After: Although my grandmother and I didn't have a car or running water, we still lived far more comfortably than did the other families I knew. I learned an important lesson: My grandmother made the most of what little she had, and she was known and respected for her generosity. Even at that age, I recognized the value she placed on maximizing her resources and helping those around her.
The first sentence is so vague it could have been written by anybody. But the second example conjures a vivid image of something that actually happened, placing the reader in the experience of the applicant.
4. Be Concise. Don't Be Wordy. Wordiness takes up valuable space, and will confuses the important ideas you're trying to convey. Short sentences are forceful because they are direct and to the point. Certain phrases, like "the fact that," are usually not necessary. Note how the revised version focuses on active verbs rather than passive forms of "to be" and adverbs and adjectives.
Before: My recognition of the fact that the project was finally over was a deeply satisfying moment that will forever linger in my memory.After: Completing the project at last gave me an enduring sense of fulfillment.
5. Address Your Weaknesses. Don't Dwell on Them.Usually on your application you will have an opportunity to explain any deficiencies in your record, and you should take full advantage of it. Be sure to explain them adequately and completely: "I partied too much to do well on tests" will definitely not help your application. The best explanation will spin the negatives into positives by stressing your attempts to improve; for example, mention your poor first-quarter grades briefly, then tell what you did to bring them up.
Before: My grade point average provides an incomplete evaluation of my potential and of the person I am today, since it fails to reveal my passion and determined spirit which make me unique and an asset to the _______ School of Business.After: Though my overall grade point average was disappointing, I am confident that the upward trend in my undergraduate transcript will continue in business school. Furthermore, my success on the GMAT and in the corporate world since graduation reinforces my conviction that I have a keen business sense--one that I hope to develop at the _______ School of Business.
6. Vary Your Sentences and Use Transitions.Good essays contain a variety of sentence lengths mixed within any given paragraph. Also, keep in mind that transition is not limited to words like nevertheless, furthermore or consequently. Good transition of ideas will flow from the natural thought progression of your argument.
Before: I started playing piano when I was eight years old. I worked hard to learn difficult pieces. I began to love music.After: I started playing the piano at the age of eight. As I learned to play more difficult pieces, my appreciation for music deepened.
7. Use Active Voice Verbs.Passive-voice expressions are verb phrases in which the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; passive voice uses a form of the word to be, such as was or were. Overuse of the passive voice will make your essay seem flat and uninteresting.
Before: The lessons that have prepared me for my career as an executive were taught to me by my mother. After: My mother taught me lessons that will prove invaluable in my career as an executive.
8. Seek Multiple Opinions.Ask your friends and family to keep these questions in mind when they critique your essay:
Does my essay have one central topic?
Does my introduction grip the reader? Does my conclusion offer closure?
Do my introduction and conclusion avoid summarizing?
Do I use solid, focused experiences as supporting details?
Have I used active-voice verbs wherever possible?
Do I vary my sentence structure, or do I use all long or short sentences?
Do I use any clichés, such as "cutting-edge" or "learned my lesson"?
Do I use transitions well?
What part of the essay is memorable?
What's part of the essay is the worst?
What areas of the essay need elaboration or are unclear?
What parts of the essay do not support my main argument or theme?
Is every sentence crucial to the essay?
What does the essay reveal about me and my personality?
9. Don't Wander. Stay Focused.Often applicants try to turn the application essay into a complete autobiography, so, not surprisingly, they find it difficult to pack so much information into such a short essay. Theiressays end up sounding more like a list of characteristics and experiences than a coherent, well-organized thought. Every sentence in your essay should exist solely to support your one central theme.10. Revise, Revise, Revise.The first step in editing and improving any essay is to cut, cut, and cut some more. EssayEdge.com's free admissions essay help course and Harvard-educated editors will be an invaluable resource as you polish your essay to perfection. The EssayEdge.com free help course leads you through the entire essay-writing process, from brainstorming worksheets and question-specific strategies for the twelve most common essay topics to a description of ten introduction types and editing checklists.
SAMPLE ESSAY
