How to Earn a Degree from Home

College or university education shapes your career in a very fundamental way. It opens the door to many possibilities, like getting a good job, getting a promotion or better compensation in an existing job, moving from being an individual contributor to management, transitioning from one field to another, etc. Most importantly it helps you evolve as a person and builds self-reliance and confidence.

Fortunately, in the present times, it is easy for people across all ages to earn degrees sitting right in their homes. Many community colleges, big universities and even Ivy League schools let you earn a degree online. Typically, they offer distance learning programs through the internet.

You may want to consider a home-based program if you are looking for a flexible schedule, a part-time study opportunity, a way to cut down on-campus living expenses and commute time, etc. Here is what you should know when you are looking to earn a degree from home.

• Programs are offered in a wide variety of areas – education, nursing, law, management, accounting, computer science, arts, information technology, forensics, mathematics, etc. The programs offer a bachelors degree, master degree or associate degree, etc. They have different course credit requirements and run typically from one to three years. They have different tuition and fees schedules. Many schools offer a preview of their courses – you can view the samples before you register for them.

Not all distance education programs are accredited or recognized by the state. So their quality may be questionable. Avoid programs that are not accredited. When you earn a degree at home from an accredited university, recruiting companies recognize it based on the reputation of the school offering it. In many programs, a distance education degree is treated in equal terms with earning the degree from an in-class program. So after graduation, you will be as competitive in the job market as a regular student if you enroll in a reputed online program.

Consider all these aspects before you register in a program. Here are other things you must know about how to earn a degree from home.

• Depending on the pre-requisites and the demand for the program, you may have to take standard tests like GRE, SAT, etc. or specialized tests before you enroll. Prepare for these tests well in advance. If required take special classes to improve your test scores.

• Once you enroll in a program, you will be provided an online account with the school. In your virtual classroom you can attend live lectures, access you course materials, submit your course homework, obtain grades, make presentations and interact with lecturers and students online. The course materials are usually archived – so you can revisit them any time during your enrollment period. You may be able to take your exams online or you may have to appear at a pre-arranged local testing center.

• Unlike a conventional classroom where you can talk and discuss things wilth classmates, you are likely to have less interaction in a distance education program. So you have to be pro-active when you earn a degree from home – constantly stay in touch with classmates and interact with your professors and teaching assistants via email or telephone and participate in virtual group studies.

• Keep careful track of project or homework deadlines and be organized. If you are not in touch with others in the class, you may forget deadlines – this will hurt your grades.

• Many programs allow you to access university resources like online libraries and publications. Find out how to access them remotely and use them in your studies.

• Utilize the college’s recruitment and career services when you are close to finishing your degree.

Earning a degree from home with a full time occupation can be quite demanding on your time and energy, but it always pays well at the end.