Dan's Archive
Posted by Dan on July 9th, 2009
With over 100 online universities and colleges featured on the site, AchieveYourCareer.com offers a variety of resources for adults interested in continuing their education online. The Top 5 Online Alternatives to Summer School is a collection of tips written by online education experts to help promote the awareness of online degree programs. For years, Summer School served as the only opportunity for students to study during the summer months, now thanks to online education, eager students can log in and attend classes with ease and greater flexibility. Many working adults juggle 40 hour work weeks with other personal obligations like family, working out, a second job, the last thing they want to do during the summer is drive to a campus and sit in a classroom. It’s inconvenient and not appealing. That is why we have created the Top 5 Online Alternatives to Summer School.
Number 5: Explore Online Certificates
Why should you explore an online certificate program? Two reasons really; the cost and the selection. Online certificates offer adults the widest variety of programs in all of online learning. From culinary arts to computer animation training, you will find what you are looking for, if you choose to pursue an online certificate program. For example, a Marketing Manager, can choose to enroll in an online certificate program for Internet Marketing to help broaden their skills and learn new techniques. Meanwhile, a single mom can study Entrepreneurship and learn the necessary skills to build a successful home based business. The best part is that both the Marketing Manager and the single mom share the same experience of learning online and at their convenience. This is something a summer school session can not offer.
Number 4: Take An Online Class
Everyone loves to “try before you buy” and with an education it is no different. By enrolling in an online class this summer, you can experience online learning first hand without committing to an entire degree program. Online Classes are available at accredited colleges across the country. Courses can be taken on a “For-Credit” basis and a “Non-Credit” basis. Taking an online class will allow you to understand the necessary dedication and requirements you need to continue your education online. You will gain important knowledge about online lectures, homework assignments, and testing procedures. It also allows you to not sacrifice an entire summer to earn college credit. Taking an online class is a great way to find out if online education is right for you.
Number 3. Save Money & Time - Get Information from Online Colleges for Fall
Let’s face it, saving money during a recession is important. A college education can be a very worthwhile investment, but its still an investment of your time and money. By enrolling in Summer School, you sacrifice your summer months, time, and money. Visiting sites like www.AchieveYOurCareer.com, allow you to review 100’s of accredited online colleges that offer online degree programs in almost every career category available. It takes literally,1 minute, to fill out an information form for these colleges. You can receive informaton about cost, current scholarships avaialble, demo an online class, and current student testimonials. As we approach “Back to School” in late summer, you may even find some special promotions avialable for a limited time. Enjoy the summer and research your degree of interest. Then, find 3 online schools that offer that program and compare each of them. It will be time well spent, and its FREE!.
Number 2. Stay Local - Find Online Programs offered by Local Colleges.
Online learning can be a fantastic opportunity for many working adults. However, it is not the conventional method of learning for most Americans. We are taught in a classroom setting for most of our lives. What most people don’t know is that many local colleges, both community and full 4 year insititutions, offer online education. Students can choose to pursue their online degree, yet still take advantages of a physical campus location if they so choose. It really personalizes the entire experience of online education. Summer school sessions will force you to attend classes at a physical campus location. Why not give yourself the flexiblity of choosing to stay at home and log into a live online session or visiting a local campus. Boston University, Harvard, USC, and Stanford are just 4 well known colleges and universities that offer this convenience to their online students. It’s a great opportunity for working adults and single parents who want to succeed but need to balance other responsibilities.
Number 1. Superior flexibility allows you to earn a degree in less time.
Most students who attend Summer School are interested in obtaining their degree in less time. Unfortunately for many summer school students, they must sacrifice time and money to do so. With an online degree, students balance their hectic schedules with their education requirements. Parents can stay home with their children and attend an online lecture. Working adults can take night classes without driving to a campus afer an 8 hour work day. A Bachelor’s Degree typically can take upwards of 4 years or more to complete. An online bachelor’s degree can be completed in as little as 2 years with dedication and hard work. Education is important for your career and for your life. A college education is the key to a better life for many Americans. Utilize the tools available and find an online college that fits your life. It will be worth the time you invest.
