University Online » Blog http://universityonline.org Search 350+ Online University Programs Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:46:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 10 Sites That Will Pay You to Shop Online http://universityonline.org/10-sites-that-will-pay-you-to-shop-online/ http://universityonline.org/10-sites-that-will-pay-you-to-shop-online/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:46:56 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=62 In times of economic prosperity as well as regression, resourceful and fiscally responsible individuals want to maintain their preferred standard of living without going into debt to do so. Utilizing current technology, many companies offer the economical a number of fantastic opportunities to earn rebates and access special coupons and deals that reduce the cost of everyday expenses. Some even allow them to transform their regular expenditures into cash for college or savings bonds for future investments or issues. By learning how to never pay retail price whenever possible, smart consumers can earn a number of great incentives just for practicing practical finances.

    1. Shop At Home : Users who subscribe to Shop At Home have access to over 2,000 online stores. By using the provided coupons for transactions, they can receive between 1% to 30% cash back from stores and outlets such as Wal-Mart, Nike, Ulta, Target, Travelocity, JCPenney, and other popular, national stores and services. It sends out rebate checks 12 times a year and provides a massive selection of free catalogues, newsletters, and discounted magazines as well. Those who choose to download their toolbar get notified whenever their favorite stores and services offer new coupons and other promotions. While the prospect of regular rebate checks sounds understandably questionable, Shop At Home is certified as credible and legitimate by the Better Business Bureau OnLine Reliability Program.

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    2. Upromise :Nobody considers paying for college a painless or inexpensive experience. However, Upromise helps users alleviate some of the financial burden by turning everyday purchases into funding for an education. Shopping online through the over 600 participating stores results in rebates returning between 1% and 25% of purchases. Eating at over 8,000 different restaurants as a Preferred Diner nets an 8% return, and scanning a Upromise registered drug or grocery store card results in between 1% and 3% cash back. Users who get their family and friends involve may save double than what they would participating in the program on their own. All earnings are put to use in one of three ways, each benefitting college students in paying for their schooling. The money can go towards a tax-free 529 account, a Sallie Mae student loan, or come mailed as a check for tuition payments.

    3. Mr. Rebates : This Better Business Bureau accredited business provides cash-back rebates from over 1,000 retail outlets with an online presence. Shopping at Best Buy, Overstock.com, HSN, and other popular stores with their daily coupons earns a rebate of up to 30% in cash back to the buyer. Registration is entirely free, but signing up nets an automatic $5 signing bonus. Users can search for items by store or through an extremely convenient side bar listing the different items available, with everything from apparel to watches. Even traveling with participating airlines and hotels earns rebates. The program works when businesses work out a deal with Mr. Rebates whereby they pay them a commission based on how many transactions they generate. For each sale, Mr. Rebates returns a percentage of their earnings back to the consumer as a way of thanking them and offering financial help at the same time.

    4. Bing Cashback: A service of MSN and their Bing search engine, Bing Cashback allows users to look for one of millions of items for sale online and compare prices between the different stores offering the desired product. Listings include sale price, bottomline price, and the amount of cash back savings for each. So not only will users save money, they will be doing so through the best deal possible. However, users cannot request their money for the first 60 days following a transaction, and they must have at least $5 in their accounts as well. Bing Cashback occasionally offers contests with registration acting as an entry. Participants elect to have the money dropped into PayPal, direct deposited into a bank account, or mailed as a check.

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    5. Fat Wallet: One of the most prolific and oft-discussed websites that pay users to shop online, Fat Wallet partners with over 800 online retailers – with Apple Store, Dell, and HP as their most popular collaborations – to offer coupons, special deals, and bargain prices for consumers. The award-winning services at Fat Wallet come packaged with both intelligent advice as well as a relaxed sense of humor. They provide coupons and rebates, extensive listings of gift ideas for all different individuals, and even tips on surviving Black Friday and Cyber Monday with as much sanity in tact as possible. However, in spite of the bevy of excellent and attractive offers from trusted outlets, the forums at Fat Wallet stand as the true gem on the website. Consumers from across the country gather to compare notes on their experiences and offer tips on where and when to discover and take advantage of the best deals available. The community makes for an indispensible resource on learning how to shop wisely, earnestly looking out for the financial interests of others.

