Funding Your Online Education – 5 Basic Rules for Success

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

If you are searching for ways to fund your online education, all the details and fine print can be a bit overwhelming. It is all facts and figures, which add up to lots of calculations. If, while making these calculation, you find out there is a short coming in funding your online education here are 5 basic rules for success;

1. Funding Online Education is Just like Funding Traditional Education

When searching for ways to fund an online education, all the same factors apply as long as the online degree program is offered by an accredited online college or university and it is properly registered with the right authority. This is crucial so do diligent research before when choosing an online degree program.

2. Scholarships and Grants are the Best Way to Fund Your Online Education

The best way to fund your online education is with scholarships and grants. They are both very similar however they vary in purpose. Typically, scholarships are given based on academic achievement and merit. Grants, most of the time, are based on different qualifications, like; financial need, ethnicity, or geographic location. Many places specialize in helping students find grants and scholarships. A very useful source is the website Fastweb, which is an online database of scholarships and grants.

3. Make Use of Federal Loans and Grants

Federal loans can be used for online education. Federal loans like the Stafford Loans are often packaged with grants and scholarships. Payments for these loans will not start until 6 months after a student finishes or leaves college.

4. Apply to FAFSA as soon as possible

The easiest way to get funding for your online education is apply for financial aid with www.fafsa.ed.gov. It is vital for a student to fill out this application out as soon as possible before the deadlines. The longer an online student waits the less assistance they will receive from financial aid. So, do not wait until the last minute.

5. Be Sure to Check with Your School’s Financial Aid Office

Make sure you contact the college or university’s financial aid office when you are seeking funding for online education. Most schools will assign a specific financial aid counselor to assist students with finding resources to finance their college education and online education is no different.

When you are seeking funding for your online education keep these 5 rules in mind and you would be successful in obtaining financial assistance.

Tags: College Education, Grants, Online Students, Scholarships
Posted in Financial Aid, Online Students | 2 Comments »

8 Worst Mistakes of Online Students

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

If you are an online student or considering enrolling in an online degree program you should not hesitate, but keep in mind some of the mistakes that are found among online students so that you don’t make the same mistakes. Take a look at the 8 worst mistakes of online students listed below.

1. Choosing an Online Institution that is not Accredited

It is important to seek out an online college or university that has an accreditation from a reputable organization. Look for institutions that have been accredited by a regionally or nationally-recognized accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

2. Believing that Employers do not Accept Online Degrees

Most employers understand the need for busy professionals who want to continue working while attending a distance learning program at the same time. Employers are more concerned that the educational institution is accredited and has a good reputation rather than the method you use to obtain your degree, but this varies from one employer to the next.

3. Thinking that Online Education is Easier

Most, if not all, of the accredited online degree programs are the same as on-campus programs. You will receive the same subjects, assignments, projects and class work that on-site students receive. You will also get the same high quality education online that is found in the traditional degree programs. Studies show that distance learning is just as effective as traditional on-campus learning.

4. Online Attendance is more time Consuming than Traditional Courses

Online learning is ideal for people who would like to continue their education but do not have the time to attend the traditional classroom setting. Distance learning makes education more convenient especially for adults with families and full-time jobs. Many people choose distance learning simply out of necessity. Not everyone can enroll in traditional higher education due to work and other commitments and obligations so distance learning provides the flexibility to continue working at a current job while pursuing your educational and career goals at the same time.

5. Thinking online learning is not right for everyone and may not be for me

It really depends on your learning style. Online learning is very different from traditional, on-site learning I have to agree. However, anyone can adapt to online learning, all it takes is a little adjustment and a bit of getting used to.

6. Procrastinating

Procrastinating can be a major problem and can play a big role in the outcome of your experience, online or in-class. If you are a procrastinator, you will have to work extra hard. Set weekly goals and deadlines and try your best to stick to them.

7. Failing to use all the Online Resources and Mentoring

Educators are the best resource an online student can utilize. Getting the help from a mentor can be of great benefit. So stay connected via online discussions forums, chat rooms and e-mail.

8. Paying more than you have to

– Most online institutions offer financial aid, grants, scholarships, loans and other ways for you to pay for your education, so take advantage of every opportunity. Don’t borrow more than you need and find different ways to save money, like buying used text books instead of new books and so on.

Tags: Distance Learning, Grants, Online Degree, Online Degree Program, Online Students, Scholarships
Posted in Distance Learning, Online Degree, Online Degree Programs, Online Students | 1 Comment »

Where Can I Find Financial Aid for Online College?

Monday, January 11th, 2010

A college education is one of the major investments any individual will make throughout their lives. Many individuals struggle with finding the resources required for a sound tertiary education and have had to resort to seeking financial assistance. Most students will rack up a debt averaging $60,000 by the time they have completed say a bachelor’s degree program and we all know this money must come from somewhere.

Before the advent of online colleges, most individuals went to traditional colleges where they had no problems receiving financial assistance through the various government educational support programs. However, what of this new growth in the online student community, are they accommodated under this system?

Online College Financing

Students of online colleges need not to worry about receiving financing for their studies. The government has acknowledged the contribution made by online colleges and has extended their financial aid to these accredited online colleges. As long as the online college is accredited by the various government affiliated boards such as the Secretary of Education, then its students qualify for student loans.

Types of Online College Financial Aid Available

Online students have several options through which they can receive financial aid. However, this support is restricted to student existing within the US. This aid can be accessed through government and private loans, grants and scholarships.

