When all of your classmates are high-fiving each other about the great colleges they’ve been accepted to and they’re already planning the all-night frat parties, it might feel kind of lonely to know that deep down, you don’t really want that experience. Some people either just don’t have the time, because they have to work to pay bills, or they don’t have the desire to sit in a classroom for eight hours each day.

It used to be that these students had just a few choices. They could suck it up and go to a local college, maybe part-time, or they could put it aside altogether and start work right after high school graduation. Fortunately, the students graduating today have another option. They can take classes online at their own pace. But is it really that simple? Before you decide what’s best for you, take a look at the five things you really should know before taking online courses.

1. All online colleges are not created equal. You might be surprised to find out that not all online programs are accredited, which means you can take the classes, but your credits won’t transfer to a standard school. If you plan to transfer, or if you’re just worried about the school’s reputation, do a search for the best online colleges, and then find out whether they are accredited.
2. Even traditional colleges are offering online degrees these days. So, you might be able to attend the same school and even get the same degree as your frat-party-attending friends; you just won’t have to show up for classes. You can still go to the parties if you want, though.
3. You should really have your own personal computer before enrolling in an online class. For some of you, this may seem obvious, but others may struggle with this point. If you’re planning to use your mom’s computer, you have to realize that it may not always be available when you need it for a class. This is a silly reason to get a bad grade in any class. You can get a budget computer for cheap enough that this shouldn’t even be an issue.
4. You will probably still have to buy books and supplies. Some students think that if they enroll in online courses, all materials will be available online. Sometimes this is the case, but not always. Before you enroll, find out if there are other expenses you should know about.
5. You may be assigned a group project. Just because you’re sitting there by yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that every assignment will be done solo. With all the social networking tools out there, it’s easier than ever to collaborate with someone you’ve never even met. Some professors will even make this a requirement.

As little as 15 years ago, if someone told you that you could take all your college courses online, you might have said they were nuts. You probably wouldn’t have considered a career in web design either. Times have changed. Almost every college offers at least some online classes, and many colleges offer entire degrees that can be obtained through online coursework. In fact, there are some colleges that don’t even have a physical campus – the entire curriculum is online.

Just because a school is online-based doesn’t meant they aren’t legit. In order to find the best colleges online, you should use similar criteria as what you would use to evaluate a physical campus. Just leave out the location-based questions, such as what they serve for lunch.

1. Find out whether the online school you’re looking at is accredited. It’s best to get a degree from an accredited university, if at all possible. That’s especially so if you’re going for a traditional bachelor’s, associate’s or master’s degree.
2. Ask whether you can transfer credits from your online school to anywhere else. For example, if you plan to take online courses at AIU Online, and then intend on transferring to Ohio State, you want to make sure all your coursework will be accepted and can be applied towards your degree.
3. Find out whether they offer a specific web design degree, and then find out whether the school is well-respected in the web designing community. You can do this by asking friends or conducting an internet search. There may also be web design forums where you can ask other web designers what they think of the school.
4. Ask about job placement. Even in the online schooling community, many schools will offer to help you find a job after graduation. This is a benefit, but not a deal breaker for many people.

Here are five of the most popular online degrees available:

Nursing and medical assisting: The medical field is growing fast, and it’s one field with great employment potential. Depending on your area of study, you may need to put in some lab hours in a classroom environment, but you can take most (if not all) of your classes online.

Accounting and finance: Similar to health care, accounting and finance careers are always in demand. Even in a recession, accountants and financial planners are necessary. Some might even argue that these careers are even more important in times of financial hardship.

Criminal justice: From prosecutors to legal aides, there are many criminal justice careers that can be obtained through online learning. These careers are also among the most popular because they remain in-demand throughout changing financial climates.

Video game design: If you enjoy spending all of your free time playing video games, you might want to consider taking online classes to learn how to become a video game designer. It’s a rewarding career that is often taken as an online degree program.

High school diploma: Many people who don’t complete their high school coursework in time to graduate with their peers end up taking courses online to get their diploma or GED.

First, there are many online colleges and universities to choose from to get your online degree. Some of the best include the University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Post University, American InterContinental University, Ashford University, Kaplan University and Everest University Online. Start with these and determine a degree program that interests you. (For help with this, see some of the “Recent Posts” links on this website.) Then, review additional information about each institution on this website, as well as the website of each individual college or university.

