All-
Good afternoon! Today I have been requested to type up a list of questions to ask a school when looking to start a new degree. At many schools, Enrollment Counselors (or Admissions Counselors, or whatever they are called) tend to be 'sales people'. Some schools are VERY guilty of this. At the end of the day, go with your heart. If you do not trust the person or what they are telling you- don't deal with them. Either pick another school or ask to work with a different counselor. YOU are the client/customer. Don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. And if something really sounds off, ask for documentation on the school or Department of Education website to prove why they are asking you for something.
THE LIST (what you are looking for is bulleted under the question)
1. What is your accreditation?
*Regional Accreditation is the highest form of education you can get in the US. That doesn't mean that National accreditation is bad, it just has different requirements. The biggest two differences are nationally accredited degrees are not as respected and do not allow for continuance in a master program. If you are looking to continue through your academics to master or doctoral level work, it MUST be regional not national.
2. How long has your school be established?
*There is nothing wrong with having a school established for a short amount of time. The two things you are looking for here is 1. to challenge the Enrollment Counselor that they really know about the school and aren't just selling you and 2. that the school has a history. Being established for 100 years is great, but it doesn't mean the education will be better than one only 10 years old. It just means there's a different story. If history and tradition is important to you, ask more probing questions here. See if the enrollment counselor really knows what they are talking about.
3. Where is the home office or main campus? (If it's somewhere other than where you are sitting, ask how long they have been at that location.)
*If you are at a remote location (or satellite campus) ask which student services you are able to get on site v. which services will have to be handled out of the main office. Some people want to be face to face on all of their interactions. If you are not at the main campus, this is something you will have to consider. Additionally, if they are new to the area, they might not know the market and trends for the area. Consider this upon entrance.
4. What is your tuition?
*Money is always an issue. If they don't give you a direct answer to this question, keep asking. There should be no reason to hide the cost of the program. Additionally, ask what fees are on top of the tuition fee and if the books are included in the cost or if that is separate. The last thing you want is to think you're going to get a degree for less money than they end up billing you. There are schools out there they will try to lie to you about tuition. It's dishonest and unfair to the rest of us in the education business that they do this. So push until you get a definitive answer.
5. What are the admissions requirements? (If you cannot meet those requirements ask what other options you have to get accepted into a different program and transfer in.)
*The most important thing is, can you get accepted. If there is a GPA requirement you cannot meet, what can you do to raise it? You want to make sure that you don't waste your time and energy trying to get into a school that will not accept you from the start. This happened to me. I applied to a grad school to get my MA in Art History. When I received my denial letter I was shocked. I had met with a department chair and everything. When I questioned her she said, "well we require three years of full time work experience". I said, "Why didn't you tell me that when I met with you? I wouldn't have wasted my time writing essays, filling out applications, getting transcripts, taking the GRE, etc." I was so upset and annoyed, I never went back.
6. What is the course format? Is it online? On campus?
*What is most important to you? There is no right or wrong way to take classes and online classes are not transcripted any different than in class courses. So which one are you considering and how will it fit best into your schedule?
7. Online: Are there required days or times to log in?
*Find out. If you are looking for the flexibility of online and then you are still required to be 'in class' at a certain time, is that really giving you flexibility?
8. On campus: What are the days and times for the class?
*How does it fit into your schedule? Simple as that.
9. On campus: Is the schedule flexible? If it's one night a week, does every semester or class have to be on the same night?
*Some campus based programs require you to commit to a night the whole way through your program. What if life happens? You cannot ever guarantee that you will be free every Wednesday night from now until graduation, so why would you start a program that requires that? Ask if that is a requirement what your options are if you later need to change nights.
10. Do you have any required study groups or group work?
*As someone who has never participated in a study group, I can only speak to what has been told to me. The problem with study groups and group work is there are always the workers and always the followers. People who tend to work well in these types of programs either have no problem doing all the work, or are the student who lets someone do all the work for them. If this is something that bothers you, don't go to a school that requires it.
