Admission Process for Distance Learning

Colleges might allow a student to take one or two courses from the institution without actually applying, but if a student wants to enroll in a distance education degree program, he will likely need to complete an application package. This process can vary from school to school, but for the most part the basic requirements are standard.

When applying for distance learning, students are required to have a high school diploma or GED. Proof of this must be sent to the college in the form of a transcript. College entrance exam scores will need to be included, typically the SAT or ACT. If a student has attended any colleges or other learning institutions previously, this information will need to be included as well, along with the applicable transcripts. In some cases, students will be granted credit for courses they’ve completed elsewhere. Students are required to fill out the standard application form, which is sometimes specific to the university; other times, the common application, a document that many colleges allow, can be used instead. Along with the application, the student is often asked to write one or more essays. Some essays might be about the student himself, while others might ask a student to choose a side in a presented ethical dilemma. In some cases, a portfolio might need to be sent to the school as well, especially for art or writing majors.

• After the application package has been sent in and the process has been started, students might be asked to interview.
• In the case of distance learning, this can be done via teleconference or live video chat online.
• The college will go over all of the submitted documentation to verify it, and the student’s packet will be sent to the admissions board.
• This part of the process can take the longest.

The admissions committee is responsible for looking at the packets of every single student who is applying for distance learning. At most colleges, only a certain number of applicants can be accepted in each class. There is a limit to the number of students that the faculty can effectively manage, as well as a host of other considerations. Needless to say, distance learning students will have some tough competition for a spot, so it behooves them to put as much thought and effort into their applications as they can.

Simply applying for distance learning is no guarantee of acceptance, of course. Colleges want to select the best applicants, but that doesn’t always mean those with the highest scores. In some cases, a very qualified student might get turned down because too many other students have been accepted to the program already, or because another student was judged to have a better chance for success. Because the admissions process involves so many variables, it is important for students to apply to a few schools at once, to be certain they will have a school to attend. While some schools might get back to students quickly, others can take as long as six months! The keys to admission are making sure the application package is complete, getting everything in by the deadline, and being prepared to wait for a decision.