    6. Ebates: Participants in the Ebates program receive both cash back and discount coupons for over 1,200 brand name online stores. Signing up costs nothing, and users receive a $10 gift card to Aéropostale, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, Marriott, or Office Max just for starting up with their offers. Ebates sends out rewards every three months, and those involved in the program must have earned at least $5.01 in the previous quarter in order to receive their payments. If they do not meet the eligibility, the money will just sit in their account until the next quarter when their earnings line up with or exceed the minimum. Sign up and referral earnings do not count towards the accrual at any point. Most of the information on the website lay under the "Terms & Conditions" section. The more succinct explanations are available after signing up for their services.

    7. Cashbaq : Certified as a reliable online program by both The Better Business Bureau and TRUSTe, Cashbaq sends earnings through checks or PayPal. Over 2,800 online stores and services participate on this site, and users receive between 1% and 50% of their expenditures back. However, some businesses such as Visa Black Card and Sitter City elect to pay back a flat rate instead. Cashbaq also serves as something of a review service where consumers can compare and contrast their experiences with the featured services. This certainly helps others make informed decisions about where to spend their money and receive the most lucrative deals. The website itself is set up in an extremely informative and user-friendly manner as well. Users see exactly how much money (expressed either as a percentage or the flat rate they can expect to receive back prior to committing to a purchase, and they shop by either store or category of product desired.

    8. Big Crumbs: In addition to offering coupons and special deals for established national businesses, Big Crumbs also provides a number of opportunities for independent eBay and Etsy entrepreneurs to promote their wares as well. Over 400 shops and services participate in the Big Crumbs program, which charges absolutely nothing to use their site. Users receive a percentage of their initial expenditure back, and this is made possible by Big Crumbs returning its commission fee to the consumer. Unlike many other websites which financially compensate users for shopping online, this service only dispenses earnings through PayPal. For individuals who earn $600 or more through the program, Big Crumbs helps them complete the necessary 1099 forms that report all their major transactions as income. In addition to everything else, the site also hosts forums for sellers and buyers to interact with and discuss tips, tricks, and deals that ensure consumers do not have to pay retail prices with every purchase – either made online or in person.

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    9. Extra Rebates : Extra Rebates offers the usual programming. When users make purchases through a very wide variety of shops and services, the site offers them the commission fee back as a rebate. All transactions must originate through the Extra Rebates webpage, and the amount received depends either on a fixed rate or percentage. Participants elect to receive money via check or PayPal, though the program typically prefers the latter. They also offer a forum for consumers to exchange coupons and advice. However, the real standout aspect of Extra Rebates offers a matching service where users can donate their earnings to one of seven nonprofit organizations. For every contribution, Extra Rebates matches with a donation of 10% of the cash back. At the moment, the only nonprofits available involve the support of education and related institutions such as local branches of The Parent-Teacher Association.

    10. Bond Rewards: Approved by the Better Business Bureau and TRUSTe as well as enjoying the attention of Time and other periodicals, Bond Rewards tweaks the cash back formula into a valuable investment in the future. They host a staggering array of popular and obscure stores alike specializing in a wide variety of products and services, and users earn rebates of up to 30%. Each of the 385 businesses lists the exact percentage that consumers can expect in return, and those who have earned a minimum of 50 credits may exchange them for US Savings Bonds rather than cash or checks. However, individuals may also opt to have the money deposited directly into their bank accounts. In the case of the former option, the Bond Rewards program allows participants to turn their everyday shopping routine into a way of setting aside finances for emergencies, major investments such as a house, college tuition, or other large expenses.

