Choosing a Distance Learning University

The task of choosing a distance education can certainly seem daunting at first. Considering how much time and effort will be invested in a student’s education, it is no wonder that the search causes so much stress. Finding the right distance learning program can make all the difference in the student’s educational experience. When trying to decide which institution to attend, it is best to break up the process into smaller, more manageable steps.

1. The first step is to find a program that matches the student’s needs. Students should make a list of the things that are necessary, important, and inconsequential to them in a school. These can be anything, and will vary widely between students. For instance, a student might decide he is interested in distance learning but still wants as much of a set schedule as possible and to feel like part of an active learning community.
2. This student would want to look first at schools that offer courses in a synchronous format, or possibly look at integrated distance learning classes. Perhaps instead a student is looking for programs that are more technical or practical in nature than purely academic.
3. A student might be looking for programs taught only by professors who are leaders in their specific fields, a school that offers a somewhat rare major, or schools that have the strongest financial aid packages. These factors should be the first way students narrow their school choices.

Once a student has a smaller list of distance learning universities from which to decide, a few questions should be asked.

1. Does the school offer a program the student is interested in?
2. If so, is the school an accredited school? Not only should a school be accredited by a regional or national accreditation board, but also the specific program in which the student is interested should be accredited.
3. This means that within the field of study, that university is considered to be providing a level of education that is up to professional standards.

Most distance learning universities have plenty of information about the college and its various academic programs, admission requirements, and financial aid on the website. There is much more to learn when choosing a school, and contacting the school is the best way to do that. Students can speak to people in the admissions office and get personalized information about applying to the distance learning program, including speaking to an advisor who could discuss which credits from previous experiences might be transferred and which would not be accepted. Students could speak to the head of the particular program they are interested in. The head of the department could discuss the size of the department, which aspects of the field are emphasized, specialties of the different faculty members, what a typical course load is like, and so on. There is a wealth of information to be gained simply by picking up the phone.

In our consumer-driven society, everyone is concerned with getting the most bang for their buck. This attitude extends to products and services, but also applies to education. Students are in essence purchasing an educational opportunity (though they still need to earn the degree) and, in some cases, at quite an impressive price. Just as consumers rely on word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and myriad online reviews to decide where to make their next purchase, so should students. There is often a plethora of reviews on the college that the student is interested in, some from reputable sources such as Fiske and U.S. News & World Report, others from much less credible sources such a blogs.

One of the best ways to get an accurate review of a distance learning program is to ask for references. Prospective students should call the program and request contact information for both current students and students who have gone through the program. These people are in a position to give the most accurate, realistic, and current review of the program. In addition, students can ask to audit a course. That way they can experience firsthand the instructor’s teaching style, level of expertise, and the typical amount of work a course in the program requires. Between all of these different steps, students will be able to find the college that best fits their needs.