Choosing an online masters degree
From BluSkyPedia
Online masters degrees are rapidly gaining popularity. They allow you to get a degree with minimal interruption of your career and social life. Most online masters programs give you the ability to work around your own schedule. Instead of having a set class time, you can work in the mornings or in the evenings or even over your lunch break. As great as this sounds, getting an online masters degree does have some drawbacks.
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Social aspects of college
A lot of what you learn at college goes beyond what is taught in class. The relationships you develop and the student camaraderie, is a valuable part of your education. These elements aren't present in an online classroom and it can be detrimental to your overall career goals.
For this reason, it is best to pursue online education when you already have at least one degree under your belt. Even then, make sure you can survive the classroom of a desk in your house without other students for social support and encouragement.
Choose a good school
Make sure you pursue a degree from a reputable institution. There are a lot of places that will try to sell you a degree. Even some of the ones that are accredited can give you a worthless degree. Ideally you want to take classes from an institution that has physical classes and a long tradition of academic excellence.
At the very least, call up a few large state schools and ask them if credits taken at the university you are considering would transfer. Some times the transferability of coursework is a better indication of the quality of the degree than the accreditation status.
Consider the costs
Make sure you understand all of the costs involved. Some places try to increase the perceived value of their education by artificially charging a very high price. Sometimes the least expensive tuition is found at the schools with the best reputation.
Watch out for hidden fees. For example, Columbia's Video Network charges a very high fee for the right to watch the class videos online, while most other schools just consider this to be part of your tuition. Other schools charge a bunch of extra student fees that will drive up the cost of what you pay.
Try it out
The best way to see if an online degree program is for you, is to try out a couple classes. See how you like it with a class or two. Get a feel for the teachers and also for your ability to adapt your learning style to that type of instruction.
Whatever you do, don't commit to paying for an entire degree program without getting a chance to "kick the tires" and actually experiencing some classes.