Please discuss the factors, both professional and personal, influencing the career decisions you have made that, in turn, have led you to your current position. What are your career goals for the future, and why is now the appropriate time to pursue an MBA at NAME? How will you avail yourself of the resources at NAME to achieve these goals? Turkish news nowadays carry vivid images which have become terrifyingly commonplace: the surface of the sea littered with dead sheep; a landfill explosion leading to a number of deaths; vendors offering radiation-contaminated tea for half-price; a little girl's death resulting from her fall through an open sewage manhole in her schoolyard; radioactive waste sold to unsuspecting scrap dealers; a twenty-year-old tanker breaking into pieces, spilling hundreds of tons of crude oil into the ocean and killing sea life all around.The frequency with which these environmental disasters fill Turkish news broadcasts -- along with the obvious insensitivity of the authorities towards both environment and health issues -- prompted me to learn about ways to prevent these types of disasters. At the age of fifteen, I decided to focus my studies on environmental sciences in order to equip myself with the technical tools I would need to make a real contribution.After earning a master's degree in environmental sciences, I completed a professional international management certificate program in order to gain a management perspective of the field. I then realized that, in order to effectively combine my technical knowledge and management skills, I needed to accumulate real-world experience. Specifically, working at a large company would allow me to develop insight into various industries, as well as an overarching vision of the international business arena.I have now worked for nearly two years in the energy and environment group of Koc Holding, Turkey's first and biggest diversified conglomerate. As a project engineer, I am mainly responsible for our holding companies' environment and energy sector investments. This position has given me the opportunity to interact with businessmen from all over the world, thereby expanding my international perspective. Because of my outstanding work performance, I was chosen to attend various meetings with local and international governmental bodies such as OPIC, IFC, and the World Bank. It is highly unusual for a young associate to represent the company at such events, and my self-confidence -- as well as my management skills -- was further enhanced by that successful experience.While working in various business lines, including the automotive industry, consumer durables, and the energy sector, I have realized that the root cause of many environmental problems is financial. I believe that many people in the environmental sector are so ignorant or insensitive that they will cheat customers to increase profits. Furthermore, businesses do not prioritize environmental investments; as a result, insufficient funds are allocated to adequately prevent problems. For instance, despite a population over eight million people, Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, still lacks a properly operating sewage system. In most of the areas of the city, waste water is discharged directly into the Bosphorus.In the long term, I hope to help solve my country's problems by starting my own environmental-services business in Turkey. The company will serve both local and international customers by providing cost-effective, adaptable solutions ranging from waste management to safety management. In order to accomplish this goal, however, I must deepen my knowledge of the field. Despite my experience, I still lack some important knowledge and management skills, especially in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. I am also aware that my knowledge of American environmental issues is insufficient. Since dealing with aspects of international business will be an integral part of my job as an entrepreneur, it is essential that I fill in these gaps.The NAME School's MBA program is the perfect bridge from where I am to where I want to be. I am attracted by the inventiveness and uniqueness of its entrepreneurial and finance programs, and believe that I will increase my practical knowledge of entrepreneurship by interacting with my classmates. I value the fact that at NAME entrepreneurial education does not stop at the classroom, but rather continues through internships and extracurricular activities. I feel that a business school for entrepreneurs should balance a dose of theory with real-world application, and NAME's curriculum and hands-on experiences through associations, internships, and the management field study provide such balance.I am also drawn to NAME because of the school's emphasis on teamwork and technology, reflected by such exciting courses and programs as High Technology Entrepreneurship, International Finance, 12-week field application projects, and the global immersion program directed to teach global thinking and global action. Additionally, the school's profusion of student groups and its flexible entrepreneurial program -- with electives from 200 courses -- will allow me to tailor my course of study directly to my career interests. It is precisely this flexibility that I plan to draw on while at NAME and beyond, by taking advantage of (and contributing to) the school's strong international alumni network.Above all, a NAME MBA will help me strengthen both the finance knowledge and the entrepreneurial skills necessary to secure a position as an environmental specialist in a multinational American-based firm. Such a position, in turn, will prepare me to accomplish my long-term ambition of building my own company. By developing and maximizing the technical knowledge and managerial skills I have already accumulated, NAME will allow me to ultimately make a concrete and substantial contribution to Turkey's environment.

