| > | | | | institution offering online degrees. First, find out if |
| Distance learning seems like the Holy Grail to workers | | | | there are any schools in your area that offer degree |
| who are held back at their jobs because they lack a | | | | programs at night or on the weekend. These should |
| degree. But some online degrees aren’t worth | | | | be evaluated at the same time you research distance |
| the paper they’re printed on. Many | | | | learning programs. The most important thing you |
| institutions are getting labeled as degree | | | | need to know about any online program is whether |
| factories that don’t provide their students | | | | the school is accredited. A non-accredited school |
| with any of the skills that employers are looking for, | | | | shouldn’t be considered — employers |
| and some employers are starting to look skeptically | | | | won’t consider such a degree meaningful. |
| at online degrees. So how does a prospective online | | | | Next, find out what degrees they offer and how |
| student find the right school for them? They start | | | | comprehensive the coursework is. (While |
| by asking the right questions. Distance learning seems | | | | prospective students may like the idea of easy |
| like the Holy Grail to workers who are held back at | | | | coursework, a program that is too easy |
| their jobs because they lack a degree. But some | | | | won’t provide the skills required for career |
| online degrees aren’t worth the paper | | | | success.) Finally, find out what prior students think |
| they’re printed on. Many institutions are | | | | of the school and the degrees they received. If |
| getting labeled as degree factories that | | | | they were able to go places with the degree, you |
| don’t provide their students with any of the | | | | can feel confident that you will too. While these |
| skills that employers are looking for, and some | | | | may be the most difficult questions to get answered, |
| employers are starting to look skeptically at online | | | | they will provide the most confidence that the |
| degrees. So how does a prospective online student | | | | degree you are getting really is the right one. There |
| find the right school for them? It starts by asking | | | | are a few places on the internet that bring people |
| the right questions.As recently as twenty years ago, | | | | with questions together with the people who can |
| earning a college degree while working full-time was a | | | | answer them. Take a little time and find those |
| near impossibility. Slowly, a handful of colleges and | | | | places and get the answers you need.While your |
| universities started offering degree programs at night | | | | current employer may be looking for just a piece of |
| and on weekends, but choices were very limited and | | | | paper to be able to offer you that promotion you so |
| you still had to attend classes — usually at | | | | richly deserve, any future employers will be taking a |
| their campus. Now, thanks to the Internet, distance | | | | longer look at the degree and where it came from. |
| learning has become the saving grace for people who | | | | Doing the research to make sure you are getting the |
| need to get a college degree after joining the | | | | right degree from the right college will make sure |
| workplace. Do your research before applying to any | | | | that every employer will be interested in you. |