It's Still Not Too Late

A few weeks back, I forgot an important possibility for anyone who wants to get started on a college degree, or just wants to get more education in their field of interest. My friend Emilie, via Facebook, reminds me that there is still another alternative to appearing on your chosen college campus every week. Use what's right in front of you to take classes online.

St. Martin's University, the school I'm attending, offers an ever-growing list of online classes, as many private, non-profit colleges do. More classes become available every semester as professors discover that people do learn online, and that teaching this way can be productive for the instructor as well. Students who participate in this kind of instruction successfully are motivated and interested -- which describes you, right?

This type of instruction is also available through state-funded schools like the University of Washington, Washington State University, and the community college system. These schools have a lot going for them: they cost less than similar programs available through for-profit schools, like the ones advertised on television, and the public and non-profit private colleges are accredited.

Accreditation is very important if someday you hope to actually get a degree. The for-profit school are not usually accredited, so any work you do through them is never going to be added to your transcript as you pursue an academic degree.

Also, student recruitment at the for-profit schools tends to be through what's called the marketing department.

Online classes at a university will still require the whole application and enrollment process, but once you've filled out most of those forms, you won't have to do it again. You'll be able to work on your studies as you have time, and you'll be able to ask questions via email or dedicated Web sites set up for each class. Scholarships are available in some programs.

While some distance learning does require that you show up on campus occasionally, that depends on what you are studying. For example, the University of Washington School of Nursing distance learning program for ARNPs calls for some face time with the instructor, but some classes like introductory philosophy from Centralia College are totally online.

This is a way to get all those irritating required classes in math and botany out of the way before you start going to the campus for those advanced classes in your major. You do not have to take all the online classes from the same school, as long as you're willing to pay for separate official transcripts from each one when you apply for admission at the school where you finally get your degree.

So, are you going over to Google right now to look for your next online class, or what?