Posted by Dan on June 17th, 2009
When most people think of a career in education, they immediately think “teacher”. There are a variety of career positions for those interested in pursuing a career in education. Superintendent, Principal, Professor, Dean, CEO even can be an obtainable title when you earn a college degree in education. Careers in Demand examines how returning to school via an online college and earning a degree in education is a sure fire way to open new career paths for those in today’s tough job market.
A career in education has been identified by the Wall Street Journal and Yahoo News as one of the fastest growing career fields in the US. The demand for teachers currently is at an all time high. An online education offers the convenience and flexibility that many busy adults need to complete their college degree program. Some adults have selected to pursue an online bachelor’s degree in education despite being currently employed in a non related career field. Employees and job seekers are searching for stability and growth opportunities. Education and Teaching offers both of those to you if you are interested.
Current teachers understand the importance of education and their career demands that they continue to take certificate and seminar programs to help keep their teaching skills fresh and sharp. it should be no surprise then that the rise in online masters degrees in education has outpaced the past two years in the first 6 months of 2009. Working as a teacher demands long work weeks often involving bringing your work home with you after the final school bell has rung. Online Colleges offer current working teachers the flexibility to build their Master’s Degree curriculum around their schedule. There is no hassle of driving to a campus, finding parking, sitting in a class, and then driving home.
While many may find that their career in education starts as a teacher, the ability to continue their education and learning, allows for the potential of a promotion or more senior positions. You may decide that post-secondary education is important to you, so you pursue your online Ph.D and earn a tenured faculty position at a local college. Salary for a college professor often starts at $70,000 according to Payscale.com. As you continue your career, the opportunity to join the Adminstrative Board of a College or be promoted to a Dean position are all available for the motivated individual.
A career in education can be very rewarding. Many who choose to enter this profession have a profound love for knowledge and sharing that knowledge with students. They embody mentor qualities and can often be very creative in their teaching approaches. Those who choose to do so can aspire to high career positions with large six figure salaries. Most educators will enjoy a work year that consists of 200 days or less. Compared to those working in Accounting, Marketing, Communications, Print Media, and other career fields at 337 days a year (4 weeks vacation). Earning an online degree in education offers the potential for a tremendous career filled with great opportunity.
Posted by Dan on June 4th, 2009
Let me start by asking a question. What current entertainment industry is poised to grow to a 65 billion dollar business by 2012? If you said, “movies”, you would be wrong. It is not digital music downloads either. It’s video games. Video games have come a long way since PONG, introduced the world to digital entertainment. Video games are big business all around the world. Led by the ultra successful, Nintendo Wii, video games now serve as the leading source of home entertainment for more than 50 million people worldwide.
In the troubling economic environment, video games have continued to grow in revenue despite some games costing more than $70! As the industry continues to grow, game development companies will look to grow their employee base. Earning your online game design degree from an accredited college today can lead to a very rewarding and lucrative career in the near future for this industry. Named by Yahoo!, as one of the fastest and most secure jobs in America, game design, is becoming one of the hottest college degrees across the US. Cracking into the game industry is often the most difficult step in this career process. Many of today’s top game designers will admit to starting on the bottom as a game tester. We feel this is a tremendous first step into understanding if a career in video games suits you. Working in the game industry demands time and dedication from all of its members. Often work weeks will exceed 60 hours and weekend hours are typically mandatory near the final stages of game development. Due to the demanding schedule, continuing your education at a traditional college setting would be almost impossible. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design from Westwood College Online while continuing to work as a game tester or intern, is a fantastic opportunity to achieve the education requirements necessary for landing a position in game design. The flexiblity of an online game design degree allows students to attend classroom lectures, read assignments, and complete college projects at their own pace. An online degree program is a perfect compliment to a working adult’s hectic schedule.
While working in the game industry can be intimidating due to its erratic schedule and demanding nature, the rewards are well worth the sacrifices. Game designers salary often start at $70,000, which is almost $15,000 more than the average bachelor’s degree starting salary nationwide. Talented and motivated game designers can establish a respected name for themselves within a company and the gaming audience. When this occurs, salary’s easily pass into the 6 digit range. Game designers also benefit from the commercial success of their products. Video game companies often provide incentive bonuses to all members of the team based on the number of copies a game sells and how well it is received by the gaming public.
