The Advantages of Online College

Posted by Carlisa on January 11th, 2010

It's time to put the distractions of the holidays behind us and get back into the grind. We've all made New Year's Resolutions to do good things in 2010 and improve ourselves, right?  What better way to do that than to try a new challenge. So, for those considering going back to school to further your education, get that degree that you never got, to get another degree, or to just broaden your knowledge on any subject – do it now.

Life is short.  It’s a really good feeling to test yourself and realize that you still have abilities. I am a regular Georgia gal, soon to turn 50, sharing my story of going back to school.  I'm happy to be pursuing my education online, and if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Since schools have just started back after the holidays, I'm really glad my classes are online for many reasons.  And yes, I have a list.

1. Schedule – I have a crazy schedule, as do a lot of other students, so the online classes allow me to fit my classes into a busy day.  There are many students attending AIU that are also working full time jobs and/or have children at home, but can attend at their convenience.
2. Convenience – This may go along with “Schedule”, but deserves its own acknowledgement for a couple of reasons.  Again, you don’t have travel time, so you can have more quality time with loved ones, or more study time, rest time, etc.  Also, you can attend archived classes 24/7!
3. Location – For those that don't have a brick and mortar campus close by, online classes are the way to go.  We have students attending from all over the country and around the world.
4. Weather – Right now, even in Georgia, there is snow on the ground and temperatures range from the teens to the thirties.  Later in the week, we’ll warm up into the 40's, but still, I don't personally like to get out in that kind of cold!  We've also had several days of continued rainfall, and it's dangerous to drive in the rain.  Personally I would HATE to have to find parking and wade through puddles far away from the entrance to a brick and mortar campus, while trying to tote my necessary books, purse and umbrella, just to ruin my favorite shoes and catch a cold from getting wet!
5. Illness -  Whether you're sick and don't want to spread to someone else, you need extra R&R,  or you just don't want to catch someone else's sickness, online classes are the way to go.  Let's not forget those highly contagious, illnesses, like Swine Flu.   I must confess that after I toured a couple of brick and mortar campuses, I started thinking of having to share the schools computers, limited breathing space, etc, with students who may be contagious with who knows what.  That was a big determining factor in my decision to go with the online education.  Does that make me OCD?  No, just careful.
6. Gas/etc Prices – If you don't have a campus close by, then you would need to spend a LOT of money on gasoline to get back and forth to a physical campus.  And if the uncertainty of gasoline prices isn't scary enough, there's also the cost of the new tires/brakes/brake pads/transmissions fluids, etc that you would have to invest in if driving to campus.
7. It’s Green -  This goes along with numbers 1, 2, and 3 above.  Remember, when you're taking classes online you're not just saving money.  The impact on the environment is greatly reduced.  You’re going green!

Getting financial aid for online college

Posted by Carlisa on December 11th, 2009

In my first blog about attending an online college, I mentioned that I did a lot of research on all my higher education options.  To be more specific, I mean a WHOLE LOT of research.  I compared them ALL and compiled lots and lots of notes about each school.  I also called area brick and mortar colleges that are physically close to me, and researched them online.  I wanted to give both online colleges and brick and mortar colleges equal consideration, depending on what they had to offer me in terms of cost, financial aid, accreditation, etc.

I found out during my initial calls that I was indeed eligible for financial aid.  All of the school reps I spoke to assured me that their Financial Aid Department had a multitude of financial aid opportunities.  Between all the available grants, scholarships, student loans and personal loans, I felt very encouraged.  Plus 90% of the schools also had a payment plan!

I learned that one of the first things to investigate in your quest for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA form is submitted to, and processed by a federal processor contracted by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the results are electronically transmitted to the financial aid offices of the schools that you list on your application.

The FAFSA form requires you to provide information about your family's income, which will be used to determine your Expected Family Contribution toward paying for the cost of your education. The difference between your EFC and the costs of attending school is calculated as your financial need.  You can search "FAFSA" and get several links to specific sites or just go directly to:

www.fafsa.com
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsa.jsp

As part of the FAFSA process, you will need to acquire a PIN.  The PIN is your US Department of Education identifier that you use to electronically sign the FAFSA. If you do not have a PIN, you may apply for one at http://pin.ed.gov

While researching financial aid opportunities, I was amazed and thrilled at all the info at my fingertips on the web. In Google (or your favorite search engine) just start typing keywords to search for.  Remember that you will get some differing results from different search engines.  Some suggested search terms are:

Unsubsidized Stafford, Subsidized Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, Grad PLUS, Pell Grants, ACG, SMART, SEOG Program, grants, scholarships, student loans, and other Title IV grant and loan programs.

Once you decide on a college, they should have a Financial Aid Department with a list of places that you can get financial aid.  If they don't have a FAD willing to help you find financial aid… then find another school!

