There are two things that most folks going back to school worry about: the time it will take to finish and the money it will cost. One easy way you can save on both time and money is by taking CLEP.

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) gives you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. In some cases you can also earn credit for knowledge you’ve acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships.

CLEP policies vary widely from school to school – for example, some colleges may limit the total amount of credit you can earn through CLEP exams, or some may grant exemption from a course, but give no credit toward a degree, etc.- so before registering for a CLEP exam, be sure to check with your school to determine which exams are accepted and how much credit they will give you. If you are earning an accelerated degree online, be sure to discuss this matter with your advisor or enrollment counselor.

(source: eLearners.com)

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Adult learners who are considering an online degree and who have already earned some college credits during the course of their careers can greatly decrease the time and money spent it takes to earn an online degree by transferring credits from another school. Most higher learning organizations, including online schools, allow the transferring of credits toward a degree.

Even if you don’t have any previous college experience, it’s still possible to earn credits before you enroll! Many online schools, especially those geared toward adults, give credit for knowledge and skills gained through life experience and technical institutes. Although the experience sought typically comes through paid employment, it may also be acquired through volunteer work, as well as company or military training courses. Each online school’s transfer credit requirements and process vary, so it’s important that you verify before making a final decision on a school.

- Online Learning Tips Staff

The right – and wrong – reasons to make a switch

Program dissatisfaction, new career goals, changes in personal life: There are many reasons why college students transfer to another school. In fact a recent survey from the National Center of Education Statistics shows that nearly 60 percent of college graduates had attended two or more institutions prior to graduation.

For many, transferring to another school means the difference between graduating or not. However, such a decision is not without cost.

“You can lose credits, money and time when you transfer,” says Terry Grant, director of enrollment management at the online American Public University System. “But the gains can be just as great.”
Grant and her team of student advisors work with thousands of students each year, helping counsel those considering transferring to APUS.

“We think our online degree programs are among the best in the nation – and we would be pleased if every transfer inquiry resulted in a new student,” says Grant. “But our ultimate goal is to help a student make the right decision for them.”

Good, bad reasons to transfer

Grant says students should consider these good – and bad – reasons for transferring, as they honestly evaluate their own situation.

Good reasons:

• You have changed your degree goals, and your current university does not offer a matching program.
• You can’t make the progress you’d like toward graduation because certain courses are always full or are being cancelled.
• Your professors don’t have the relevant expertise and you feel ill-prepared for the professional world.
• You’re having significant difficulties with university policies and you can’t get the answers you need from the support staff.

Bad reasons:

• You have a personality conflict with a professor or a classmate.
• You are unhappy about the workload or grade from one class.
• You think another university might be easier.

“Be honest with yourself. Do your issues reside more with you than the school?” asks Grant.

How to make the switch

If you feel confident that a transfer is the best path for you, then immediately research your current school’s transfer policies. The best time to switch is when you can exit your current classes without a significant penalty. For traditional schools, you may not be able to enroll until the next semester. Some online universities offer courses year-round, so you can start over fairly quickly. At APUS, for example, courses begin each month and run for eight or 16 weeks.

Work with your new school’s admissions team to evaluate what credits will transfer. Grant’s team, for example, can assist with a preliminary credit evaluation, estimating transfer credits even before you register.

And there’s good news for those who struggled with grades. Your grade point average doesn’t always transfer with your credits. In many cases, you can get a fresh start.

Be prepared that you may lose credits, however. They may not fit into your new degree program or you may have already have satisfied elective requirements. You may also lose credits for those courses taken some time ago, where the coursework may be outdated. This is especially true for rapidly evolving segments, such as the homeland security or intelligence disciplines.

Grant counsels students not to agonize over those lost credits.

“Learning is never wasted. You have still gained that knowledge,” she says.

By Online Learning Tips Staff

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