Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Getting an Online Degree

Can you bypass the four-year process of getting an online degree for a few extra bucks? If your answer is “no,” give yourself a pat on the back. It’s alarming how many people actually fall for spam e-mails that advertise “easy” or “instant” anything.

Falling for quickie degree programs is just one of the top common mistake that students enrolled in online unviersiities tend to make. Here’s how to avoid it (and how to avoid two other big mistakes):

MISTAKE: Not Picking an Accredited, Established Program: All you have to do is search for “online degree” and you’ll come up with hundreds of websites touting thousands of online-degree programs that fit your schedule. some of them are well-known, accredited and established institutions (like University of Phoenix), while others are much more obscure -- and will only cause you troule later when you’re applying to a job.

HOW TO AVOID: Do your homework. Don’t just check a potential college’s website. Dig deeper to find out about financial requirements, read student testimonials, call the school to speak to an academic advisor, and see if you can schedule an interview with a local teaching assistant or alumnus. Also, be sure to check that the university is accredited (do a quick search through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College, http://www.ncahlc.org/)

MISTAKE: Thinking online school is easier. Underestimateing the amount of time you’ll need to complete online courses is a common mistake -- but perhaps the most costly in the long run. Because there is less structure (you can attend class in your PJs if you want!), you might just think you can log in and zone out while your peers pay attention to the chatroom discussions -- especially for students who aren’t used to managing their own schedules.

HOW TO AVOID: Focus on time management and stick to a serious school schedule. Lots of students initially take on big courseloads that -- in addition to their 9-to-5 jobs -- could ultimately lead to accademic burnout. That’s why it’s important to set a realistic study schedule that works with your time constraints and preferences. Are you a morning person? Set aside a couple of hours before work to fix essays or read a lab report. Consider buying a planner.

MISTAKE: Under-utilizing resources. Students who get confused during a class lecture might be eager to approach a teacher in person, but put off or intimidated about e-mailing or calling a teacher with a followup question. But those teachers are there for you, too -- as are libraries (online and in-building) and other materials you will need to succeed.

HOW TO AVOID: Take advantage of your program! Make sure you ask plenty of questions, use free tools (like Lexus Nexus) and chatrooms to get the most out of your program. Set up a folder on your home computer for notes and files and financial aid forms so you can stay organized. Just because you’re going to school through an online university doesn’t mean you can’t get the same personal attention that your non-online university peers get!

The bottom line? Careful research makes for a good program -- and a high-value degree -- from an accredited university. Avoiding the most common and costly mistakes now will prove extremely invaluable later.

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