Helpful financial aid websites:

www.onlinestudentfinancialaid.com
www.ifap.ed.gov
www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.salliemae.com/before_college
www.nasfaa.org/redisign/parentsstudents.html
www.knowhow2go.org
www.going2college.org/StateResources
www.nslds.ed.gov/
www.simpletuition.com/home
www.finaid.com
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/8936.html
www.collegescholarships.org/grants/

Introducing Carlisa, our Online College student

Posted by Carlisa on November 18th, 2009

I'm a new "blogger" and like most people today, I had personal goals and dreams that changed as life happened around me. In this blog, I invite you to follow along in my journey of getting an online college degree through AIU (American Intercontinental University).

I graduated high school in Alabama in 1979 (OMG, I just realized, it's been 30 years!).  To make long story short, "Life Happened".  I met a guy, got married, had children, became a gymnastics/ballet/girl scout/soccer mom, a Sunday school teacher, and worked in various radio stations.

Jump ahead 27 years.  I'm now divorced, my kids are grown and I have 2 grandchildren.  The state of the economy caused the group of radio stations that I worked with to downsize, so I lost my job.  I moved to Georgia to be near my parents and tried desperately to find another radio job.  In my attempt to find "work" I saw the same requirements, over and over.  It was quite apparent that to get a good job – a career – I needed to get a Bachelors Degree. All of a sudden I realized that the ringing in my ears was actually my dad's voice in my head – something about having a "back-up plan"!

The thought of going back to school seemed crazy, but exciting!  I mean, I barely graduated high school (again, 30 years ago!).  I'm not a particularly "scholarly" person and just couldn't imagine myself being able to follow through.  Plus, I'll be turning 50 on my next Birthday. "Is there really any sense in getting a college degree at this age", I asked myself.   Also "isn't college expensive"?  But everywhere I looked, there were ads enticing me "Moms, Go Back to School"!  All the talk about getting government grants, student loans and scholarships to further my education peaked my interest.

My first step was to start researching all the possibilities.  I'm not one to make quick decisions.  I had to do a lot of investigating and compiling and comparing of information.  It turns out that I was indeed eligible for grants, scholarships and student loans.  I started calling area schools and researching the many online college and "brick and mortar" college options.  I took lots of notes as I asked loads of questions and compared the details for all the colleges that I was considering.  My phone was ringing off the hook as admission advisors were constantly calling me back trying to win my enrollment.

I weighed the pros and cons of being in an actual classroom with other students for classes, vs being at home alone with my computer for online classes.  There were many decisions to be made.  In my next blogs, I'll walk you through getting into AIU and my online college experiences.

Washington Post predicts a "virtual revolution" for colleges

Posted by Caitlin on September 21st, 2009

A recent article in the Washington Post argues that the business model for private colleges in the United States is unsustainable, and that for future generations, undergraduate education may entail a different model altogether. The article points out that online classes are cheaper to produce, making online education a more cost effective option, as well as being more efficient. The Post makes a compelling argument for the increased influence of the Internet on educational institutions, standards and expectations, and predicts a cultural shift in the way employers perceive online degrees.

If you are considering pursuing a degree over the Internet, you may find our reviews and comparisons of the top online colleges and universities helpful.

New study reveals the benefits of online education

Posted by Caitlin on August 24th, 2009

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a report on online education. The study, which examined the comparative research on online versus traditional classroom teaching from 1996 to 2008, concluded that, "On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction." Most of the comparative studies focused on colleges and adult continuing education programs.

Barbara Means, the study's lead author, said, "The study's major significance lies in demonstrating that online learning today is not just better than nothing — it actually tends to be better than conventional instruction." The New York Times points out that new online tools such as instant messaging and web-based video have helped to enrich the online education experience in recent years, and that online education fostors learning opportunities that are more specifically tailored to individual students.

NextAdvisor.com has reviewed many of the most prominent online colleges and universities. If you are interested in learning more about online education options, take a look at our helpful and informative reviews, comparison chart, and answers to frequently asked questions.

A cat earns her degree online

Posted by Caitlin on August 19th, 2009

A Georgia cat named Oreo was recently awarded a diploma from Jefferson High School Online. In reality, Oreo's owner, Kelvin Collins, paid the $200 fee and answered the test questions on the cat's behalf. Collins works for the Better Business Bureau and enrolled Oreo at Jefferson High School Online, which is based in the Carribean, in order to expose diploma mills. There are many online institutions that are more than happy to provide meaningless diplomas for a relatively low price. But those diplomas, and most of the time spent earning them, are utterly worthless.

Online education can be a valuable and worthwhile option, but it's important to do your research and select a reputable institution. A degree from a reputable online college or university can help you advance your career, increase your salary or break into a new field. To learn more about some of the top rated online degree programs, take a look at our reviews and comparison chart.

