That’s ridiculous.

First of all, the person with your resume in his hand probably has no way of telling that your degree was obtained online; and there’s absolutely no reason to draw attention to that fact in his first introduction to who you are. Sure, you’ve got to be honest about where and when you attended college and what field of study you pursued. However, the detail of online versus traditional instruction should be saved for the interview –where you have the opportunity to wow your prospective employer with what’s on your resume and all that it isn’t possible to include there.

While online education may have had a bit of a bad rap when the Internet was in its infancy, that obsolete idea no longer holds true. Even the Ivy Schools offer online courses and students taking them often discover something they hadn’t expected: those courses are hard!

My own students take a mix of online and traditional courses while here on campus and they are often surprised at the level of difficulty to the courses taken online. Not only is the course content often equally challenging to anything they meet up with in a lecture hall, but online courses demand that you stay organized and focused. You’ve got to be an independent learner; maturity is key. If you’re supposed to participate in an online forum at 8:00 pm on a Thursday night, you had better be plugged in and ready to contribute. Deadlines for tests and papers are much more black and white when it’s a computer clock registering the time your work is submitted.

What online courses and degrees do grant you, though, is a little flexibility in other areas. With online instruction, it’s not necessary for you to be physically present on campus and you often can listen to lectures at whatever times are most convenient for you. Even if that happens to be at 4:00 in the morning.

Online degrees can also save you a boatload of money. In addition to saving on the hefty price tag of room and board, many of the courses themselves are less expensive per credit than classroom instruction. Some professors even opt out of traditional textbooks in favor of Powerpoint presentations and downloadable data. Online degrees are particularly convenient if you’re already in the workforce, just trying to increase your marketability through further education.

With all the good reasons to go online for your degree, then, why not splash the news front-and-center on your resume, then? Well, not everyone is as forward-thinking as you are. Some of those people considering whether or not you’re right for a job may be a generation older than you; they went the traditional classroom route. It’s up to you to convince them in person that your online degree is as good as (maybe even better) than theirs.

Searching for Medical School Rankings?

In most career fields, the education you receive is of vital importance to your future success.  The medical field is of no exception. If you are entertaining the idea of going to medical school, a great place to begin your search is with the medical school rankings. One of the most popular listing is US News & World Report.

Who is the best?

Most publications will break out the top medical schools depending on specialization or research. Listed below are the top research programs and the top primary care programs for 2012. You will notice the lists do vary.

Best Research Programs

1.   Harvard University (Boston, MA)
2.   University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
3.   Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
4.   Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
5.   Duke University (Durham, NC)

Best Primary Care Programs

1.   University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
2.   University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
3.   Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, OR)
4.   University of California (San Francisco, CA)
4.   University of Colorado (Aurora, CO)

Methodology for Ranking

How did US News rank the medical schools in their various listings? They used a weighted average of eight different indicators that refer to those characteristics they feel indicate a quality school. These indicators include selectivity admission statistics, such as MCAT, GPA, and acceptance rate.  Scores were derived from surveys sent to peer universities, residency directors at top hospitals, and the amount of research activity performed.

What is important to you?

While the ranking publications are a great place to start your medical school search, there may be other characteristics you are looking for in a school, such as location, tuition, and program offerings. It is important to keep in mind that not all schools will offer programs in every specialty. This may narrow your choices down.  It is important to determine what specialty you are going to go into prior to deciding on a school.

When considering a university as a prospect, students should look to a recent ranking of that college among others for quality.  The college rankings of 2011, though varied, can help a student determine which college best suits them.

Capella University

Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

Capella proffers an education system aimed at advancing the academic status of working adults to enhance their careers, their social standing and to make their lives better.

As a Capella student, campus-based or online, you will receive peerless support from the academe. You will become part of a community of esteemed professionals who are generous in sharing their knowledge about their respective fields. What’s more, you can finish your degree in 10 weeks.

