You can’t prepare for something when you don’t know what it is. If you have never experienced an online school before, now is your chance to become familiar with the online learning environment.

This is not your typical college fair. It is a real-time meet and greet with real students, staff, faculty and alumni from American Public University System, which includes American Military University and American Public University.

Who: American Public University System
What: Virtual College Fair
Where: Online
When: April 10, 2012
Time: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
How to register: Visit College Week Live for more details on attending.

What can you expect from this event?

• Live video and chat sessions with academics reps
• How to choose an academic program
• Overview of the admissions process
• Federal student aid information
• Military TA/Veteran Benefits
• Tuition Schedule
• A live step by step of the entire FAFSA process
• Special ask the faculty live session
• Exploring the classroom and e-campus
• Live presentation of student life in the online classroom
• Chat with Student Affairs, Career Services, and more University social groups

Reserve your spot today by registering for American Public University’s live virtual college fair.

Here’s a quick history refresher. In 1906, Upton Sinclair wrote, “The Jungle,” which publicized unsanitary food processing conditions in the meatpacking industry leaving countless Americans dismayed and wondering, what’s in the sausage?

The novel sparked the Meat Inspection Act, regulations that paved the way to the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. Now, we have detailed nutrition labels on all foods. We as consumers get to know the tidbits of every product right down to those long laboratory words like maltodextrin or hydrolyzed corn (and yet strangely we’re still wondering, what is that?).

As prospective college students, shouldn’t we also have the right to know exactly what we’re buying upfront?

Yes!

But before you decide to organize an Occupy Higher Education rally, relax, college food labels are already here, metaphorically speaking.

Although some institutions of higher learning like American Public University already lead the way in keeping tuition costs low and transparent, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) wanted to ensure ALL colleges (online or offline) clearly communicate key information so that applicants are choosing the best college for their individual needs.

Here’s how you can “read the label.” Let’s say you’re interested in an advanced degree designed for business professionals. At American Public University’s website, you can click on the degree and visit www.apus.edu/disclosure. You’ll see vital stats like tuition & fees, annual completion rates, and median loan debts in one simple snapshot.

The disclosure statement should always be prominent on every college’s degree program site. And in case you want independent verification, it’s always a good idea to visit the online College Affordability and Transparency Center, where you can compare key stats amongst various public and private colleges alike. You can even generate your own unique report.

With all this valuable information at your fingertips, it’s time to get a little educated before you get an education.

By J. Thompson
Online Learning Tips Staff

Just like typical college professors, online college professors are more than happy to help students who feel confused or are struggling with their schoolwork.  That’s their job!  Instructors are here to help you learn and have an optimal educational experience.  Online is just the format, so don’t let it lead you to believing you cannot interact with your instructor. 

Most professors, however, won’t go out of their way to ask you if you need help.  They are busy grading papers and preparing their lesson plans.  So, don’t be afraid to speak up, and do so as soon as you start feeling unsure about a concept or lesson. If you wait until the end of the semester, you won’t be prepared for tests and the confusion will only snowball until it’s unmanageable.  Additionally, a little virtual “face time” with your professor may go a long way in your understanding of the class.

Source: Best Online Universities

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Like many of us, you have considered returning to school many times – and then life got in the way. You have weighed the sacrifices of time and money and couldn’t think of a way to make it all work. And you have new reason to worry about cost, in particular, given the down economy. Heck, with your household budget shrinking before your eyes, how can you consider shelling out the money that it will take to earn a degree, despite the wisdom that future opportunities will make that investment worthwhile? So, you’ve set that goal aside yet again. It may sound ridiculous, but current economic conditions actually indicate that this is an ideal time to go back to school. Consider the following:

A tight economy means you must find a competitive edge.

With gas prices at the current levels, you also have to consider how much money it will take to commute to and from school. If you choose to go to school online, you won’t have to factor the cost into the equation!

When it comes to cost, also be sure to look into the tuition dollars and reimbursement programs available through your employer. Programs will vary, and you will want an understanding of what is covered in terms of curriculum as it relates to your job responsibilities as well as caps on costs, the payout timeline and any payback responsibilities you may have upon termination of the employment relationship.