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Earn A Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice -eLearningYellowpages.com

ELearningYellowPages.com offers a directory of accredited online degree programs. There is a growing need for professionals in the high-demand field of Criminal Justice. Degree holders can pursue rewarding careers in law enforcement, the court systems, private corporations, correctional institutions, political, and legal.

Earn A Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice -eLearningYellowpages.com
"Westwood College Online
Westwood College Online offers a Bachelor Degree Criminal Justice program. Provided in a flexible and convenient online education environment, the program is designed to meet the needs of today's career-focused individual through distance learning.

A Criminal Justice degree integrates sociology, ethics, and the legal system to prepare individuals for a variety of careers. Westwood College's Criminal Justice Program prepares graduates with skills and education to enter the field in areas such as: probation and corrections with a degree in Criminal Justice. You'll gain a hands-on, real-world education in Criminal Justice and administration to be prepared for an entry-level position in today's criminal justice environment including parole officers, pretrial service officers, correctional treatment specialists, and youth advocates.

Westwood College Online programs include a no-cost tutoring program and program-specific online library; individual storage space on their online server, for each student, in order to complete capstone projects and portfolios; technical support; career development guidance; and fast-tracked degrees.
Jump start your career and get your degree at Westwood College. "

Westwood College Online is just one of several excellent Online Criminal Justice Bachelor Degree Programs listed at eLearningYellowPages.com. Take a look there today to find the program that is best for you.


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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Veterinary Assistant Associate Degree Program at Penn Foster

If you love animals and think that you would enjoy a career working with animals, check out this Associate Degree Program at Penn Foster Career School. They offer an accredited online and distance learning Veterinary Assistant and Animal Care Associate's Degree program. Learn about animal nursing, breeding, surgery and other concepts needed to work in an animal hospital, veterinarian office, animal clinic, zoo, or anywhere animals need care.

Official Directory of Veterinary Assistant Degree: "Penn Foster

Earn your Veterinary Technician Associate's Degree at Penn Foster, where more than 80 highly respected, nationally and regionally accredited distance learning programs are offered. You'll find that Penn Foster's Veterinary Technology Associate Degree programs are designed to teach you the concepts you need to succeed in an animal care career. Select whether to study for your degree online, in print, or in combination; whichever method is best meets your needs. The expert teaching faculty and friendly student support staff at Penn Foster are dedicated to helping you successfully complete your Associate's Degree program!

Complete your High School Diploma in the convenience of your home, at your own pace, with Penn Foster's accredited High School Program.

Many of the Penn Foster career diploma programs qualify under the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program. The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, for online and distance learning schools.
Visit Penn Foster Career School to earn your degree at home. "

Working with animals can be both interesting and rewarding. Take a look at other programs available at eLearningYellowPages.com, where only reputable accredited online and distance education programs are listed.


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Monday, January 22, 2007

Find the Online MBA Degrees providers you like

Thinking about earning your MBA degree? If you are worried that you don't have the time, or that it will take too long, think again. Schools like Kennedy-Western University offer credit for work experience and prior education. Many students earn their MBA degree in as little as 12-18 months!

Find the Online MBA Degrees providers you like

"Kennedy-Western University
Kennedy-Western University offers professionals MBA Degree programs especially designed to supplement and advance their work skills. Earn your MBA in as little as 12-18 months, with credit given for work experience and prior education.