Bachelor’s Degrees

• Bachelor’s in Accounting
• Bachelor’s in Business Administration
• Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor’s in Emergency Management
• Bachelor’s in Finance
• Bachelor’s in General Information Technology
• Bachelor’s in General Psychology
• Bachelor’s in Health Care Management
• Bachelor’s in Health Informatics
• Bachelor’s in Homeland Security
• Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management
• Bachelor’s in Information Assurance and Security
• Bachelor’s in Information Technology Project Management
• Bachelor’s in Management and Leadership
• Bachelor’s in Network Technology
• Bachelor’s in Project Management
• Bachelor’s in Retail Management
• Bachelor’s in Software Architecture
• Bachelor’s in Business Intelligence
• Bachelor’s in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Bachelor’s in Strategy and Innovation

Master’s Degrees

• Master’s in Early Childhood Education
• Master’s in Educational Psychology
• Master’s in English Language Learning and Teaching
• Master’s in Enterprise Software Architecture
• Master’s in Evaluation, Research, and Measurement
• Master’s in General Career Counseling
• Master’s in General Psychology
• Master’s in Gerontology
• Master’s in Health Information Management
• Master’s in Homeland Security
• Master’s in Human Resource Management
• Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Master’s in Information Assurance and Security
• Master’s in Instructional Design for Online Learning
• Master’s in K-12 Studies in Education
• Master’s in Leadership
• Master’s in Training and Performance Improvement
• MSN – Nurse Educator
• MSN – Nurse Educator Bridge

Psychology Degrees

• PhD in Accounting
• PhD in Addiction Psychology
• PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
• PhD in Criminal Justice
• PhD in Curriculum and Instruction
• PhD in Educational Psychology
• PhD in Emergency Management
• PhD in General Advanced Studies in Human Behavior
• PhD in General Business
• PhD in General Information Technology
• PhD in General Organization and Management
• PhD in General Psychology
• PhD in Health Care Administration
• PhD in Human Resource Management
• PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Information Security
• PhD in Information Technology Mgmt

Read more or get a program guide from Capella University.

College Rankings 2011

What are college rankings?
College rankings are basically an investigation into schools based on various criteria that allow the schools to be ranked or qualified accordingly.  The criteria of ranking differ depending on the group or institution doing the ranking, so paying attention to the qualities being judged is important.

Why consider the ranking of a college?
Looking at how a college is ranked and why can be very important to a student depending on what degree and career they wish to pursue.  Rankings, because they differ in criteria, can help a student pick a college or university that meets their priorities for top colleges.

How can college rankings affect later careers?
Picking a school that is top ranked for the type of career a student seeks can help boost the credibility and impressiveness of their resume.  More attractive resumes impress better employers and will result in better job opportunities and possibly much higher pay.

What are some ways colleges are ranked?
Some commonly employed rankings for colleges are as follows:  best value where colleges of lower cost give better educations, A+ schools for B students for students who fit that category, up-and-coming schools, or schools based location such as best regional or national schools.  Other ranking systems might be based on earning after college, achievements of the graduates, or by type of school such as liberal arts colleges.

How does one pick a ranking system?
A student should decide their priority such as achievement, value, degree-related, etc.  From there, the student can find a ranking that matches their own to choose a university whose priorities and quality meet their expectations.

Looking at college rankings for 2011 can help a student assure that their education will meet their needs before they commit to a school.

Students who want to attend the very best universities and thus have the best chances at top careers usually have their eye on college admittance way before college is near.  For these students, attending a top high school can be important.  Private high school rankings are an aspect of education that the most ambitious students will want to understand.

Ashworth College

Ashworth College is an Accredited Member of the Distance Education and Training Council. The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a globally recognized accrediting agency, for online learning schools and distance education. Their rigorous evaluation process applies the same standards upheld by long-established “brick and mortar” institutions.

Ashworth College is a respected, worldwide leader in comprehensive, globally accredited online education. The college offers vocational courses for those who are still in their secondary education.

Ashworth offers the following programs:

• High School College Prep Offline Diploma
• High School College Prep Online Diploma
• High School Gen Dip Offline Diploma
• High School Gen Dip Online Diploma
• High School Offline College Prep Single Diploma
• High School Offline Gen Single Diploma
• High School Online College Prep Single Diploma
• High School Online Gen Single Diploma
• Vocational High School – Computer Diploma
• Vocational High School – Skilled Trade Diploma

Read more or get a program guide from Ashworth College.

