Posted by Jen Zeman on March 9th, 2009
The online assignments I had at UMUC were no different than assignments at Harford Community College which were in a traditional classroom setting. Projects/papers were a little more in-depth since UMUC is a four-year college, but formats and general content were the same. I didn’t find that the number of major papers required each semester changed – at UMUC we usually had one big paper due at the end of the semester much like it was at Harford Community College. However, UMUC did require weekly writing assignments that weren’t completed in the traditional classroom. My guess for this requirement is to make up for the in-class lecture students participate in the traditional setting. Weekly assignments for UMUC’s online classes seemed to focus on weekly readings and were an attempt to make sure you understood the material being covered.
Preparing for final exams for UMUC wasn’t any different either (when I attended UMUC, there were no mid-term exams). However, the process was vastly different. In the traditional classroom setting, everyone showed up in class on a pre-scheduled night to take the written exam all at once. At UMUC, exams were not offered online. You had to designate a place where you would take a proctored exam and have that location approved by UMUC (I would always take mine at Harford Community College’s test center). Prior to exam week, the exam would be mailed to your designated testing location. You had to then take the exam within the designated exam week. Testing personnel would then mail the completed exam back to your professor at UMUC. Exams sometimes included multiple-choice, but were largely essay-based. None were easy, but if you studied the material the professor indicated would be covered on the final exam, the exam wasn’t as painful!
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 June 29th, 2008
Online degrees from accredited colleges and universities offer higher education opportunities for those who might otherwise miss out. The classes are extremely convenient since you can complete the coursework based on your schedule; there is no commute to a classroom for a three-hour sit-down lecture at a specific time each week. However, do not fall into the trap of confusing convenient with “easyâ€. Online courses are very challenging as you will have specific requirements due usually daily and weekly.  For example, you may be required to post responses daily to a specific forum your professor posts in addition to lengthy written assignments that are due that week. So, while you may not be “sitting†in a classroom three hours a week, you more than make up for that with work assignments scheduled with online courses.
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With that said, online degrees don’t appear to be for everyone out there. Online degrees are ideal if you are disciplined, hard-working, and very organized. If you have a difficult time completing work without the structure of physically meeting in a classroom (to be accountable for your work) or are easily distracted by other responsibilities going on outside of work and school, you will struggle. But it’s not hopeless! Work on your time management skills and prioritize your responsibilities and you can be quite successful with an online degree.
My next post will discuss the appropriate time management skills and responsibilities prioritization needed to help you succeed in achieving your online degree. Â