All online degrees have a number of common advantages over attending traditional college campuses with classroom instruction. The main advantage is convenience. Attending class, studying, working on projects and papers, and taking quizzes, tests and even final exams are all done on your schedule and available 24/7. Yes, there will still be deadlines to meet and certain assignments, quizzes, projects and exams must be completed on time. However, how you manage your time for each course is extremely flexible. Fitting in college activities with full or part-time employment, family obligations and your personal life is simply a matter of time management.

Time management will be critical. And the key is setting priorities. What is priority number one? As the head of a household, maybe it is your family. As a Christian, maybe it is time spent in prayer, reading your Bible and attending church services. As a single mom or dad, maybe it is tending to the needs of little Wendi or John. Or, as a single person with a high school education looking for a professional career, maybe it is doing your very best in each and every college course.

Next determine your other priorities, in order. Finally, create a daily schedule and stick with it, at least until there is a very good reason to modify it.

To obtain an online degree you will need a reliable desktop or laptop computer, as well as a reliable Internet connection. These will be your lifeline for obtaining an online degree. Three to five hundred dollars for a computer and fifty to seventy five dollars per month for an Internet connection are really the only physical asset and service needed. All studying, assignments, projects and even quizzes and exams are done from the convenience of your home, condominium or apartment; or, these may be done wherever there is a computer and an Internet connection. What could be more convenient?

So start looking for your online adventure in education today. Choosing The Best Colleges Online website is a great start! Good luck and thank you for reading!

In grade school you decided to take apart anything with a plug or anything requiring batteries. You “specialized” in drills, clocks, electric razors and mom’s electric mixers. That got you into much trouble with dad as well as mom. But they never really scolded you, but explained the dangers of electrical outlets and the expense of repairing or putting tools and appliances back together.

You also asked many questions, not only of mom and dad, but also of your science teachers. How do electrons move? Do protons and neutrons move? What do you mean electrons really don’t move, but their affect moves? What is really happening when I get shocked? Is voltage really dangerous, or is it current that is dangerous? What is a transistor?

As a senior and junior in high school, you still ask questions. You have taken numerous computers, cell phones and radios apart; and you even got some of them back together in working order, or almost working order. That was fun! Computers are also fascinating, but high voltages and current are really what turns you on, or “lights your filament.”

In high school you did well in chemistry, math, and science, but struggled with poetry, literature, French and history. You took “shop” as an elective, only because you could work with and “experiment” with all kinds of tools that “plugged in” or used batteries.

You might not fit into all of the above scenarios, interests and anecdotal situations, but you identify with many of them. In that case, you definitely ought to seriously investigate The Best Colleges Online in Science, Technology and Electrical or Electronic Engineering. Additionally, be sure to talk to some electrical engineers or electronics engineers. Ask about their interests in high school, how they chose a college or university and where they got their degrees.

Good luck in choosing a career!

Laptop Giveaway Rules and Stipulations

As you may assume, there is a catch when it comes to getting a laptop from your online university. In most cases, the computer will remain the property of the school until you graduate. That rule is in place to prevent students from enrolling in a single semester just for the free laptop. After you complete your degree program, you will be allowed to keep the computer as a reward for all of your hard work. Until that time, you will merely be “borrowing” the computer from your university. Just focus on your education and the laptop will be yours in no time.

How to Find Online Colleges that Provide Laptops

Different colleges offer laptops for different reasons, so you may just have to ask around to find out which school is going to be able to help you out. Some colleges offer laptops for all of their students, and others only offer them to students in specific degrees. For instance, an online university may offer laptops to computer science students so they can all study the same devices through their courses. You can speak to an academic adviser at your school of choice to find out whether or not you would qualify for a laptop from the institute.

Additional College Giveaways

While there are plenty of online colleges that provide laptops for students, there are also plenty of them that provide other perks to keep in mind. For instance, some schools will offer free tablet computers to students who qualify for special financial aid options. You could still use an iPad or a similar device to access your online courses as needed, so this could be a secondary option to keep in mind. In rare instances, you may also qualify for a smart phone from the college or even a paid vacation to a foreign country. It all depends on where you choose to go to school and what sort of achievements you have from the past. The more accomplished you are, the higher the likelihood that you will get free perks from college.

How to Get Your Free Laptop for College

To obtain your free laptop for college, you need to find out what sort of program your school offers. You may have to be an incoming freshman or a grad student in order to qualify. If you maintain your grades and your academic attendance, you should be able to get the computer you need without having to pay anything for it. Take a look at your options and see what online colleges could provide a laptop for you.

If you answered “Yes” to envisioning yourself looking forward to such work on Monday mornings, then a business degree may be the right degree for you. Your work will be practical, meaning you will see some tangible benefit in the near future; however, you will never stop planning for the distant future – five to twenty years in the future.