With a little bit of resourcefulness and intelligence, the crafty consumer can watch everyday expenses such as groceries, medications, gifts, and others benefit more than just their basic living needs. The coupons, rebates, and other deals hosted at these sites help smart spenders receive the best bang for their buck and stretch their bank accounts even further. A few even allow users to look to the future and invest their earnings in college tuition or savings bonds. No matter if times are grand or paltry, everyone enjoys saving money wherever possible without having to compromise on quality or lifestyle choices.

]]> http://universityonline.org/10-sites-that-will-pay-you-to-shop-online/feed/ 0 Top 15 Sites to Find Legit Online Coupons http://universityonline.org/top-15-sites-to-find-legit-online-coupons/ http://universityonline.org/top-15-sites-to-find-legit-online-coupons/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:18:59 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=50 The economy is in the toilet, hardworking people are losing their jobs and prices are being driven up. Now is the time to use coupons because every dollar counts. It’s never been easier to use coupons and save a few bucks on the products you use every day.

With these 15 websites full of printable coupons, online promotion codes and frugal shopping tips, you’ll save more money and be able to do more with the money you make. Create a free online email account exclusively for your coupon accounts at these websites to avoid email overload and any possible spam.

Printable Coupon Websites1

While you may still have to cut out your printable coupons, you can at least pick and choose the ones you want to print. With all the money you save on groceries and other products, you’ll be able to afford a few extra printer ink cartridges over the year.

  1. Coupons.com – Coupons.com offers great coupons to print that are refreshed each month. Print them off and save money easily on brands like General Mills, Pillsbury and Yoplait.  

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  2. Red Plum – You’ll find lots of good coupons at Red Plum. If you find a keeper, be sure to print it as soon as possible because print limits are imposed for certain coupons. A coupon can be printed only a certain amount of times by users until it is reloaded. Individual print limits also apply.
  3. Cellfire – Cellfire allows you to create a free account, enter your savings card numbers for grocery stores like Kroger and save digital coupons to the card. When you scan your savings card at the grocery store, the coupons you added to your card will automatically deduct money from the coordinating products you’re purchasing. Cellfire members can even print off a grocery list of products you have Cellfire coupons for. It doesn’t get much easier.
  4. Smart Source.com – Smart Source is a trustworthy printable coupon website with many valuable coupons available. Enter your ZIP code for area-exclusive coupons.
  5. Cool Savings – Cool Savings is bound to save you some a dollar or two with the coupons you’ll find there. Sign up for a free account so you can print coupons, check out freebie offers and talk to other Cool Savings members in the community forums.
  6. A Full Cup – Register for a free account at A Full Cup and you’ll gain access to information on where to find really good coupons, printable coupon generators and links to all the popular printable coupon websites like Coupons.com.
  7. WOW Coupons – WOW coupons has an extensive list of downloadable and printable coupons from all over the web. You can find coupons for everything from baby products to healthcare products.
  8. All You.com – All You magazine, sold exclusively at Wal-Mart or by subscription, offers printable coupons that you won’t find on other printable coupon websites.

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  9. Betty Crocker – Download and print coupons from Betty Crocker and save money on your favorite Betty Crocker products.

Online Retail Coupons and Promotion Codes2

If you’re an online shopper, these two websites are for you. Find online coupon and promotion codes with RetailMeNot.com and Coupon Cabin easily and quickly. You’ll find percentage discounts and free shipping offers galore!

  1. RetailMeNot.com – RetailMeNot has loads of promotion and coupon codes for online retailers along with the success rate percentage of each coupon or promotion code listed.
  2. CouponCabin – Go to the Coupon Cabin to find deals and promotion codes for popular online retailers.

Coupon Blogs and Forums3

These coupon blogs and forums will teach you everything you need to know about couponing and keep you updated on the latest hot deals.

  1. Coupon Mom.com – The Coupon Mom has all you need to know about coupons, weekly deals at stores across the nation and printable coupon generators. Download the Coupon Mom’s free e-book to learn more about using coupons and hunting deals.
  2. The Krazy Coupon Lady – The Krazy Coupon ladies will keep you from paying full price for anything again. Visit this blog for coupon scenarios that save money at stores like CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Target and more.