By enrolling in an online game design program, students prepare themselves for a growing career field that shows no signs of slowing down. If you are creative, motivated, talented, and dedicated, a career in game design may provide a lifetime of career and creative successes.
Posted by Dan on April 7th, 2009
AchieveYourCareer.com, a leading website featuring news and information on accredited online schools responds to the recent BusinessWeek article For-Profit Colleges: Scooping Up the Stimulus.
AchieveYourCareer.com is dedicated to combating the stigmatism that an online education is less than adequate. In a recent article published by Business Week, the magazine criticizes “For-Profit” online colleges such as the University of Phoenix and DeVry University for questionable recruiting tactics and below standard graduation rates. AchieveYourCareer.com feels the article attacks not only the colleges themselves but the actual online college students working towards their degree. “Our web presence reaches one million users a month interested in pursuing a college degree. Our audience includes working parents struggling to juggle careers and family, recently laid off employees looking to add credentials to their resumes and potential students unable to incur the large debt that traditional college degrees currently carry. Is it wrong for them to want to earn an online college degree that fits their lifestyle? From online schools accredited by state boards across the county?” stated AchieveYourCareer.com President, Michael Speicher. “Furthermore, the BusinessWeek article completely failed to directly compare graduation rates of online schools versus other colleges and universities, or career institutes, and segment those findings by the same demographic or life stage segments across the institutes.”
Across the nation, millions of Americans share a common goal; a college education. For so many, a college education represents the key to a better life, a better career and unlimited potential. While traditional colleges and universities continue to raise admission costs that are out of reach for so many, online schools have created an affordable opportunity for those who wish to earn a college degree. “No one should be denied the opportunity to go to college and pursue an education.” Speicher added. “Whether you are learning in a classroom, or at home on your personal computer, you are earning your college degree. You’re bettering yourself with an education. That’s what matters.”
Traditional colleges such as Harvard and Boston University currently offer online classes and the trend is set to continue. As more and more online programs become available it will create a fantastic opportunity to reach new students, reduce costs, and help educate more Americans to foster our country’s growth. In addition, with the new White House Administration’s focus on improving our education system, AchieveYourCareer.com believes that online schools will become a major element of the American higher education system and will finally be viewed as a viable and respected option for a college education – as it should be.
Posted by Dan on October 8th, 2008
As the nation continues to keep a strong eye on the Wall Street Market and its affect on the American Job Market, we will spotlight the top 2009 Hot Careers and Jobs that will continue to grow as we enter into the new year and beyond. Today we focus on a career and industry that despite economic hard times keeps increasing its overall profits and revenue year over year; the video game industry and a coveted position as a video game designer.
Job Description:
There are two main elements to the development of video games. One key division involves the development of the actual game from concept art, game design, and artificial intellegence programming. The other division involves marketing and publishing the title to the main stream audience. The role of Video game Designer is a key position in the overall development and success of a video game title. The game designer must work with all aspects of the development team to help realize the overall concept of the game. Game Designers work at effectively balancing all elements of the design from artwork to online programming. It is regarded as a leadership role which depends on strategic thinking and strong creative skills to create a successful product.
Job Salary:
A career in Video Game Design can be very rewarding from both a creative and monetary aspect. According to Indeed.com’s salary report, the average salary for a Video Game Designer in California is $84,000. This is almost double most salary averages in the gaming industry. Some of the top game designers continue to earn salaries in the six figure range and receive significant bonuses for the overall retail success of the game.
Education Requirements
Ok, so you beat Halo on Legendary, and you think, “I can make a game like this!” The road to becoming a leading video game designer is not for the weak minded. Almost 99% of any video game design jobs available require the individual to earn their Bachelors Degree. Over the past few years several higher education institutions have begun offering degree completion programs in targeted studies such as Game Development and Game Art and Design. In addition to earning a degree, several developers will seek individuals who have worked within the game industry for a period of time before elevating them to a Game Designer status. So how can one afford to work and earn a degree? Just as Xbox Live let gamers go online and play against anyone in the world, an online education now allows several working adults to continue their pursuit of a degree and keep working full time. Schools such as Westwood College Online and the The Art Institute of Pittsburgh are well known for their demanding online programs dedicated to learning the necessary skills to become a game designer.
