The Basics of Attending an Online University

Posted

12/31/2009

The definition of an online university:

An online university is an institution that is certified to allow you to earn a degree without attending a campus. You are able to listen to lectures, interact with students and perform assignments anywhere you have access to a computer. You communicate with your professors and colleagues via e-mail, message boards and messenger services. You may even talk to your professor on the phone. This works wonders for those who have rigid schedules they cannot alter and those are lack the discipline or time to attend a real lecture in person.

Education structured for the student:

These courses are made to fit every type of student. If you had troubles in classrooms and did not perform to your maximum in person, perhaps learning online is best for you. You ultimately decide how to finish your degree, whether you want to dedicate half your day everyday to work or half an hour every other day, every route is customizable for your needs. Courses are structured with visual aids like power point presentations and discussions are as vivid as in a real classroom but done electronically, allowing you to voice your opinion easier than raising your hand.

Education is same or better quality than at a brick and mortar institution:

Researcher Thomas L. Russell performed extensive research on distance learning and found no difference in the quality of education. His book, The No-Significant-Difference Phenomenon reveals this research and more as he parsed through over 300 scientific studies on the subject.

Receiving information is a breeze.

The first step in attending an online university is to contact the schools of interest and request information to be sent to you. This is as easy as going on their website and filling out a form that takes less than 5 minutes to fill out. These schools will then assign you to an Enrollment Counselor who aids you in enrollment and answers all the questions you have about distance learning. If you require financial aid, online schools are able to set you up with another counselor who will get you the resources you require for your financial needs.