In today’s volatile and ever changing world, preparing for the future will be your greatest challenge. There will always be moving targets. These may include anticipating market trends, consumer buying habits, proper inventory levels, how risky an investment you should consider and whether you should fill the new management position with Jack, who you interviewed yesterday. These are just a few of the many types of challenges you will constantly be facing. Do those challenges sound exciting to you? Will you meet them with constant anxiety about making the wrong decision? Or, will you meet them with excited enthusiasm about your future and the future of the company, as these challenges are being addressed, one by one?

If possible, you also need to think about a specific service, product or product line, or at least a general areas of interest, which you would like to pursue or consider pursuing. College students enrolled in a business degree program, and students enrolled in many other disciplines, very frequently choose a “minor.” This should be a step in the direction of choosing that service, product or area of interest. For example, you might choose a minor in computer science, cosmetology, artistry or physiology. These were deliberately chosen to demonstrate the wide variety of subjects a “minor” may involve. Additionally, some colleges also offer a “designer minor”; this is one you design, based on your own preferences. Normally a minor is chosen toward the end of student’s freshmen year or early in their sophomore year.

Good luck with your decisions!

You have already been accepted. So you are ready to pack up the car, or mom and dad’s car, and take off for a new adventure as a college freshman. Right? Hold on, not so fast! Your enthusiasm is more than admirable, but there are a few important things to consider before hitting the road.

What To Bring and What To Leave
You are not going on vacation, you’re going to college. There is a difference! So bring your toothbrush and just a few other items, namely: a variety of clothes, remembering that winter is coming (or if you are starting in January, spring is coming); a few reference books, remembering that you will be doing a little reading, studying and writing – a dictionary (Yes, even with online dictionaries, it comes in handy.); manuals for your computer, printer and cell phone; any print copies of reference books you may need for your major; your computer, monitor, keyboard and printer (or laptop and printer – the school will not always provide one when you need it) and any peripherals you just can’t do without; portable data storage devices – at least two USB portable drives, a 2 to 4 GB and an 8 to 16 GB should work fine; a desk lamp; an alarm clock (It has to work! Cell phone batteries can fail.); a cell phone or smart phone – including the charger and if its brand new, the manual; regularly taken vitamins, food supplements and medicines; a hard copy of your address book – if for nothing else, to remind you to write to mom and dad once in a while!; and last but not least but most important – an 8×10 of that girlfriend or boyfriend you are leaving behind! Although this is not a comprehensive list, it will be a handy reference.

Then there are a few things worth mentioning that you need to leave behind. These include all books not mentioned above or which you will never read, valuables worth over $500, cash over $30, all pets and any vehicle to which you do not have a title – in your name. From this list, you probably get the message; but just in case, I will spell it out for you. In college anything valuable gets stolen! So be warned and take care of your valuables. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to have really nice things later; after all, that’s part (hopefully a small part) of why you are going to college. Mom and dad, the bank or loan company or the government will be spending or lending huge sums of money on your education; make it worth their while. If you lose valuables, they probably are not going to look favorably on replacing them.

Who To Bring and Who To Leave
Unfortunately or fortunately, you will often have to leave mom and dad, bothers and sisters, friends and other relatives, and that special girlfriend or boyfriend at home. “Unfortunately” does not need explanation; they are family, who will always be missed and difficult to be away from for extended periods. (Which may be your best reason for attending college online!) I say “Fortunately” because, at some time in your life, you have to learn to live independently. Family will not always be there to lean on for anything. You may not admit it, and some of you will not even show it, but all of you will have a period of homesickness. Just grind through it and it will pass, somewhere between a few days and two weeks. Get you mind on your new environment, making new friends and most importantly your classes and studies.

Who should you bring? Just bring yourself and …

The Most Important Item – A Correct Attitude!
Whether attending one of the best colleges online or a traditional college campus, answer these: Are you ready to learn? Do you have a “teachable spirit”? Can you follow instructions? Can you read and follow instructions? And most importantly, are you ready to learn how to learn? If you answered “Yes” to each question, and meant it, then you have “a correct attitude.” If you answered “No” or “Sometimes” to any of these questions, then you do not have a correct attitude and need to change, and change quickly! Otherwise, college will teach you some important lessons, the hard way!

You may be surprised to learn that in college you will not learn everything you need to pursue your chosen career. But you will learn the basics, the major “do’s” and “don’ts” and a little bit about what it is like to work in your chosen field or industry. After graduation is where the real learning begins, out in the real world where life expects you to work, and you can expect a paycheck. Imagine that! After all this time you have been paying someone else for you to work; now someone else is paying you to work! Now that’s a great feeling, especially if you are doing something, or working toward doing something, which you actually enjoy! Employ “a correct attitude” and you will be there before you know it! Good luck and enjoy college. It is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, which you will never forget!