11. How many students are in each class on average?
*No matter what way you look at it, you learn more in a smaller class. Lecture halls of hundreds of students where your instructor doesn't know your name is harder to learn in than a class of 10-15. When your faculty knows your name, your background and your history, you have a better working relationship. Additionally, the bigger the class, the less feedback on your work and less individual attention...
12. Are the instructors working professionals in the field? Or are they academics?
*Now there is nothing wrong with either one. But decide if this is something important to you. If you are looking to find a job in a related field, it's easier to talk to someone who is currently working in the field. Sometimes the academics forget how the course content applies to real world. Remember all of the times in your high school math class you asked, "And when am I ever going to use this again?" If your instructor is working in the field they can say, "When running a blah blah blah report... " Or whatever. Now people who are academics mean they are full time professors. Their main job is teaching. That means they are experts in the field but they might not always be on top of current trends. It never hurts to ask so you know what to expect.
That's my list. If you can think of any other questions please let me know! Once again I'm here to help so please don't hesitate to ask questions, provide feedback or give me more topics to blog on!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Degree Options to Careers
Good afternoon!
For today's blog I will be investigating how degree options can relate to your various career options. Many students come to me and ask "how does this degree translate over into a career?" I would like to present those various options to you and please provide any feedback you have!
There are certain career fields that there is a very specific degree you will need to obtain. These careers include (but are not limited to): K-12 teachers, doctors (and other medical related jobs), lawyers, counselors and CPA's- pretty much anything you have to hold a license or certification to do. If any of these careers is something you are interested in, you should gear your education towards this career path from the start. Many of these areas it is difficult (but not impossible) to switch mid-stream on another program.
If you plan on working in almost any other field than the ones listed above, your degree doesn't have to be in a certain area. Many students come to me and worry that if they are going to continue a career in corporate America, they have to have a business degree. This is not true. Now will it help your resume to have business degrees? Perhaps, but it does not eliminate you from the candidate pool. Take me for example... I received my bachelor degree in art. Have I created paintings and drawings since I graduated? Absolutely. Did I paint my way into working in corporate America or even into education? Absolutely not. When I applied and interviewed for every job I've ever had they were looking for a degree. Never once was I questioned on what I studied.
For the majority of jobs, if the requirement is a bachelor degree to be hired, there is usually not a specific field in which they are asking your studies to be from. When you get to the master level, that is where employers look for more field specific work. Many master level programs do not require your bachelor degree to be in the same field as your master degree.
There are two different ways to approach education and your career. One is to put your career first and the other is to put your education first. Both ways are explained below.
Career:
The most important thing to think about as you decide on your degrees is what you want to do with your life. Look at your 5, 10 and 20 year goals. From there, think of potential employers that you would like to work for- and shoot for the moon. If you are thinking of working for IBM at an upper management level in 20 years, go to their website NOW and check job postings. Check what the education requirements are for the 'dream job' you are thinking of. And then as you work towards getting that job or something like it, set your education to mirror that.
Education:
On the other side if you're not sure what you want to do with your education and career, my suggestion is to figure it out by way of your education. Take classes in different fields and areas of study (of course as your degree plan allows) and see what sparks your interest. Take English, science, psychology, anthropology, etc., see what you find interesting. Many students take psychology classes and end up finding a true passion for it. From there you can build your career around your love for your subject area. Your career goals don't always have to come first, you can always put your education first and see what careers are available after you've graduated. Use your faculty as a guide. Most of them are working professionals in the field. Tell them you love the subject area for which you are studying and ask them what entry level careers there are in the field and how to market yourself to get one of them.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day the most important thing is to go with your heart. I cannot tell you how many students I have seen struggle with completing their degree because they picked a field that is not really interesting to them. If you cannot make it through the coursework, chances are you won't be able to make it in that career either. People who start the education path and find problems with dealing with children are probably not going to succeed as a teacher. Consider your options and use your resources as a guide. Ask your advisor and faculty members you trust your questions and concerns. We are here to help. It doesn't make a difference to me (since I work as a generalist) which degree you graduate with- I'm here to help you get a degree and then guide you into a career and job after. If you keep your concerns to yourself, you will never know what options are out there. Don't be afraid to ask. Your advisor would rather be kept in the loop and help you through your questions and struggles than have you get overwhelmed and drop out of school.
