Archive for the ‘The Online School Application Process’ Category
My online classes were easy to apply for because I already had a bachelor and masters degrees and usually enroll as a special student. If I enrolled for a specific degree the process involved a lot more.
My best advice for prospective college students is to be prepared. I keep all the information I need to enroll in classes or apply for jobs in a Microsoft Word doc in my computer. Much of the information asked on college enrollment forms and job applications is the same. This list helps me quickly retrieve information I need to fill out the forms. My Word file also includes names and addresses, including ZIP codes of all the Universities I attended. I have been out of high school nearly 37 years and I am still asked for that information!
On the same file, I also keep links to university web sites that help me to order transcripts. My “vitals file” also includes names, addresses and email of people who may be personal and professional references. Finally, it lists employers and their addresses. I recently updated my vitals file to include skills (usually technology related) I have learned.
Occasionally, colleges ask for an essay or a statement of philosophy. I always write these in Microsoft Word and save them. Writing is the most cumbersome part of the process and it helps to catalog similar statements. Cut and paste comes in mighty handy!
My computer helps me to organize application materials. All the documents I referred to previously are stored in a sub folder in My Documents. The folder is appropriately named Application Materials and I keep several versions of my resume in this folder.
The key to efficiently filling out application forms is your ability to quickly access the information requested. When this information is in one easily accessible location, the process becomes SO much easier. Oh yes, one more important note. Don’t forget to load a copy of your vitals file on your thumb drive. You can never be too careful, right? Good luck!
Posted by Jeff Davis on January 8th, 2009
Trying to choose the best online school for you? Since geographic location is not really taken into consideration, you literally have thousands of programs and online universities to choose from. It is evident that online degree options and schools vary in what they offer and how they deliver education and while there many good programs available, choosing the right one and completing the application process can seem overwhelming.
When choosing an online college, there are many factors which you should take into consideration. Among the most important of these is the availability of financial aid. Is financial aid available? Typically this type of question and others pertaining to the application process can be better addressed on the school’s website or by contacting one of their qualified personnel.
We all know that earning a college degree can require a substantial investment of money. Fortunately, there are many financing options available and the application process is relatively simple. Based on my personal experience, help was easily accessible and readily available by the university that I chose and was able to walk me through the complete application process in a very short period of time. My advice for future students is to take the necessary time to carefully research the online programs and schools that they are interested in and gather tuition estimates before you apply. Then, see which ones offer financial aid and if you qualify for these loans. If you have questions, be sure to contact the school directly. As for the university’s enrollment application, that was a simple process as well which literally took just minutes in filling out an online form on the school website.
Overall, pursuing a degree online can be a rewarding and memorable experience. Choosing an online degree program is really just knowing what you are looking for and finding the best option that will help you reach your goals. I think that all potential students need to evaluate the various programs in order to maximize the potential for getting a quality education.
Posted by Jen Zeman on January 7th, 2009
The application process for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) was simple. The three steps involved included:
- Completing and submitting the application online.
- Payment for the application fee was online as well.
- After submission of the application, I requested official transcripts to be mailed directly to UMUC from previous schools.
Then, it was a matter of waiting for a letter indicating my acceptance. I received an additional letter detailing my transcript evaluation (i.e. what credits UMUC would accept). For me, the process from start to finish was approximately six weeks.
My recommendations to prospective students:
- Know where you really want to attend! Nearly all, if not ALL, colleges and universities charge an application fee (UMUC’s fee is currently $50), so unless you have an unlimited budget, it can be quite expensive to submit multiple applications. Most online colleges and universities have a lenient admissions process and acceptance procedures which means if you apply, you will be accepted (the one exception would be for graduate programs).
- Plan ahead. If you want to start classes in the fall, get the application process underway in the spring. Give yourself enough time to apply, have a transcript evaluation, and have plenty of time to select your desired classes.
- For submission of official transcripts, do not hoard a stash of official transcripts sent to your home address only to send them on to prospective schools. Many institutions will not accept these types of submissions as official (i.e. the official transcripts need to be mailed directly from the home institution). The reason is transcripts mailed to a student first renders the possibility the transcript could be altered.
Once you complete the application process, you will find it is most likely the easiest part of your online college experience!
The application process was so intimidating! It was one of those times when I started to second-guess myself. Do I have the right background? Will they take me? Who will be my references? What will they say? So many questions ran through my head as I started the application process.
For the PhD program, filling out an application for the school was more complex than many job applications I’ve done. There were a number of requirements I needed to meet, including age, work experience, and academic experience. I was very young when I started the program - 27. Many schools had requirements that a student had to be at least 30, so I needed to get an exception, and my application and supplemental materials had to speak to my experience.
The application itself was long (thank goodness it was electronic). I continued to fine tune the application while gathering the other information. I needed to get 3 letters of recommendation - I asked my boss, a peer, and an instructor from my master’s degree program. I also needed to write an essay about why I was a worthy candidate for the program.
I think the essay was the most intimidating. Not only were they looking for post-grad quality writing, but they were evaluating the worthiness of the candidate - me. While the essay was personal in nature, I had a lot riding on it.
When you go to start your application process, here are a few tips.
1) Make sure you know everything you need to do to apply and when the deadlines are.
- Many schools will require transcripts, references, applications and essays.
- Some will have an application fee as well.
2) Contact everyone early and let them know the deadlines (allow a few days before the final due date).
3) Follow up with folks to make sure they’ve completed what you’ve asked.
4) Follow up with the school to make sure they have everything they need. Find out when they expect a decision to be made so you don’t go crazy waiting.
When filling out the application or writing the essay, just be yourself and be honest. Then get some proofreading/editing help to make sure your writing is clear - you want this to be the best work you’ve done so far.
Remember, a good application is the first step to getting in to the school you’re choosing. Don’t rush through this process.
Posted by Sharon Cece on January 5th, 2009
I got some great advice not long ago and it was this: “The hardest part about cutting your lawn is not actually cutting your lawn. The hardest part is deciding to put your hands on the handle of the mower”. It sounds simplistic, but I realized that’s true about most things in life; deciding to do something is the most difficult part of any process. Once you make a decision, either way it’s pretty much a done deal.
My college application process was a breeze compared to my back-and-forth justifications for not returning to school at this time or that time. Excuses are easy to formulate and I’m as good at making them as anyone else. That’s not to say they weren’t valid. But I was more surprised than anyone, when finally deciding okay this is it I’m going back to school, how seamlessly and effortlessly everything fell into place. I dropped off my application at Florida State while we happened to be driving in the region on vacation. I mailed in my transcripts, provided the additional necessary paperwork, got the acceptance, filled out my financial aid forms and the next thing you know I was a college student again.
As you’re reading this you’re probably thinking nothing is ever that easy, but it’s astounding to me how much can get done when you, excuse the banality and oft-used Nike reference, just do it. Just put your hands on the handle. Just start climbing the mountain. Just fill out the first form, then the next form. From a distance it seems overwhelming but up close and in parts it’s wholly doable. Almost anything in this world, especially those copious application demands, can and will get done when achieved in small parts.
My advice for college applicants is this: once you decide, despite the wide expanse of overgrown lawn, to put your hands on that handle, once you decide to confront the formidable crag, once you decide to tackle the application process step by intricate step–after you take a deep breath–then plunge in with all your heart. That means whatever roadblocks come your way, whether it be rocky patches or jagged edges or a multitude of paperwork, transcripts, emails and financial aid forms, just get ‘er done. Don’t look too far ahead and don’t be dissuaded by the effort needed to start you on the road to graduation. The decision is the hardest part. The rest is just a walk on the lawn.