The MBA program offers exposure to those mid-career professionals with a firm grasp of business fundamentals, who wish to advance themselves in their current work, transition to a new challenge, or simply increase their knowledge in the area of business administration. The program assumes that the student is already familiar the fundamentals of business and management skills, and expands upon that knowledge to add form to the structure. MBA students have the opportunities to learn specialized management techniques with courses such as Technical Managerial Accounting, Economics for Managers, Marketing Management, and New Enterprise Management. Additional management courses explored more deeply are topics such as critical thinking, decision making and problem solving. In addition the MBA program includes coursework in: Principles of Total Quality Management, Computer Technology for Managers, Management Science and Financial Management. Concentrations in the following areas are available at the MBA level:

Executive Business Administration
Health Care Management
Human Resource Management
Management and Leadership
Technology Management

With academic credit awarded for your past education and work experience, you can earn your MBA in 12-18 months! Qualified MBA students do not have to re-take or complete basic courses in areas of study that have already been mastered. Focus, instead, on taking courses that relate to advancing their professional interests, since credit is given for work experience.

Mid-career professionals may advance their career with a variety of business degree programs that can be completed Online at Kennedy-Western University. Technological advancements continue to shape and redefine Kennedy-Western's online academic model whose online services remain unparalleled.

Flexible degree programs for busy adults. Earn your degree online, apply your work experience and previous education toward earning a degree from Kennedy-Western University. FREE Catalog!"

Flexible online MBA programs, such as the Kennedy-Western program, allow you to work at your own pace, at the same time you are developing your career, and managing your work and family obligations.


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Thursday, January 18, 2007

University of Phoenix Online

University of Phoenix Online is the largest accredited private university in the United States. They have developed an unparalleled reputation for educational excellence and student service. The University of Phoenix Online offers some of the most current and relevant degree programs in the areas of Business, Management, Technology Management, Information Systems, Education and Nursing.

With the University of Phoenix Online option, students may study when they want, where they want, anytime they have access to a computer with an Internet connection. At University of Phoenix, classes can fit into any schedule, busy adults are free to earn their certificate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in the way that is most convenient for them; on campus, online, or through a combination of both, called FlexNet.

Students may work at their own pace, allowing most students can finish their degree in just two to three years! With so many options available, it is no wonder that the University of Phoenix Online is one of the most well-known, and sought after degree programs for busy, working adults. University of Phoenix Online. The nation's leading online university.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Getting Credit for Your Experience - MSN Encarta

Has the thought of spending the next 3-4 years or more working to increase your education kept you from moving forward? If so, you are not alone; however, if you are an adult with work experience it may only take you 12-18 months to meet your goal of earning a college or university degree!

Getting Credit for Your Experience - MSN Encarta "Continuing Education
Getting Credit for Your Experience
by Christina Inge
More and more colleges are giving students course credit not just for completion of their classes, but also for their life experiences. These schools evaluate the educational value of on-the-job training, work experience, or even reading for fun--and they translate these experiences into credits toward a degree.

"Prior learning gives students like me the opportunity to be awarded with credits that have been acquired through traditional and nontraditional schooling, work, or other life experiences," explains Jorge Maldonado, management analyst, and Webmaster of the Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach at Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Maldonado has extensive experience from his current job, improving higher-learning opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing. His technical expertise earned him eight credits that he could apply toward his master's degree in information technology from Capella University.

How to make your experience countMaldonado started by looking at his career experiences. "I had been working around computers and networks since the early 1990s when I started my own networking consulting company," he explains. He was able to show that he'd acquired knowledge in the computer networking field and also by teaching in a related field at Saint Paul College. These experiences proved valuable in more ways than one. Working with a school adviser, he developed a portfolio in which he showed how these experiences, along with the creation of a national data center he spearheaded in his current job, would fulfill the course goals of two information technology courses.