With expected sales of over 10 billion dollars in the US alone for 2008, the video game industry continues to grow with rapid rate and despite economic hard times. As the success of video games continues, more projects and developers will look to expand their teams. The future is bright for those individuals who decide that video game design is their career of choice.
Posted by Dan on September 25th, 2008
The cost of higher education has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. More and more students are finding themselves entering college and leaving with almost unmanageable debt. In a society that dictates that going to college is a guaranteed part of life, many students have started to question the worth of a college degree.
In a new report published by PayScale.com, a leading salary comparison website, they list the top Undergraduate Degree Programs that end up paying the student back throughout their career. The top of the list is heavily populated by Engineering Degree Programs and Mathematics. However, some career education degrees that might help pay the bills include, Healthcare, Philosophy, and International Relations. We have included the graph and complete degree listing below
| Best Undergrad College Degrees By Salary |
Starting Median Salary |
Mid-Career Median Salary |
| |
| Chemical Engineering |
$63,200 |
$107,000 |
| |
| Computer Engineering |
$61,400 |
$105,000 |
| |
| Electrical Engineering |
$60,900 |
$103,000 |
| |
| Aerospace Engineering |
$57,700 |
$101,000 |
| |
| Economics |
$50,100 |
$98,600 |
| |
| Physics |
$50,300 |
$97,300 |
| |
| Computer Science |
$55,900 |
$95,500 |
| |
| Industrial Engineering |
$57,700 |
$94,700 |
| |
| Mechanical Engineering |
$57,900 |
$93,600 |
| |
| Math |
$45,400 |
$92,400 |
| |
| Physician Assistant |
$74,300 |
$91,700 |
| |
| Civil Engineering |
$53,900 |
$90,500 |
| |
| Construction |
$53,700 |
$88,900 |
| |
| Finance |
$47,900 |
$88,300 |
| |
| Management Information Systems (MIS) |
$49,200 |
$82,300 |
| |
| Philosophy |
$39,900 |
$81,200 |
| |
| International Relations |
$40,900 |
$80,900 |
| |
| Chemistry |
$42,600 |
$79,900 |
| |
| Marketing |
$40,800 |
$79,600 |
| |
| Geology |
$43,500 |
$79,500 |
| |
| Political Science |
$40,800 |
$78,200 |
| |
| Accounting |
$46,000 |
$77,100 |
| |
| Architecture |
$41,600 |
$76,800 |
| |
| Information Technology (IT) |
$49,100 |
$74,800 |
| |
| Business Management |
$43,000 |
$72,100 |
| |
| Agriculture |
$42,600 |
$71,900 |
| |
| History |
$39,200 |
$71,000 |
| |
| Communications |
$38,100 |
$70,000 |
| |
| Film |
$37,900 |
$68,500 |
| |
| Nursing |
$54,200 |
$67,000 |
| |
| Journalism |
$35,600 |
$66,700 |
| |
| Geography |
$41,200 |
$65,500 |
| |
| Art History |
$35,800 |
$64,900 |
| |
| Biology |
$38,800 |
$64,800 |
| |
| English |
$38,000 |
$64,700 |
| |
| Forestry |
$39,100 |
$62,600 |
| |
| Anthropology |
$36,800 |
$61,500 |
| |
| Health Care Administration |
$38,800 |
$60,600 |
| |
| Psychology |
$35,900 |
$60,400 |
| |
| Graphic Design |
$35,700 |
$59,800 |
| |
| Sociology |
$36,500 |
$58,200 |
| |
| Hospitality & Tourism |
$37,800 |
$57,500 |
| |
| Drama |
$35,900 |
$56,900 |
| |
| Criminal Justice |
$35,000 |
$56,300 |
| |
| Nutrition |
$39,900 |
$55,300 |
| |
| Music |
$35,900 |
$55,000 |
| |
| Interior Design |
$36,100 |
$53,200 |
| |
| Spanish |
$34,000 |
$53,100 |
| |
| Education |
$34,900 |
$52,000 |
| |
| Religion |
$34,100 |
$52,000 |
Posted by Dan on September 23rd, 2008
Let’s face it, finding the right job that offers enough financial reward with the comfort of benefits and job stability is as difficult as winning the state lottery. The problem that faces many people is the ability to find a career path that provides a bright future and that is why we have identified several top careers and jobs for 2009 to help you in your search for a perfect career.