    3. The Krazy Coupon Lady

  3. Hot Coupon World – Hot Coupon World is a forum for coupon users to discuss hot deals and coupons. Visit this website instead of scouring the web for obscure coupons. Chances are one of your fellow coupon clippers has already found it and linked directly to it.

One Awesome Coupon Clipping Service4

Do you hate clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper? Don’t do it! Go to The Coupon Clippers and choose which coupons you want, order them and in a few days the coupons will arrive in your mailbox.

  1. The Coupon Clippers – The Coupon Clippers will save you precious time by clipping the coupons for you. Plus, you don’t have to buy a Sunday paper full of coupons you’ll never use.

    2. The Coupon Clippers

Check these websites every couple of weeks for new coupons and deals. After you’ve printed some coupons, get a small file organizer to keep your coupons in order by category, expiration date or any other filing method that works for you.

Develop a friendly relationship with an easy-going cashier at the stores you shop at and always try to get in their line. Some cashiers are easily frustrated with lots of coupons and it will save you a lot of frustration if you find a cashier that doesn’t mind your new obsession. Another good coupon etiquette tip is to let those with only a few items skip ahead of you in the cashier line if you’ve got a boatload of coupons. That way you can avoid at least one set of rolling eyes while you hold up the line.

Using your coupons can be a little unnerving at first. Not everyone will be understanding as you unload a cart full of groceries and a handful of coupons to go with them. But think of it like this, with all the money you save using coupons, you might be able to afford an extra week of vacation time. That’s definitely worth any temporary embarrassment or frustration that you may experience while you’re handing over oodles of clipped coupons to a cashier at the grocery store.

Don’t forget about your Sunday newspaper too. It always contains a few valuable coupons you won’t find online unless you use a coupon clipping service like the one listed above.

]]> http://universityonline.org/top-15-sites-to-find-legit-online-coupons/feed/ 0 100 Interesting and Fun Open Courses You Wished You’d Taken In College http://universityonline.org/100-interesting-and-fun-open-courses-you-wished-you%e2%80%99d-taken-in-college/ http://universityonline.org/100-interesting-and-fun-open-courses-you-wished-you%e2%80%99d-taken-in-college/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:43:10 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=43 Gone are the days that require a tuition bill for higher learning – at least in some cases. Thanks to the generosity of colleges like MIT, Utah State University and Columbia University, curiosity seekers can review college materials, lectures and notes from past courses online through open courseware projects. Many times these open courses are free or charge a nominal fee. Subjects range from engineering to literature and nearly everything in between. It’s like getting a free education in whatever you desire without all the hours in classrooms.

Listed below are some interesting, fun and challenging open courses from several colleges and universities as well as a small list of other schools that host open courseware programs.

To find open courses, browse the list of current offerings for each school either by term, year or database. Some colleges do not offer the same courses each year or term.

Colleges and Universities with Open Courseware Programs

Open Courseware Classes from Berklee College of Music, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University

Berklee Shares.com Open Courseware

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative

Columbia Interactive Open Courseware 

Gresham College – Lectures and Events

MIT Open Course Ware

Open courses offered from colleges and universities are not a substitute for a college education and do not count toward a degree unless otherwise noted. Have fun learning and be on the look out for new offerings from the colleges and universities listed above and in your area.

]]> http://universityonline.org/100-interesting-and-fun-open-courses-you-wished-you%e2%80%99d-taken-in-college/feed/ 0 Top 50 Free Websites to Look for Scholarships http://universityonline.org/top-50-free-websites-to-look-for-scholarships/ http://universityonline.org/top-50-free-websites-to-look-for-scholarships/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:58:14 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=40 Trying to find a scholarship to fund your college education can seem like the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. Besides, don’t scholarships only go to the super smart, over-achiever types? Not necessarily. 

