How Do You Choose Which College To Attend?
Feb.02, 2010 in
College Selection
I am almost 30, never been to college. I can’t get the job I want without a bachelor degree. I have 10 years experience however with no degree I am frowned upon. I am looking at going and finally getting that degree. I am a single mom so I will need financial help. I would like to do my degree online if possible. How do I find a college? I have googled colleges but I do not know which one is a good one. I am in the Kansas City area looking to persue an HR degree. Thanks.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:28 am
Most employers seem to strongly prefer that you do your degree in person, not online. In addition, most students seem to find in-person classes easier than online classes.
If you can get to a campus, do so. If you can not – if your life really means that it’s best for you do take your classes online, which I can understand as a mom myself – then that’s fine, but pick your online college wisely. First, it must be regionally accredited – that is a must. If it’s not, then a lot of employers won’t accept those degrees as valid, and you often can’t transfer credits to a new school if you need to change. In addition, if you go to a regionally accredited school, you’ll qualify for more types of financial aid, and at lower interest rates (re: loans) than you would if you go to a school that is not regionally accredited.
You’d also do best picking an online degree from a school that’s not famous for being online or for-profit, as again, some employers look down on those. Instead, pick an online degree from a school that’s known for their offline programs – for being a brick and mortar school. So rather than U of Phoenix, AIU, Strayer, Kaplan, Walden, or Devry or the like, instead look at the online degrees from quality schools like UMass Amherst, Penn State, U Maryland, Northeastern, etc. In fact, check the community colleges and public state universities in Kansas. I bet a lot of them offer online degrees, and because you’re in-state Kansas, you get the lower Kansas resident tuition rate. That can save you a LOT of money. And if you get your online degree from a school that’s kind of commutable from your home or work (say, 3 hours drive?), no one can tell from your resume that you did it online.
And a lot of adult students prefer to do an associates via a community college first, then transfer to a bachelors degree program, if only because it means that if they can’t complete their full plans – if you never quite get to that bachelors – you can stop mid-way through and have the associates. And ccs are certainly your least expensive option, and they are reputable.
Note that you’ll usually get more grants and scholarships, which you don’t need to pay back, if you go to school in person rather than online. If you go online, more of your aid will be in the form of loans. But again, if you can go to a public college in Kansas, that would really save you a lot of money, because you qualify for the lower in-state tuition rate.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Because you are older than a typical student does not mean you are barred from advancing in your academical career.
You have the chance to grow and succeed just like every 17,18, or 19 teen.
However, since you haven’t check been in school for a while, you might have to start at a community college in your area.
They are convenient, inexpensive, and have flexible schedules-perfect institution to mold to your schedule and needs.
Then from there, you can transfer over to a four year college after those two years.
Your educational costs are cuut in half because youre spending your first 2 years of college in an inexpensive community college, then finishing your other 2 years at a more exclusive university.
Here is a helpful link, thatll help you surely:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2343891_be-successful-even-broken-home.html
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I work at a University that have a lot of adults that attend. people that want to advance in their careers. We have over 180 locations in North America and you can also take your course on-line. If you are over 24 years old and fill out your financial aid, you can actually be able to fund part time classes with out paying anything until graduation. We are a fully accredited university and have a lot of majors to chose from, you should email me if you have interest and really frustrated with your current employment situation. Also, we place grads in jobs. 93% of our grads are employed averaging $46,000 and they dont have nearly the experiance you have.
contact me
jjennings@devry.edu