In effect, Maldonado's work experience gave him a head start toward completing his degree. And he's not alone. Many students are using prior learning to get closer to their degree goals. The key is to find the programs that work for you--and those that recognize the academic value in your experience.
Test outThe single most common way to transform lifelong learning into credits is by taking standardized exams, such as those offered by the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). These exams, administered by the College Board, focus on 35 different subjects, including American history, marketing, and algebra. They are accepted by most colleges in the United States, and can be worth up to 12 undergraduate credits, although each institution's credit-awarding policies vary. At Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska, taking a CLEP is a very popular option. "There are more than 500 [CLEP] tests taken annually [by Bellevue University students]," notes Wendy Shirey, Bellevue's testing center director. The money-saving aspect of "CLEPping" out of courses is a big reason why CLEPs are so popular.

When Diane Dick returned to school after being a stay-at-home mom, she faced a hefty financial challenge: All five of her kids were in college at the same time, and her husband was about to start, too. When she realized there was a way to offset her educational expenses and shorten her studies by almost a year, she went for it. Dick brushed up on her math skills using her son's college textbook, and increased her knowledge of psychology by reading a secondhand text she bought for 25 cents. This creative self-study netted her a total of 16 credits through CLEP exams in college algebra and general psychology.
So how do you make CLEP work for you? "Review the CLEP Official Study Guide to decide which tests best reflect [your] previous learning experiences," advises Shirey, then study accordingly. For more resources, check the College Board's CLEP information page.

Portfolio-based assessmentBesides proving her knowledge on a test, Dick used portfolio-based assessment to translate her life experiences into diploma-friendly credits. Before raising her children, she had written music and plays while managing performances for her local theater group. After working with a prior-learning specialist, Dick prepared a portfolio of her work and presented it for evaluation. "It's critical that you don't just present experience, but evaluate your learning in light of these academic skills," notes Dick. Her experience and learning translated into 18 credits in music theory and theater arts.

The portfolio assessment process varies, but at most schools, you'll need to start by looking for college courses that describe knowledge you already have. Then, begin collecting documentation that proves how much you've learned at work and at home. This can include photocopies of training materials and completed work assignments (ask your employer for permission to share these), letters from your supervisor, and creative projects that you've completed. You'll then need to target specific college courses and explain how your life-experience knowledge is equivalent to the skills and knowledge taught in their formal classes.

Experience in many fields can be validated with a portfolio. If your hobby is drawing, for example, you could include photos of your works, comparing what you learned with the requirements of your college's advanced drawing course. If you're a payroll clerk, you can take your score from the Certified Payroll Professional exam plus a letter from your manager attesting to your skills, and compare them against what's taught in a college-level accounting class.

The prior-learning assessment definitely helped speed Dick to the finish line. "Adult learners are always in a hurry to finish because we have so much else on our plate competing for our attention," says Dick. But there are other bonuses as well, including brushing up on academic skills and developing a better understanding of ways to achieve your ultimate goal. "I learned how I learn--and that helped me to succeed in my other coursework and become a better learner in my life."

Certifications for credit For James Parker, certifications from the workplace proved a different source of prior-learning assessment. When he embarked on a master's degree program in information technology, James already had certifications in advanced computer systems from his careers in the Air Force and the private sector. Through his school's prior-learning credit program, that expertise earned him four credits. "I had already learned this material hands-on," he notes, so it made sense for him to demonstrate how the exams were equivalent to his college coursework. Doing so allowed him to bypass a required course through a fast approval process: He provided his school with the certificate and a transcript of the exam to prove the extent of his knowledge.

Now chief technical officer and head of information technology at MDVIP, a leading medical-services company, James is glad he explored prior-learning credit. "It's the way to go," he notes, especially for those with full-time job and family commitments.