Use these free search tools and website to find lots of scholarships, financial aid and information on applying for scholarships the right way. Sign up for a free email account to use specifically for scholarship searching. It will save you time and headaches if you use a separate email address because you could end up with a bunch of junk emails as you give out your personal information to some websites. 

General Scholarship Search Tools

    1. FastWeb – Fast Web allows students to search for scholarships based on their year in college, interests, major and region. Not only can students search for scholarships for free, but Fast Web has loads of articles on financial aid, student life and internship opportunities.

    2. Scholarship Experts – Scholarship Experts was named “best scholarship search engine” by Forbes in its Best of the Web Review. Fill out the required information and you’re on your way to finding a scholarship that fits your needs.

    3. College Scholarships.org – College Scholarships.com has been helping students find money for college for free since 1999. The web site also has student loan and grant information available.

    4. College Scholarships.com – College Scholarships.com allows students to search for scholarships and review scholarship essay samples for free.

    5. Scholarships.com – Search for over 2.7 million scholarships with Scholarships.com’s free search tool. Or students can create a profile and have matching scholarships and grants sent to them from the database.

    6. College Board: Scholarship Search – College Board allows members to access, save and compare scholarship information from its database. Just sign up for a free account and start looking for free ways to fund your education.

    7. Financial Aid Finder This search engine is designed to help all kinds of students find the financial aid that’s necessary for them to attend college.

    8. Nationally Coveted College Scholarships & Graduate Fellowships – Find scholarships and fellowships that are in high demand through this searchable database

    9. CollegeNET – Use CollegeNET’s Mach 25 search engine to find more scholarship opportunities that may not be listed on all scholarship databases. Search by keyword or fill out a personal profile to find results matched to your information.

    10. Go College: College Scholarships – Go College has a good search engine and articles on where to find the best scholarships for all types of students with all types of credentials.

    11. SuperCollege – Sign up for a free account and browse through Super College’s database of scholarships. The scholarships are listed by name with the typical amount awarded and rated on a five star system. Students can also save their favorite scholarship matches to apply for after searching.

    12. College Answer: Free Sallie Mae Scholarship Search – Use College Answer’s Sallie Mae scholarship search to find scholarships without annoying advertisements.

    13. Student Scholarship Search – Find scholarships based on keyword searches or take a look at this web site’s featured scholarship listings. Be sure to also download the free e-book, Scholarship Secrets.

    14. BrokeScholar.com – Begin a free scholarship listing search by filling out a personal profile. Store potential scholarships in a folder for easy access.

    15. NextStudent.com: Search for Scholarships – NextStudent.com lets you search through more than 76,000 college funding sources free of charge. NextStudent will also match you with scholarships for which you are eligible.

    16. FinAid! – FinAid! is one of the best resources for understanding and finding college financial aid. Search for scholarships here and examine other types of financial aid options that will pay your way through school.

    17. Scholarship Help – If you need scholarship help, check out this website. It’s easy to use and has a bundle of insightful information about how to apply and win scholarships.

    18. Zinch.com – Find and win your scholarship on Zinch.com and they’ll match the funds you win. Good enough reason to search this website, right?

    19. College View – Read over College View’s financial aid articles and search its free database of scholarship listings.

    20. FindTuition.com: Search for Scholarships Find tutition.com will help you find scholarships and awards to pay for college by eligibility, major or college.

    21. U.S. News and World Report: Paying for College – U.S. News and World Report will teach you how to make the most of each scholarship application and how to attend college on someone’s else’s dime.

    22. Cappex.com – Cappex is a free scholarship and financial aid search tool. Create one profile with Cappex and you can apply for every scholarship you’re eligible.

    23. UPromise.com: Paying and Graduating – UPromise is a great way to begin saving early for college expenses if you do a lot of online shopping. Check out the website’s articles on how to save and pay for college.

    24. International Scholarships.com – This search engine tool on International Scholarships.com will help international students find aid to take them overseas to college.

    25. International Education Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search – This is another good international college financial aid search tool to use if you plan on spending any duration of your college education overseas.

