With the current state of the US economy, a lot of people are facing some difficult times. It’s hard to find a job, and many people who already had a job are being laid off. Even people with college degrees are finding it difficult to get a job, and all-to-often you hear stories of people with hard-earned degrees working somewhere that’s only paying them minimum wage. Even with these depressing facts, though, there is still hope. Because today is the best time to get a college degree.
When those minimum wage workers were still working towards their degrees, they weren’t able to see the impending recession. Since we are now a few years into it, though, there has never been a better time to decide what to get a degree in. Smart students will research current and future demand for jobs that interest them. If the demand for that job is high in a recession, it’s probably going to be high in an expansion, too.
ONLINE COLLEGE IS THE WAY TO GO
But while going to school in a recession is smart, it’s not easy. As previously mentioned, jobs are valuable, and many people need all the hours they can get. Sacrificing some of those hours in order to go to school just isn’t feasible for people who are living paycheck to paycheck. Luckily, though, there is online college.
Online college is a great way to go to school. You can “go to class” and do homework on your own time, allowing you to fit both work and school hours easily into your schedule. And there are a variety of online colleges out there, just waiting for you to sign up and enroll in your first class.
DON’T GET SCAMMED
Identifying good online colleges is one major key to success. Since the internet provides a veil of anonymity, it is way easier to be the victim of a scam on the web than it is in real life. And the last thing you want to do is pour a bunch of money into an education that you are not even getting. In addition to that veil of anonymity, though, the internet also gives people the power to transmit information instantly to any part of the world. If an online college is a scam, people are going to be talking about it… because a woman scorned has nothing on a guy who’s been scammed.
BRICK-AND-MORTAR COLLEGES WITH ONLINE PROGRAMS
One thing to remember about identifying good online colleges is that many traditional brick-and-mortar schools offer online programs. In fact, if you’re a student on a budget, most community colleges have online courses that give you the exact same credits and education that you would get if you were sitting in a classroom. Plus, another added benefit to this is that you can physically go into the school to visit a counselor, discuss financial aid, etc.
Remember that you also need to make sure the online college you select offers all the classes you need to earn the specific degree that you want. Different schools offer different programs, and it would be a shame if you spent a year starting a degree only to learn that you have to transfer in order to finish. This can easily throw budgets out of whack, and if you haven’t properly planned then you may find yourself having to take time off from school.
For instance, you may find that your local community college can’t get you as far as the online program at a state university. If this is the case, you should weigh your options and figure out which path you should take. Remember too that universities have requirements for entry, such as certain test scores and a high enough GPA in high school or at your previous college. As long as you can get into the school, though, you know that you will be getting a more prestigious degree.
STRICTLY ONLINE COLLEGES
Maybe you’ve decided that you don’t want to take online classes through a brick-and-mortar school. This is totally fine, too. Again, when you’re identifying good online colleges, beware of scammers. Make sure that the school you are considering is accredited so that you’re not wasting money. You should also confirm that the college offers all the right classes for your chosen degree. And finally, get out on message boards and social media sites and find out what people are saying about the school. Talk to people in the field you are interested in and see what they have to say.
ENROLL TODAY!
So if you want to start your success story right, remember: identifying good online colleges is easy, and picking the right one will start you on the path to job security in a career that you’re going to love. Just read reviews, confirm accreditation, and budget wisely.