Certifications in plenty of other fields are also credit-worthy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, counseling, and teaching other languages are among the fields with professional certifications that could be translated into academic credits. In fact, some certifications provide substantial amounts of credit. At some institutions, the National Association of Administrative Professionals' Certified Administrative Professional certificate can translate into more than one year's credit.

On-the-job training Those who have learned new disciplines in on-the-job programs may have been earning college credits all along. For instance, the Mortgage Bankers' Association class on Loan Processing equals 1.5 semester hours at one online university. Working with the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT), some schools have clear determinations on the amount of college credit thousands of popular workforce training courses are worth. Although each school determines if such transfer credit is appropriate, approximately 1,000 schools currently adhere to ACE CREDIT recommendations, notes Nancy Musick, assistant director of ACE's Credit by Examination program. Your school may have also approved some business training programs in addition to those approved by ACE, for even more credit possibilities. For more information, check the ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training."

At Kennedy-Western University you can earn your Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree in 12-18 months. Apply your previous education and work experience toward a degree in Business, Engineering, Technology, or Health.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Reach Your Educational Goals without Commuting

Here is an interesting discussion about earning a college or university degree online. There are many top tier accredited colleges and universities that now offer the same curricula and programs as they offer to on-campus students.

Online Degree Courses"If you would you like to reach your educational goals without commuting to lectures, hiring a babysitter, or living on campus, then an online school may be the best option.
The internet has revolutionized the old-fashioned correspondence courses to create distance learning choices that suit every budget and lifestyle.
You can take classes in the convenience of your home with little expense and hassle.
With e-mail, fax, internet access, and media player software, your online school can be a one-person academy in your home or office.
One of the best things about online school is the flexibility that it provides, and you may be able to pursue a full-time job while attending online school in your spare time.
Online school is for a particular kind of student, and not everyone would prefer to take classes at home. If you are an independent-minded person who can organize your time well, then online school is a good option. A student who takes classes online must have the self discipline to view lectures and to complete homework assignments without external pressure. Others might find that online school is lonely, and may prefer the hustle and bustle of activity that is characteristic of typical campus life. However, for those who want a no-nonsense course without the hassles of traveling, then online school is ideal.
Many kinds of courses are available at an online school, but degrees that rely heavily on practical instruction, such as driving, culinary arts, and nursing cannot be taken exclusively online. However, there may be a good portion of these courses available online, and the student who learns from his or her computer may be able to complete about half the coursework online, and half at a school where the practical aspects of the course are taught. Some courses may be available exclusively online. Many humanities courses and business degrees can be obtained through distance learning. Others requires some on-site work as well as home study.

If you have a home office with the basic features and a computer with a good modem, you can easily begin learning at an online school. You will want to ensure that the school is accredited and that your degree will be recognized in your state or country. You can download lectures to your media player program, or you can purchase DVDs. Once you have seen the lectures, you may be able to ask questions of your instructor via e-mail or cell phone. There may be an internet chat between the instructor and his or her students in which you can participate and ask you questions. Homework assignments can be produced on your word processor and turned in via e-mail attachments or fax. The internet has made distance learning easier and an achievable goal for many.
Final exams may require you to travel to a certain site or other specifications to prevent cheating. However, some online courses rely heavily on papers rather than exams, and these papers can be handed in like regular homework. Some instructors might want to give an oral exam over the telephone, while others prefer more traditional exam conditions. Make sure you understand the rules and regulations about qualifying exams before applying to an online school, because you will not want to be surprised halfway through a course. While going to a campus occasionally may be an option for some, other students manage to earn a degree at an online school exclusively by using their home computer, and these schools vary in their requirements.
As long as your online school is accredited, your degree should be accepted like any other degree from an equivalent institution. Many people who have put off continuing education in the past because of travel difficulties or work conflicts have been able to complete their degrees by applying to online schools. "

Take a look at all of the great accredited online degree programs listed at eLearningYellowPages.com. You may be surprised at how many top tier schools are listed. At most schools, you can apply and start immediately. There is no wait.