Government Loans: Government loans come in the form of Stafford, Perkins and Pell loans. Each of these loans attracts different conditions and interest rates based on the financial situation of the student.
Stafford loans are divided into two groups. Subsidized loans target students in dire financial conditions. Under this plan, the government foots the interest payments of these students until they have graduated and expired their grace period. Unsubsidized Stafford loans are available for all other students irrespective of their financial condition.
Perkins and Pell Loan are subsidiary loans that are used to sure up the finances of students. To qualify students must have exhausted all Stafford loan opportunities.

Private Loans: Private loans are designed for students who do not qualify for government student loans. This may be due to various issues such as immigration, unable to find a co-sponsor, register with unaccredited online colleges or may have exhausted their government student loan. Private Banks lend assistance to these students with loans that are generally above government rates and attract stringent loan conditions.

Grants: A grant is a gift that covers tuition fees that is not required to be repaid by the recipient. These grants may be from both private and government sources. Generally, to qualify, students should have a GPA between 2.0 to 3.0.

Scholarships: scholarships are awarded based on academic achievements. Scholarships may cover a part of or all of the tuition fees. They may be offered for various reasons such as community development, talent pooling or targeting of underprivileged students. Many companies also use scholarships as a means of reducing their tax burden through tax initiatives implemented by the government that forces these companies to give back to the communities in which they are located.

Tags: Financial Aid, Grants, Online College, Online Degree, Scholarships, Student Loan
Posted in Financial Aid, Online College, Online Degree | 1 Comment »

Fear Factor: Enrolling in an Online School

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

When enrolling in an online school, a number of students are fearful regarding their future because there are some employers who do not accept online degrees thinking that the quality of syllabus is not on par with the traditional degree program. Therefore, you need to be extra careful when enrolling in an online school.

Accreditation

To get rid of all your fears, make sure that you only enroll in an online school that is accredited by the US Department of Education. By successfully earning online degree from accredited online school, you will easily get admission into higher education.

Exams

There is a notion among students that passing exams in an online environment is easy. In fact, they are very difficult but if you are willing to put in 100% in studying, you will pass the exams without any hassle. Rather than studying only on weekends, it is advisable that you study daily.

Practical Training

Similar to traditional colleges and universities, there is tremendous scope of practical training in an online environment. If you are not enrolling in an online school just because of lack of practical training, remember that the majority of top online schools provide excellent practical training to their students.

Software

A number of students do not enroll in an online school because they think their knowledge of the latest software is limited and their study is going to suffer because of this. Studying in an online environment is relatively easy and all you need is knowledge of internet usage and basic software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Placement Assistance

Gone are the days when online degree programs did not provide any placement assistance to their students. At present, online schools not only provide placement assistance to their students but also prepare them to feel comfortable in a work setting.

Grants & Scholarships

Online schools provide grants and scholarships to students whose academic record is good but are struggling financially. This was not the case years back when grants and scholarships were only offered by traditional colleges and universities. At present, chances of getting an approval for grants and scholarships in an online environment is a lot easier.

Tags: Employers, Enroll, Enrolling, Grants, Online Degrees, Online School, Scholarships
Posted in Enroll, Online Education | 2 Comments »

Distance Learning Trend – Top 10 Tips

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Distance Learning is rapidly becoming a popular mean of acquiring education. The convenience, ease of study hours and learning at your own pace is making it a latest fad. Below you will find top 10 reasons responsible for growing popularity of distance learning.

You can earn degree in distance learning from any location you want. In other words, you do not need to go to the university itself in order to attend classes. As a matter of fact, you can attend classes from the comfort of your home with the help of Internet.

When it comes to distance learning, there is no real pressure on you in terms of studies. For example, if you are working somewhere and cannot attend classes in the morning, you can do so at evening or night. You can study at your own pace and schedule.

In this day and age, getting education is quite a costly affair. This is not the case with distance learning. As compared to other modes of education, tuition rates are not that much in distance learning. Financial aid options in the form of grants and scholarships are also available for students.

If your main objective is to earn degree quickly, you should go for distance learning. By earning degree quickly, you can take admission at higher education level and also get the job.

Syllabus of distance learning is updated on a regular basis. This can be extremely useful for students as they are not going to miss any important topics.

When it comes to distance learning, students are going to get the study material from the institute. With study material being prepared by the experts, students do not need to prepare notes on your own.

In distance learning, students can take the assistance of faculty members even after the class is over. This can come in real handy for those students that require the help of faculty members in every step. However, in order to attain success in distance learning, it is quite important that you take every decision on your own.

The student-faculty ratio is quite low in distance learning so students will face no problem in understanding things. This is not the case with traditional classroom setup where student-faculty ratio is normally quite high and therefore students do not get individual attention from the faculty members. The faculty members at distance learning are highly skillful and experienced.

The kind of subject choices that you can get in distance learning is just tremendous. Whatever degree program you are interested in, you will find it in the distance learning. Similar to traditional classroom setup, you can go for associate, bachelor, masters and PhD degrees in distance learning. Apart from getting theoretical knowledge, you are also going to get practical training in distance learning.

Distance learning is gaining popularity these days because of the simple reason that admission procedure is quite straightforward here. In order to get an admission, you just need to submit an online application form with details such as your name, address and academic qualification. There is no need of any admission test in distance learning.

Tags: Academic Qualification, Distance Learning, Grants, Scholarship, Study
Posted in Distance Learning | 20 Comments »

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