Private High School Rankings

What are private high school rankings?
Private high schools, otherwise known as preparatory schools, are private high schools that are often highly sought-after with quite competitive admissions.  These private high schools literally prepare students for admission and success in the best universities.

Why seek a highly ranked private high school?
The better universities will always find a student from a highly ranked private high school more attractive than one from a school with less stringent standards for grading.  From a different view, students from higher ranked private high schools will also been exposed to and succeed in higher quality education in order to maintain their enrollment.

How do the highly ranked private high schools affect later success?
An exceptional education starts with admission into an exceptional university, the chances of which can be greatly improved by attending a top private high school.  The quality of one’s high school education definitely affects the quality of college one attends and is not overlooked by the most particular employers offering the premium jobs and wage opportunities.

How are private high schools ranked?
Methodology of ranking the top private high schools depends on the institution ranking them but most are ranked according to performance which can be determined by SAT scores and MCAS.  However, other factors such as teacher-to-student ratio, school size, and value of education might also be considered.

When considering a private high school for the best chance at later admission into a top university, examining private high school rankings is one way to make sure the prospective high school will provide the competitive edge and exceptional education that the student will require.

Do you have a bachelor’s degree but it just doesn’t seem to be getting you where you would like to go? This is a common problem, and many students choose to launch themselves back into school for a graduate program.

Kaplan University

Kaplan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kaplan University offers accredited 10-week online classes. With 10-week classes, you gain the benefit of speed and shave 6-weeks off of a traditional 16-week semester.

As one of the largest online universities with a widely recognized name, Kaplan University offers a variety of campus-based and online programs to give access to both full-time and part-time students who are looking to efficiently advance their career.

Kaplan University offers the following Master’s Degrees programs:

• Master’s in Teaching (for Aspiring Teachers Grades 5 -12)
• Master’s in Accounting
• Master’s in Criminal Justice – (Corrections/Global Issues in Criminal Justice/Law/Leadership and Executive Management/)Policing
• Master’s in Education (for Existing Teachers K-12)
• Master’s in Education in Instructional Technology (K-12)
• Master’s in Education in Instructional Technology – Adult Learning/Higher Ed
• Master’s in Education in Instructional Technology – Adult Learninig/Orgnanizations
• Master’s in Environmental Policy
• Master’s in Higher Education – (College Administration and Leadership/College Teaching and Learning/Online College Teaching/Student Affairs)
• Master’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Master’s in Information Technology – (Business Intelligence/Information Security and Assurance/Project Management)
• Master’s in Legal Studies
• Master’s in Legal Studies/Education and the Legal System
• Master’s in Legal Studies/Health Care Delivery
• Master’s in Legal Studies/Legal System and the Media
• Master’s in Legal Studies/State and Local Government
• Master’s in Management – (Health Care Management/Human Resources/Leadership/Organizational Design and Development/Project Management/Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
• Master’s in Nursing – (Nurse Administrator/Nurse Educator/Nurse Informatics)
• Master’s in Psychology – (Addictions/Applied Behavioral Analysis/General Psychology)
• Master of Business Administration – (Entrepreneurship/Finance/Health Care Management/Human Resources/International Business/Marketing/Project Management/Supply Chain Management and Logistics)
• Master of Healthcare Administration
• Master of Public Administration – (Criminal Justice/General MPA/Governmental Management/Health Care Management)
• Master of Public Health – (Epidemiology/Health Education/Public Health Program Development)

Read more or get a program guide from Kaplan University.

Master’s Degrees

What Are Master’s Degrees?

This is the graduate level degree that comes directly after a bachelor’s. Some common types are Master’s of Art, Master’s of Science and Master’s of Business. They usually take between two and six years to complete, along with a thesis you must write and defend in front of a review board.

Why Are Master’s Degrees Important?

Anyone who wants to establish themselves as an expert of their field, and so enter into higher positions in any industry, have to seek out a master’s degree. Others, such as doctors, researchers and professors, will need to surpass it and get their doctorate, such as a PhD or MD, which can only come following a master’s.

In addition to this, it is important for certain professional careers like counselors, CEOs and executives and teachers. The minimum allowed degree level for awarding these jobs is a master’s in their field.