Ultimately, you want to make a smart – not a cheap – decision. It won’t make sense for you to pay less for your degree if the quality of the education is not good. At the end of the day, you are investing time and money to gain knowledge that will help you advance in your career. When it comes to assessing quality, you have help. Regional accrediting bodies assess and monitor the quality of education provided at higher education institutions, so make sure your chosen school meets their criterion and is accredited. You will also want to ask students and alumni about their experiences with the reputation of the degree among employers. (If you don’t know any personally, visit online forums on school groups within social networking communities and/or ask the school’s admissions counselors to speak with someone directly.)

The bottom line is that, in this economy, you need to keep your skills and knowledge current to advance – much less maintain – your career opportunities. Perhaps the greatest cost that you can’t afford is to be left behind while your peers enhance their skills. With today’s affordable and convenient online education options, you can make it work! So, what are you waiting for? Get on the couch, power up your laptop, and take the first step.

By Online Learning Tips Staff

There is no doubt online degree programs can be an important option for those serving in the military and others who require or desire the flexibility that distance learning offers. As more schools begin offering courses online, it can be difficult to weed through the options. How do you know if a school is credible? How can you tell whether the degree program is a fit for you?

Here are some tips to help you navigate the many online programs available today.

Where to start?
The most important resources to consider are those closest to you — your friends, colleagues and advisors. These trusted sources can provide the honest, objective opinions to help you make the best decision. What’s more, their opinions often reflect how future employers will view your degree. Your degree — and the university from which you graduate — should tell employers you have the knowledge and commitment necessary to succeed in the workplace.

Researching schools online
The next step is to research data available from the universities and other educational resources. Researching online is a logical place to begin your search. Start with a series of keyword searches on a major search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. Be specific and move beyond broad keywords like “online degree” or “university.” Instead, consider keywords related to your desired program of study — “online psychology degree” or “online homeland security degree,” for example. This will narrow results to those schools with your desired program.

The search results will likely offer links to schools as well as to education directories or education portals. Directories and portals provide information about multiple schools and may have no affiliation with the schools themselves. They can be an efficient way to identify and compare potential schools.

When evaluating information from these sources, keep these tips in mind:

• Some directories are very comprehensive, while others promote only one or a few schools. One way to tell is to look for advertising contact information. If the site does not list contact information, such as a phone number, it probably is a third-party site marketing for the school(s) listed.
• Even comprehensive directories present varying degrees of information. For example, www.gradschools.com offers basic free listings as well as sells enhanced listings to schools.
• Some directories only list those universities that advertise with them. With this model, a school typically pays the site for “leads” — the contact information you fill out in an online form when you request information.

The bottom line: Directories and portals are a good place to start your research, but should not be your only method. You may want to consider other online information sources, such as blogs. Keep in mind, though, that some are “marketers” in disguise.

Next step: University Web Sites
Once you narrow down a list of schools, go directly to the schools’ web sites to gather program details. Research such information as:

• Details about the school, its mission, affiliations, etc.
• Program and course offerings
• Pre-requisites and entrance requirements
• Faculty credentials and accreditation status – Make sure the institution’s accrediting body is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Tuition, fees, financial aid and scholarship options
• Specifics about the online classroom experience, including login requirements

Some sites may offer a virtual tour of the university and a look inside the “e-classroom.” Tours can help you gauge how much students and professors interact. For example, does the course offer discussion groups? Are audio or video technologies used in the classroom? Also, look for asynchronous ways to interact, such as newsgroups and web forums. Asynchronous means that you do not have to log in at a certain time to participate. Synchronous tools, on the other hand, require you to log in at specific times. They include live chats, shared whiteboards, teleconferences or video-conferences.

Digging deeper
Now, you’re ready to start communicating with the school directly. Find out about the school’s experience with online education — and how long they have been offering your particular program. Ask to speak with students and alumni about their experiences. Find out how their degrees influenced career opportunities.

Here’s what one graduate from an online school has to say about his choice: “My master’s courses helped me become a better military intelligence officer — and a better business owner,” says Hans Mumm, who graduated with his master’s degree in strategic intelligence from American Public University System (APUS). Mumm is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He also owns a robotics company.

“I’ve gained that competitive edge,” he says. Once you have explored these topics, you are well on your way to hitting the books at the school that’s right for you.

By Jim Herhusky
Jim Herhusky is a former executive vice president at American Public University System. Herhusky served in the U.S. Army for 25 years.

Online education gives working adults a valuable key to unlocking a solid career, offering students thousands of degree program choices that are time-flexible, affordable and accredited.

Roughly 20 percent of all college students enrolled for classes in 2006 reported taking some kind of online course, and a survey of chief academic officers indicates that student demand for such online options keeps growing.