For today's blog I will be investigating how degree options can relate to your various career options. Many students come to me and ask "how does this degree translate over into a career?" I would like to present those various options to you and please provide any feedback you have!
There are certain career fields that there is a very specific degree you will need to obtain. These careers include (but are not limited to): K-12 teachers, doctors (and other medical related jobs), lawyers, counselors and CPA's- pretty much anything you have to hold a license or certification to do. If any of these careers is something you are interested in, you should gear your education towards this career path from the start. Many of these areas it is difficult (but not impossible) to switch mid-stream on another program.
If you plan on working in almost any other field than the ones listed above, your degree doesn't have to be in a certain area. Many students come to me and worry that if they are going to continue a career in corporate America, they have to have a business degree. This is not true. Now will it help your resume to have business degrees? Perhaps, but it does not eliminate you from the candidate pool. Take me for example... I received my bachelor degree in art. Have I created paintings and drawings since I graduated? Absolutely. Did I paint my way into working in corporate America or even into education? Absolutely not. When I applied and interviewed for every job I've ever had they were looking for a degree. Never once was I questioned on what I studied.
For the majority of jobs, if the requirement is a bachelor degree to be hired, there is usually not a specific field in which they are asking your studies to be from. When you get to the master level, that is where employers look for more field specific work. Many master level programs do not require your bachelor degree to be in the same field as your master degree.
There are two different ways to approach education and your career. One is to put your career first and the other is to put your education first. Both ways are explained below.
Career:
The most important thing to think about as you decide on your degrees is what you want to do with your life. Look at your 5, 10 and 20 year goals. From there, think of potential employers that you would like to work for- and shoot for the moon. If you are thinking of working for IBM at an upper management level in 20 years, go to their website NOW and check job postings. Check what the education requirements are for the 'dream job' you are thinking of. And then as you work towards getting that job or something like it, set your education to mirror that.
Education:
On the other side if you're not sure what you want to do with your education and career, my suggestion is to figure it out by way of your education. Take classes in different fields and areas of study (of course as your degree plan allows) and see what sparks your interest. Take English, science, psychology, anthropology, etc., see what you find interesting. Many students take psychology classes and end up finding a true passion for it. From there you can build your career around your love for your subject area. Your career goals don't always have to come first, you can always put your education first and see what careers are available after you've graduated. Use your faculty as a guide. Most of them are working professionals in the field. Tell them you love the subject area for which you are studying and ask them what entry level careers there are in the field and how to market yourself to get one of them.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day the most important thing is to go with your heart. I cannot tell you how many students I have seen struggle with completing their degree because they picked a field that is not really interesting to them. If you cannot make it through the coursework, chances are you won't be able to make it in that career either. People who start the education path and find problems with dealing with children are probably not going to succeed as a teacher. Consider your options and use your resources as a guide. Ask your advisor and faculty members you trust your questions and concerns. We are here to help. It doesn't make a difference to me (since I work as a generalist) which degree you graduate with- I'm here to help you get a degree and then guide you into a career and job after. If you keep your concerns to yourself, you will never know what options are out there. Don't be afraid to ask. Your advisor would rather be kept in the loop and help you through your questions and struggles than have you get overwhelmed and drop out of school.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Books and Materials
The first question I received was about books. Most schools offer books or materials for courses through some form of a bookstore- whether online or in person. Many schools make it appear this is the only place to receive the materials you need. That is not always the case.
