Online College Degrees Written by Catherine Olivia
Online and distance degrees are gaining in popularity. Many people find flexibility offered with distance learning is a huge benefit while trying to juggle demands of everyday life. Many traditional college institutions are now offering their traditional college couses online as well as some graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Some online colleges have programs that allow you to focus entirely on your field of study making it quicker for you to earn your degree.Most of these online colleges are accredited. This will be important if you want to get a scholarship or if you will want to apply for any type of financial aid and an online college must be accredited if you are going to transfer your credits. Be sure to check. Also, some degrees such as education and nursing require licensing. Make sure that your state accepts degree obtained from an online college. Some distance education programs require that you visit campus a few times each semester. Some online colleges have orientation at beginning of each semester which allows for students to meet with instructors. It is always good to attend these orientations. Some allow program to be completed entirely at home. Some online colleges offer shorter semesters and give a choice of six, eight and ten week semesters. Some colleges offer telecourses which are taped lectures and lessons which you watch at home. Completed ssignments are then mailed to course instructor. Some assignments can be completed on computer and exams e mailed to your instructor. Most schools offer students online help as needed. Some schools allow students use of their online library. Your instructor will be available to you while you complete your course. Instructors generally can be reached by phone during scheduled office hours and can also be reached via e mail. Some colleges offer students interaction with other distance learning students through chats, online message boards and study groups.
| | Lost Your Job? Good for You!Written by Karen Walker
Losing your job is a shock no matter how it happens. Fired, laid off, downsized-it's all spelled 'unemployed'. But once shock of a job loss wears off, you might discover there can be real benefits to being unemployed By looking for positive aspects of your situation, you can start to achieve life you've always dreamed of. The first benefit of being jobless is that it gives a person time to re-evaluate life. Where am I going in my career path? Is this where I want to be? How does this mesh with other areas of my life? In what areas do I need to create more balance? Take some quiet time to reflect on where you are now, and start to carve out a path that leads to your ideal life. Put in writing answers to these questions so you can look back on them in future and track how you are progressing towards your goals. Another benefit is that being jobless forces you to reassess your job skills. Do you have skills and experience to do type of work you really want? If not, what will it take to get that level of skills and experience? What skills do you already posses that you'd like to build and improve upon? Once you have a list, get busy honing those skills to get where you want to be. There are many resources for additional training and support, something for every budget. It doesn't hurt to ask about sources of training available in your area. A call to your local Job Service office can put you on right track. And of course, read. At library, a bookstore or on Internet- there is a never-ending list of resources available in print. Somewhere there will be an information source to learn skills you need. The biggest benefit of unemployment may be doors of opportunity that will open when you are free to make changes. Now is your chance to go after that dream job. Or maybe you've always wanted to own a business. Depending on type of business, how much you have to invest of your own funds and credit you qualify for, there is a world of options available to you as a new business start up. If you desire a high level of support, purchasing an existing business or franchise may be an option to look at. But be careful! Often owning a small business means trading in a boss for equivalent of a job (since you still have to show up at work place every day), only with longer hours, lower pay and a host of other expenses and headaches you didn't have before. Since you’ll be working long hours, make sure you love what you do.
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