    26. FreSch! Search4Scholarships.com – This searchable website has over 450,000 scholarship entries in its database. You can search for something specific or look at the entire list.

    27. Sallie Mae’s Free Scholarship Search – Plan your college financial road map with Sallie Mae. Register and search for scholarships and get scholarship tips by email.

    28. SchoolSoup – School Soup touts the largest Internet database of scholarships and financial aid information according to its website. Students can also look at the student loan center and find cheap textbooks.

    29. Scholar Site – Scholar Site allows students to search for scholarships without committing any personal information. No spam here.

    30. Adventures in Education: Scholarship Search – AIE is another option to find obscure scholarship information and financial award opportunities easily and privately.

    31. Student Aid on the Web – Find financial aid and scholarship information from a trusted resource – the federal government.

    32. Peterson’s Scholarship Search – Peterson’s always has a wealth of information on college. Here you can search for scholarships based on your qualifications.

    33. U.S. First Scholarship Search – Use USFIRST.org to find technology scholarships by school. Each FIRST scholarship is designed for students with majors in engineering, computer science, science, math, design, aeronautics and many science and math related fields.

    34. EdFed Scholarship Search – Search EdFed’s comprehensive database of scholarship listings and take a look at loan information too from America’ top student loan provider.

    35. Embark – Embark will guide students through all the necessary steps to find financial aid and college scholarships without the hassle of signing up for an account.

    36. The Princeton Review: Scholarships and Financial Aid – The Princeton Review offers a whole financial aid library to ease the process of finding money for school. It also has a free scholarship search tool to help students find scholarships that suit their needs. 

Company, Regional or Organization Specific Scholarships  

    37. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation – Coca-Cola offers scholarships to current high school seniors that plan to attend college the following year. These scholarships go fast so apply early.

    38. U.S. Air Force ROTC Scholarships – The ROTC is a great way to gain discipline and fund your college education. If you’re a member of a high school ROTC program or plan to join the ROTC in college, visit this list of scholarships for more opportunities to pay less tuition.

    39. College Sports Scholarships – If you’re planning to play college sports, check out this website full of scholarship listings just for athletes.

    40. Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board – Find scholarships available to Washington state college students.

    41. The Sallie Mae Fund – The Sallie Mae Fund supports a handful of scholarship programs available to college students nationwide.

    42. The Phillips Foundation: Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program – The Phillips Foundation offers college scholarships to young people that exhibit leadership, values and a willingness to uphold constitutional freedoms.

    43. Be An Actuary – Scholarship Opportunities- If you plan to become an actuary, a person that examines undesirable event possibilities and risk management, this scholarship list is for you. It lists several scholarships available to high school students and current college students.

    44. ASME Scholarships – ASME scholarships are for students pursuing or currently obtaining an education in mechanical engineering. Browse the database of ASME scholarships to see if one is right for you.

    45. Hartford Foundation for Public Giving: College Scholarship Directory – If you live in Hartford County, Connecticut or 28 of its surrounding counties, you may be eligible for scholarship monies from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Take a look at the online directory of scholarships to see if any apply to you.

    46. Military.com Scholarship Search – If you or a close relative is actively serving in the U.S. military, check out this website full of scholarship information for military personnel and their dependents. 

Minority Scholarship Websites and Searches  

When you’re filling out your scholarship applications, be aware that there are scholarship scams out there trying to trick you out of your money. Do all the research you can on each scholarship and be weary of any scholarship fund that asks for an application fee. Good luck!

]]> http://universityonline.org/top-50-free-websites-to-look-for-scholarships/feed/ 0 Distractions in E-Learning and How to Avoid Them http://universityonline.org/distractions-in-e-learning-and-how-to-avoid-them/ http://universityonline.org/distractions-in-e-learning-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:14:57 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=35 It’s surprising how quickly we adapt to change, especially when it comes in the form of technology. We have advanced rapidly into a world that is now connected mainly through bits and bytes, with the help of a network we call the Internet. And if you don’t have an online presence in the plethora of social networks that crowd the Web, you’re persona non grata or don’t exist at all.