First online girl's school set to launch in 2010

Posted by Joe on June 24th, 2009

A group of exclusive private all-girl's secondary schools in Tennessee, Maryland, Ohio and Connecticut are joining forces to launch the Online School for Girls, the first online school focused on same-sex education.

The school will offer a variety of secondary school schools including math, science and humanities according to a report in the Nashville Business Journal. Faculty from the Harpeth Hall School, Holton-Arms School, Laurel School and Westover School will all be involved in creating and teaching the curriculum.

Classes will begin this fall and be affordably priced so that secondary school aged girls from around the world can take advantage of the opportunity. The Online School for Girls joins a growing number of online educational opportunities for high school students. It is estimated that more than 1 million secondary students took an online course during the 2007-2008 school year.

This explosion of online secondary school options will undoubtedly continue to feed the growth of online universities in the United States and around the world.

We have reviewed several online colleges and universities. You can read our comparison and reviews of online colleges and universities to learn more.

Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights includes special protections for college students

Posted by Joe on June 8th, 2009

While the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights offer protections for all Americans, there are a few amendments that specifically designed to help prevent college students from racking up thousands of dollars of debt while they are still undergrads.

First, there are much more strict limits on the amount of credit that can be offered up to a college student by an issuing bank. A student without a co-signer is limited to the greater of 20% of that students annual income or $500. While this may limit some students access to credit, it ensures that the particular individual is not put in a position where they have more spending power than they are reasonable able to pay back. We believe this should help most students develop positive credit usage habits and prevent heaps of unpaid debt from racking up.

Next, banks are prohibited from providing inducements to students in exchange for completing a credit card application. Anyone who has spent any time on a college campus over the last two decades knows how common the practice of providing incentives such as t-shirts, mugs, hats or even candy bars in exchange for signing up for a credit card. We see this as a positive move in that it removes a certain level of frivolity from the process of signing up for a credit card.

Finally, banks must disclose the terms of so called "affinity agreements" between credit card issuing banks and universities. These agreements typically give a bank exclusive rights to market credit cards with the college or university's logos to students and alumni in exchange for marketing fees. This is good for several reasons, but probably the most important has to do with privacy. Often affinity agreements allow banks to have access to significant amounts of personal information and we think it is good that this part of the bill of rights allows students to know exactly how their information may be used by outside parties.

You can learn more about credit cards for college students and tools to monitor credit reports and scores by reading our reviews and comparisons.

Does University of Phoenix offer financial aid?

Posted by Caitlin on April 10th, 2009

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.

Q: Does University of Phoenix offer financial aid? If so, what are the requirements to apply for financial aid?

A: University of Phoenix has several financial aid options available for students. If you are unable to pay your tuition partially or in full, you need to find a primary source of financial aid to cover the balance. If you cannot find a single source to cover the balance, you will need to find multiple sources of financial aid.

If your employer is willing to reimburse you for educational expenses, the University of Phoenix will defer your payments for 60 days from the beginning of your courses. Some companies allow direct billing, which means that you can send your tuition invoice directly to your employer.

If you have served in the military, the University of Phoenix will accept Military Tuition Assistance funds. You will have to consult directly with the University of Phoenix's financial aid department in order to utilize these benefits.

Student loans are another option to consider.You should contact the financial aid department directly regarding private loans, which will vary depending on your major and location.

The University of Phoenix also offers scholarships. You can browse scholarship options at the University of Phoenix alumni association website.

Federal financial aid is limited and is contingent upon your degree or certificate program. If you have been accepted to a degree or certificate program, you may be eligible for the Federal Pell, Academic Competitiveness, National SMART and SEOG Grant Programs, the Federal Family Educational Loan Programs (Stafford subsidized, Stafford unsubsidized and PLUS Loans) and/or the Federal Perkins Loan Programs.

It is also possible to defer tuition payment for the duration one school term but after this time, the deferment must be renewed and you must meet certain requirements.

Financial aid can be revoked at any time if you do not meet a minimum enrollment or GPA requirement. You can learn more about financial aid options by contacting the University of Phoenix financial aid department when you request information or apply.

For more information about University of Phoenix or other online universities, see our reviews and comparison chart.

The Internet can save you gas money!

Posted by Caitlin on June 20th, 2008

On Earth Day, we posted some tips for living a more eco-friendly lifestyle with the help of online services. One suggestion was to attend an online college or university, since it reduces the environmental impact of getting an education. ABC recently ran a story informing viewers that online classes are gaining in popularity as a result of high gas prices. Driving to and from classes is getting pretty pricey at some campuses, but with the help of the Internet all that money can be saved.

Other online services can save you time and gas as well. With an online DVD rental service like Netflix, you avoid driving to and from the store every time you'd like to watch a movie, and online diet programs give you support and encouragement in the comfort of your own home.

To learn more about online education programs, online DVD rental services, and online diet programs, take a look at our reviews and comparisons.