What Accreditation Is Available For Master’s Degrees?

Any properly accredited school will have official accreditation on a regional level from a qualified source. This is all that is required to be awarded a degree. Others, such as ivy leagues and even some online schools, will have further national accreditation, such as the AACSB from business schools. While this is not needed, it can be nice to have.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons to get a graduate degree. From campus courses to online school, you can fit it into your schedule and get the degree level you need to advance.

Searching for an Online Law School?

There is a lot of confusion over online law school programs and their validity. Which is understandable, because so many schools claim to be able to prepare the student for their final exams. Which is true…they can prepare you to take the LSAT, but can they really get you the accredited hours you need to get to that point?

Are Online Law School Programs Accredited?

The answer to this is almost always no. Sometimes the American Bar Association (ABA) will retrospectively award a program completion to someone who has excelled in an online program. But otherwise, they are not officially sanctioned, and so you may not be able to take your LSAT to get into law school.

The exception is in California, which is the only state that recognizes the accreditation of online law school programs.

Does This Mean They Are Useless?

No, it is just a matter of finding the right one. Traditional law schools have started opening up combined courses that are both on campus and online, which have been given the same accreditation as their traditional program. This not only gives you a viable option to go with an online degree, but it shows that the ABA may be well on the way to recognizing these programs.

Conclusion

In the end, you can’t have a full online law school program that will get you anywhere outside of California. But there are a number of combination courses that are being offered by legitimate colleges that can give you an accredited education. They are still convenient as half of the coursework can be done in your own time, and it is easier to work campus classes around when you only have a selected schedule.

Wondering What the Law School Requirements Are?

Law school requirements for enrollment are among the most complicated in the world of academia, second perhaps only to medical school. So if you are wanting to go to law school, you might be finding yourself just a little bit overwhelmed with the entire process. After all, you have exam scores to think about, courses to prove you completed, references to sort…it is a lot for anyone to handle.

Here we will break down the main law school requirements so you are prepared.

GPA

The most basic element will be the GPA you graduate from pre-law with. Keep in mind that a high GPA on a single major is good, but a double major is better. Either way, if you keep it at 3.5 or above, an admission board will probably be happy.

LSAT

Your Law School Admission Test is going to be the most important element to enrollment. You have to score high or you might not make it into a decent university course. If you take it in your junior year you will have a chance to retake it if necessary, and there is a very real possibility that you will want to.

Undergraduate Education

From history to political science, and math to business, you need to have a well establish, developed and rounded education prior to admission. The more varied your education the more impressed an admission board is likely to be.

Personal Statement

Guess what? Your personality counts, and your personal statement needs to tell the admission board who you are, what you are like and what it is you want.

Conclusion

These are the main law school requirements you are going to come across, and each point is as important as the last. The sooner you start preparing, the better.

Not everyone does well in a large school environment. From anxiety to learning difficulties, or even just a prolonged illness or injury, there are many reasons that a student might struggle in a traditional high school. But that is no reason to drop out, and there are a number of alternative high schools and programs out there to accommodate anyone.

Ashworth College

Ashworth College is an Accredited Member of the Distance Education and Training Council. The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a globally recognized accrediting agency, for online learning schools and distance education. Their rigorous evaluation process applies the same standards upheld by long-established “brick and mortar” institutions.

Ashworth College is a respected, worldwide leader in comprehensive, globally accredited online education. The college offers vocational courses for those who are still in their secondary education.

Ashworth offers the following programs:

• High School College Prep Offline Diploma
• High School College Prep Online Diploma
• High School Gen Dip Offline Diploma
• High School Gen Dip Online Diploma
• High School Offline College Prep Single Diploma
• High School Offline Gen Single Diploma
• High School Online College Prep Single Diploma
• High School Online Gen Single Diploma
• Vocational High School – Computer Diploma
• Vocational High School – Skilled Trade Diploma

Read more or get a program guide from Ashworth College.

Alternative High Schools

What Are Alternative High Schools?

These are programs that have been created and accredited to allow students to find a different means of procuring a high school diploma. Most school districts have at least one locally that has smaller class sizes, a shorter day and more targeted instructor attention. These are usually free or low cost, and you can enroll by getting clearance from your district.

