Answering 3 of Your Questions as a New Student…Before You Ask Them

How Close Am I to Completing a Bachelor’s Degree?

When prospective students shop around for the perfect online university they often ask, “How long will it take me to complete my degree?” Many times this is linked with a second question: “How much will it cost?”

These are great questions, and it’s clear why students would want a bachelor’s degree.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of 36% more than those with an associate’s degree, and 64% more than those with only a high school diploma. It’s a great move for your career and your future.

The answers to these questions are related.  Tuition varies between institutions, but the closer you are to a degree the less it will cost.  A bachelor’s degree typically requires a total of 120 credits, so if you’ve already earned credits elsewhere, you’re that much closer. The number of transfer credits you have will determine how close you are, and alternative credit options such as prior learning assessments or credit for military service can get you even closer without requiring more class time.

Get in touch with your school of interest and have them answer these questions for you right out of the gate. They should be happy to help you determine how close you are.

Will the Classes Fit My Schedule?

If schedule is a big concern for you, online college can be the solution. The lack of a commute and fixed class times means you can complete coursework when it works for you.  It also means that you will be studying along with others in the same situation, which can help you to feel more at home among your peers.

Online colleges design their programs with the needs of remote students in mind. They know that many of their students are working adults with families, career obligations, and busy schedules. For this reason, there is no specific time that a student has to be logged into the system. Classes are often entirely self-paced, and students have the flexibility to study on their own time, whenever and wherever it works for them.

Here’s a rough estimate of the time you can expect to dedicate to your coursework:

• Undergraduate: 10-15 hours of study time per week per class
• Graduate: 15-20 hours of study time per week per class

Each university will have it own offerings and expectations, so ask about those in order to determine if the time investment works for your schedule.

What Resources are Available to Me?

This is an important question to ask any school you plan to attend.  If you need help, where do you go?  If something goes wrong, who can you contact?  If you have questions about your assignments, financial aid, or anything else, where can you find answers?

What kind of student support does the school offer?  Is there tutoring?  Round the clock technical support?  A career center?  Library services?

Each college or university will have its own resources available, so the first question you should ask is to yourself:  what will you need to succeed?  Once you know that, you’ll be in a better position to find the right institution for you.

Online colleges can offer just as much support as you’d find anywhere else. For instance, CSU Global is an online university, but you can expect to receive the same type of support services that you might expect from a traditional brick-and-mortar campus. Ask the schools you’re interested in what kind of resources they provide, and be sure to choose the one that seems best equipped to help you succeed.

If you have any further questions, get in touch with an Enrollment Counselor today. We’d be glad to help you.