Why Online Nursing Programs Are Beneficial

Online nursing programs have a number of benefits. This is a way for you to earn your online degree at your own pace and to be able to work at the same time. When you are a student in an online nursing program, you will be able to work when you want to. If you have a job, you can come home and do your work, or if you have children in school, you can work when they are out of the house. These programs also allow you to work at a pace that you set whereas traditional courses have you working at a pace set by other students in the classroom or a professor. This is beneficial for many because everyone learns at their own pace. And if you want to graduate sooner, you will be able to. You will also be able to learn your materials more thoroughly. Online nursing programs will save you money because you will not have to pay for gas to fill up your car so that you can drive back and forth to class, nor will you have the outlandish costs of room and board tacked on to your tuition. Finally, you will not have to crawl out of bed and worry about being dismissed from a class for being absent, and you will be able to work in your pajamas!

Schools Offering Online Nursing Programs

There are a number of schools in the country offering these online nursing programs. All you have to do is look and compare! One of the best schools to complete online nursing programs through is Kaplan University. Through Kaplan University, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completely online. This will allow you to become a registered nurse and provide you with so many career opportunities. Other online nursing programs are offered by the University of Phoenix. Taking courses from the University of Phoenix and completing one of their online nurse programs allows you the flexibility and convenience that is so needed. This school is also accredited and will allow you to complete a number of online nursing programs, such as a Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Healthcare Education, Master of Nursing and Integrative Healthcare, Master of Science in Nursing Healthcare Management, RN, to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration. Other schools offering online nursing programs include: Chamberlain College of Nursing, Walden University, South University, Capella University, Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University.

Knowing what you know now about online nursing programs, the benefits they offer, and the schools that offer them, you should be able to make a properly-informed decision as to whether this is the right career choice for you. If you should feel that it is the right thing for you to do to better your life, you will want to choose one of the schools that does offer online nurse programs and get in touch with a guidance counselor representing that school. Once you get enrolled in one of these online nursing programs, you will be well on your way to a better tomorrow!

Benefits of Online MBA Programs

Online MBA programs have so many different benefits. It is important to know about these benefits ahead of time so you know what you have to look forward to. When you enroll in one of these online MBA programs, you will be earning a college degree. The best thing is that you will be earning this degree in your spare time. Whether you have a job, you are a stay-at-home parent taking care of your family, or you are not yet out of high school but you are looking into things for when you do graduate, you should know that these online MBA programs are wonderful choices. You will be able to work at your own pace rather than one that someone else sets for you. Many students find that they hate being in a classroom with other students because those students may grasp things quicker, or they feel rushed or held back by a professor. When you participate in one of these online MBA programs, you will be able to work from anywhere. If you have a job that requires you to travel, you will be able to and not have to worry about missing class. As long as you have an Internet connection, you will be able to complete your school work. Finally, online MBA programs allow you to save money. Many students who take courses on a traditional, college campus either have the expense of commuting or the expense of room and board to live on campus, which can really add up.

Schools Offering Online MBA Programs

One of the best, online MBA programs is offered by the University of Phoenix. This is a very popular school and is well-known and respected. It is also an accredited institution. People are very familiar with the University of Phoenix because it so widely advertised, both online and on television. The University of Phoenix’s online MBA programs allow you to work in your spare time at your own pace. They understand that you may not have a flexible schedule like others do, and they will work with you so that you can get the best education. Once you complete one of these online MBA programs, you will be able to work in a field such as accounting, global management, human resources management, healthcare management, marketing, or even technology management.

Another school offering online MBA programs is Ball University. You can earn a general MBA through Ball University entirely online. Clarion University is another school like Ball University that also offers a general, MBA program. Additional schools offering online MBA programs include but are not limited to: Northeastern University, Walden University, Keller Graduate School, Kaplan University, Capella University, Strayer University, American Intercontinental University, Baker Online and Grand Canyon University.  No matter which of these schools you choose, you are still earning a great education.

Now that you know what you need to do about online MBA programs and the schools that offer them, as well as the benefits of them, you should be able to decide whether or not you want to continue your education using this method. If you should decide that one of these online MBA programs would be right for you, you should not hesitate to get in touch with a guidance counselor at the school of your choosing and speak to them about enrolling in courses. These online MBA programs will help you to better your life and create for you a better tomorrow!