Online technology does have other uses too, like in the field of education. And the more intrepid and enthusiastic among us are even using social networks like Facebook and Twitter to further academia and pedagogy. They are hoping that it will help rope in more people to tap the myriad opportunities that online education offers.

While there can be no doubting the fact that e-learning has its advantages, the very fact that you learn from home or a distant location allows distractions to disrupt the learning process. So if you’re hoping to earn a degree or a certificate online, here’s what you need to be wary of:

    Snack Sidetracks: If you’re at home, with no teacher to supervise you or time schedules for classes, you’re likely to imagine yourself feeling hungry all the time. Or you may just feel bored and decide to see what’s in the fridge. In short, you end up wearing a path between the fridge and your desk, stuffing your face, becoming fat and not studying at all.

    Television Temptations: The television is a great distraction, especially if it’s always on in the background when you’re supposed to be studying. An interesting play in a game may catch your eye and the rest of your study session’s shot to pieces. You may also be tempted to schedule your study hours around your television program schedule, studying only when there’s nothing interesting to watch on TV.

    Internet Interruptions: This is the biggest time-waster because you don’t really realize that you are wasting time until it’s too late. Because you have to remain online, you tend to browse other sites and get sidetracked because there is so much to do on the net.

    Family Fun: And if you have young children or other family members at home throughout the day, you are definitely going to be disturbed by them. Even though you may want to study, you’re not going to be allowed to do so in peace.

Distractions are a regular part of all e-learning initiatives, and it’s up to you to minimize them by setting aside a study space and a fixed time schedule each day. Besides this, you need to be disciplined, organized and dedicated in order to make a success of online education.

]]> http://universityonline.org/distractions-in-e-learning-and-how-to-avoid-them/feed/ 0 The Value and Legitimacy of Online Degrees http://universityonline.org/the-value-and-legitimacy-of-online-degrees/ http://universityonline.org/the-value-and-legitimacy-of-online-degrees/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:12:15 +0000 admin http://universityonline.org/?p=32 It’s a pretty popular option these days, mainly because it is inexpensive and flexible. But how valuable and legit are online degrees when it comes to securing jobs and impressing your potential employer? Well, the answers depend on a few factors like:

    The online school you choose:When your online school has a reputation that precedes it, your future employer may be impressed enough to give you a chance to prove yourself. Some online schools are little more than diploma mills and the degrees they hand out are worth less than even the paper they are printed on. This makes the fact that you’ve studied online a limiting factor, not one that helps your job search in any way. So you must work hard to convince your employer that you are capable of much more than your choice of school declares.

    The degree you opt for: If your chosen field of study is rare and difficult with a myriad of job opportunities, it does not matter if you’ve studied online or if you’ve gone to a regular school. There are some subjects that most people do not choose to study because they are hard and because they may not pay as well as others. But if such a subject is your cup of tea, an online degree may be enough to get you a great job.

    The amount of work experience you have: Some employers are willing to ignore the fact that your degree is from an online school if you have a few years of work experience, because it gives you an edge over your compatriots. So if you’re studying online, it’s best to earn and learn at the same time.

    Whether you choose an undergraduate or graduate course: It’s often acceptable to do your graduate degree online while it’s frowned upon to want to earn your undergraduate degree in a similar manner. Call it an unfair prejudice, but it still remains the truth. Most employers don’t mind that you’ve chosen to earn your master’s degree online while working at a regular or part-time job.

    Your reasons for choosing to study online: Some employers are willing to overlook the fact that your degree is from an online school if they see potential in you and if you have legitimate reasons for choosing to study online instead of going to a traditional college.

Employers are not too much in favor of online degrees, not when they have hundreds of thousands of graduates from regular schools to choose from. But, they may consider you worth their while if you are able to demonstrate that you are exceptionally brilliant and that it’s you who matter, not your degree.

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