What Are Online High Schools?

These are home school or college campus mixed programs that have been created to allow the student to do the work they would normally do in a classroom online. Those who have chosen to stay out of a mainstream educational institution can take them, as well as those who want the diploma without going in to a traditional school. Most are available to anyone with parental consent, and while some cost money others are very inexpensive, at about $50 per semester.

Are Alternative High Schools Right For Me?

Do you struggle in a traditional school environment? Do you want your diploma, but know that the usual class experience just isn’t going to work out for you? Then you are probably just the kind of student these alternative high schools were made for.

Conclusion

Whether you decide to go to an alternative campus, or go with an online or packet program that can be done from home, there are plenty of ways to get your education without going through the traditional school experience.

Searching for Online Chemistry Courses?

It takes a very special kind of mind to work within the scientific field. Rational, dependable and consistent, you have to be able to logically work through complex problems in the best course possible, chosen based on your education and expertise. Some branches of science are much more technically based in practice, rather than just theory. One of those branches is chemistry, which requires a great deal of discipline and knowledge.

If you have been hoping to further your own education in the scientific field, you might feel discouraged by the time spent in school. You may have to work full time, or have no access to a local university. Which is why online chemistry courses might be right but your alley.

What Are Online Chemistry Courses?

As the name implies, these are fully adapted university classes that have been placed on the Internet for distance learning students. One of the major benefits is that you can take the classes in your own time, at any point during the day or night, from your home.

What About Lab Work?

As this is a very hands on degree, only the theory and general course work can be done online. It works in lab work by putting part of the classes on a traditional campus, usually a few times a week. The schedule it usually flexible, so speak to your chosen school about their options for this portion of the degree credits.

Conclusion

These online chemistry courses are fully accredited, and adapted from the top programs from well known universities around the world. Most are provided by traditional schools that have branched out into distance learning, making them a safe and great alternative to more standard college systems.

Do you want to get a master’s degree, but your school of choice is just too far away to consider? Maybe you are working or caring for a family, and the prospect of going back to school for your graduate degree just doesn’t seem possible with your schedule. It is a situation that many have found themselves in, unable to accommodate a traditional college experience with their current lives.

Ashford University

Ashford University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

If you’ve never been good at managing your time, let Ashford University manage it for your with its distance education program. Balance your job with online coursework as you earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Ashford University provides high-quality degree programs that will not cause a strain on your budget, will not take much of your work time and that are accessible via the internet.

Ashford University offers the following Master’s Degrees:

• MA/Education Library and Media
• MA/Education – Assessment & Measurement
• MA/Education – Child Development
• MA/Education – Culturally Responsive Education
• MA/Education – Curriculum & Instruction
• MA/Education – Distance Learning
• MA/Education – Early Childhood Education
• MA/Education – Education and Public Policy
• MA/Education – Educational Technology Leadership
• MA/Education – English Language Learner
• MA/Education – Higher Education
• MA/Education – No Concentration
• MA/Education – Reading Literacy
• MA/Education – Special Education (non-licensure)
• MA/Education – Teacher Leader

Ashford University does not currently accept student in Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota or Mississippi.

Read more or get a program guide from Ashford University.

Distance Education Masters

But this does not have to be the end for you. Distance education masters programs are your way to a graduate degree without the schedule.

What Are The Benefits To Distance Education Masters Programs?

There are many, but one of the most enticing aspects is the fact that you can go in your own time, working from your home at any point during the day or night. Everything is adapted for online study, with some programs either entirely online or else split between online and campus courses. They also tend to cost less in tuition, are fully accredited and have financial aid programs available.

What Is The Difference Between a Masters and Bachelors Salary?

This will usually depend on what career you choose. But most workers find an average of between $10,000 and $20,000 a year difference in salary when they have a masters degree, compared to a bachelors.

However, it does qualify you for a higher ranking position, which can have a huge effect.

Conclusion

A big part of seeking a more steady and well paying position in your career is having the education to back it up. This speaks volumes more than experience alone, which might not be enough to convince others that you have what it takes. If you wanted to get a graduate degree to help you but you thought you couldn’t, now is the time to be proven wrong. A distance education masters can give you what you need to succeed.