Terry Grant, who has helped thousands of students through the online enrollment process at American Public University, says there’s a four-stage process that students generally must take to enroll in a course of online study.

Gathering Information

Grant said students should not begin the application process until they know what they need and want from an online program.

“When the student is in the information stage, they’re more interested in finding a school that will meet their career goals,” say Grant. “We encourage students to do homework on their career first. Find companies who hire for that kind of work and see what they’re looking for in terms of education.”

Look for an online school that offers the training needed to land a specific job. Ask yourself whether you will need a degree at the end of the program and if so, how long it will take to complete. (A good rule of thumb is to expect a three-hour undergraduate class to require between 10 to 12 hours a week of study.)

Find a school that’s accredited.

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process. However, The U.S. Department of Education formally recognizes accrediting commissions that meet all federal standards.
(Source: U.S. Department of Education)

Ask if credit hours you already have will transfer. Ask whether credits earned with this online school can transfer to other institutions. And ask whether federal student aid is available at that school.

Finally, understand what your online education will cost.

“These are the things students should be looking for when they’re shopping around for a school,” Grant said. “It’s what we talk with students about most often.”

Enrollment

With a school and program identified, applying for admission is next. Along with completing the application, be sure the school receives copies of transcripts or other admission paperwork as soon as possible.

“At our university, once you are accepted you can enroll for classes immediately. Students can evaluate their readiness for studying with our ‘Foundations of Online Learning’,” says Grant. “It makes students comfortable with the online learning environment and sets them up for success.”

Transferring Credits

Most incoming students will want to apply credit for previous classes or other forms of training to their new online learning program. This usually involves a fee for an assessment of the classes or training you’d like to transfer.

“Once the evaluation is done,” says Grant, “you’ll know how many credits have transferred as an elective or required class. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by getting credit for studies you’ve already completed.”

Tuition and Financial Aid

A variety of payment options are usually available for online study at an accredited school. These include:

• Military tuition assistance, VA benefits or GI Bill funds for service members or veterans.
• Employers’ tuition reimbursement programs may cover direct payment for tuition, or reimburse students after courses are successfully completed.
• Federal student aid. Apply early — six to eight weeks before class starts — because the process could take as long as two months. Your school can help you with more information. You can apply online for federal aid with Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. If the application is approved, you’ll be notified regarding how much aid you’ll get, and how much you’ll be expected contribute immediately.

At many online schools, students may choose an automatic debit plan that allows them to split their tuition payments.  Once tuition is paid, the enrollment process is completed and class work begins.

A good online university will also have a team of well-trained admissions advisors to walk students through each step.

“We’re here to make sure this is a painless, smooth and easy process,” Grant said. “We will work with the student, the department chair and admissions advisors to make sure each student is enrolled in the best degree program possible.”

By Online Learning Tips Staff

In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, many working adults don’t have much time to catch their breath, let alone think about going back to school. The traditional model of advanced education would seem daunting – finding the time to get to class and study while balancing family obligations. And don’t even mention the cost!

Well times certainly have changed. And in this economy, we have no choice but to think differently. If the job market looks unstable, maybe it’s time to think about getting another degree in your field of interest. The College Board’s “Education Pays 2007” report shows that over a working life, the typical full-time, year-round employee with a four-year college degree earns more than 60 percent more than someone with only a high school diploma. Those with master’s degrees earn almost twice as much per year. So, how can you find a school that’s right for you and be able to afford it? What about earning your Master’s degree online?

Bill McGann is studying for a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management online from American Public University (APU). People questioned McGann’s decision to earn a master’s degree. He had more than 25 years in the field – and served six years in the Marine Corps.

“The fact is, in many careers, continuing education is a necessity,” said McGann. His work in the fire and rescue community demands constant training and education. “These fields are constantly changing, and the importance of staying in the classroom cannot be overemphasized.”

Because of his busy schedule, earning his degree online made perfect sense. It was affordable and convenient and fit into his busy lifestyle. He was even able to continue coursework while helping with California wildfire rescue efforts – a mission that took him away from home for weeks.

He also researched the school’s accreditation. APU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission’s North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The HLC also accredits traditional universities. That accreditation made him feel more comfortable in his choice of an online university.

McGann is nearly finished with his degree and knows that studying online allowed him to continue his demanding job and work on another degree to advance his career.

By Online Learning Tips Staff