No two industries are created equal and therefore there are always going to be selected careers that will remain in demand despite the economic status of the United States. One of these high demand careers is within the HealthCare Industry as a Registered Nurse. Hospitals around the country continue to seek motivated employees that wish to assist in the caring and rehabilitation of patients as a registered nurse.
Average salary ranges for a Registered Nurse according to Indeed.com’s Salary Report, is around $70,000 dollars a year. Becoming a Registered Nurse can be a daunting task, but with the introduction of several adult learning programs offered by online schools, the opportunity to go back to school and earn a degree focused on nursing could not be easier.
Several notable schools such as the University of Phoenix and National American University Online offer students the ability to earn a Bachelors in Science to become a Registered Nurse. If you are interested in a rewarding career that continues to offer career advancement and strong benefits, then you should look into becoming a Registered Nurse and earn your degree today.
Posted by Dan on June 27th, 2008
Halo, Grand Theft Auto, and Super Mario have made the video game industry a multi billion dollar industry and now universities are reaching out to students by offering online video game degree programs. There is no doubt that video games are big business, and with the industry growing by 15% or more each year, more and more students are seeking a degree in game design and software development.
Online programs are becoming increasingly more popular and schools such a DeVry University offer one of the industries only online Game Design degree programs. More and more students are spending more time playing video game than watching television or surfing the net and it makes sense to offer degree programs in fields of study that are in demand and popular. As more students enroll in online video game degree programs, more universities will begin to adapt their curriculum.
So while playing hours of video games may not help your chances at achieveing a career in the video game industry, earning a degree program from an accredited online school opens the door to the potential to design the next Gears of War or Madden video game.
Posted by Dan on June 16th, 2008
In today’s technology driven world, The internet continues to influence traditional industries such as newspapers, retail stores, television stations, and even colleges. Over the past year, more and more traditional schools such as Boston University and Northeastern University adding online degree programs to their current course offerings to attract new potential students.
Bryant and Stratton College is a new school added to AchieveYourCareer recently that shares a strong tradition with its campus brand by offering several online degree programs for a new generation of students. Bryant and Stratton Online offers a compelling list of online associate degree programs with a wide variety of concentrations for those interested in futhering their career.
Bryant and Stratton’s programs focus on areas of study that target some of today’s most prospering career tracks such as IT Management and Medical Administration. By earning a college degree online with Bryant and Stratton, students are free to continue their daily routines and create a custom learning program that fits their schedules.
Digital distribution has replaced traditional CD sales, NetFlix has replaced the local video store, and online education is poised to disrupt the current college marketplace with more nationally branded traditional schools such as Bryant and Stratton offering degree programs exclusively online and at a fraction of the cost. It is not a matter of if this will happen, but a matter of when.
Posted by Dan on June 16th, 2008
In today’s news its almost impossible to escape the mentioning of the current war in Iraq. As thousands of troops continue to fight oversees, several enlisted military members can visit AchieveYourCareer.com and find a new addition to their lists of schools, Norwich University, which targets military personnel by offering the ability to earn a masters degree online.
Norwich has a history deep in tradition and actually is one of the first colleges established in the United States. Its online degree programs allow for the potential student to enroll in a variety of concentrations to help reach their career goals.Â
Students can study traditional college concentrations such as business administration, criminal justice, and engineering, but what makes Norwich University Online stand out is its dedication to providing a Masters of Arts in Military History for interested military members who may wish to further their careers within the United States Military Forces. While many schools focus on military students as a valued edition to their student body, Norwich University Online is the only online school that has created a cirriculum centered around the armed forces.
By adding Norwich University Online,  Achieveyourcareer.com again proves itself as a leading online degree source for students to research, explore, and learn in their search for accessible higher education.