My recommendation is always to look into your options. There are positives and negatives to using the college bookstore. Check your options and see which one is best for you. You can try to order your materials differently each semester or term and see which way you feel most comfortable.
Negatives of buying at the bookstore: The bookstores are notorious for overcharging. Not just for the book, but if you're ordering online, for shipping as well. If you are looking to save money, always ordering your books through the bookstore is NOT the best option.
Positives of buying at the bookstore: You are guaranteed that the book you order/purchase is the book for your class. If they ship you the wrong book or if the book changes, the bookstore will refund your money or resend you the book you need. Additionally, if they are out of stock, they will notify the instructor that you have a book on order and that you are not just being lazy (at some universities). Also, this is the only way to participate in 'book buy back'. Although most places it seems like a rip-off, if you buy the book somewhere else and then don't need it again, you'll have to go through the process of trying to sell it online. Additionally this is the only way to use a Book Voucher. Not all schools offer this, but it is an option through financial aid. If you are a financial aid student and you do not want to pay for your books out of your pocket, see if they can set you up with a book voucher which is almost like a line of credit at the bookstore to order your materials. When your financial aid comes in, they will pay back the bookstore with that money.
Alternative options: Always check with your bookstore to find out what books/materials are required. Make sure you check the edition of the book because if you are working off of an older edition, page numbers could be different than what is required on the reading for class. Then do online searches at websites like Amazon and Half.com. There are a plethora of other sites and all you have to do is google it. It's not the most guaranteed way to get your correct text books, but this will save you A LOT of money. And isn't school expensive enough as it is?
My overall recommendation is to price shop. If the bookstore is charging $150 for the book and an additional $15 for shipping and you can find it on Amazon for $75 including shipping, definitely don't get it at the bookstore. If the same book ends up costing $140 including shipping on Amazon, go ahead and spend the little extra money to get it through the bookstore. This will allow you the option to sell it back and give yourself piece of mind that it will be the correct book.
My recommendation is always to look into your options. There are positives and negatives to using the college bookstore. Check your options and see which one is best for you. You can try to order your materials differently each semester or term and see which way you feel most comfortable.
Negatives of buying at the bookstore: The bookstores are notorious for overcharging. Not just for the book, but if you're ordering online, for shipping as well. If you are looking to save money, always ordering your books through the bookstore is NOT the best option.
Positives of buying at the bookstore: You are guaranteed that the book you order/purchase is the book for your class. If they ship you the wrong book or if the book changes, the bookstore will refund your money or resend you the book you need. Additionally, if they are out of stock, they will notify the instructor that you have a book on order and that you are not just being lazy (at some universities). Also, this is the only way to participate in 'book buy back'. Although most places it seems like a rip-off, if you buy the book somewhere else and then don't need it again, you'll have to go through the process of trying to sell it online. Additionally this is the only way to use a Book Voucher. Not all schools offer this, but it is an option through financial aid. If you are a financial aid student and you do not want to pay for your books out of your pocket, see if they can set you up with a book voucher which is almost like a line of credit at the bookstore to order your materials. When your financial aid comes in, they will pay back the bookstore with that money.
Alternative options: Always check with your bookstore to find out what books/materials are required. Make sure you check the edition of the book because if you are working off of an older edition, page numbers could be different than what is required on the reading for class. Then do online searches at websites like Amazon and Half.com. There are a plethora of other sites and all you have to do is google it. It's not the most guaranteed way to get your correct text books, but this will save you A LOT of money. And isn't school expensive enough as it is?
My overall recommendation is to price shop. If the bookstore is charging $150 for the book and an additional $15 for shipping and you can find it on Amazon for $75 including shipping, definitely don't get it at the bookstore. If the same book ends up costing $140 including shipping on Amazon, go ahead and spend the little extra money to get it through the bookstore. This will allow you the option to sell it back and give yourself piece of mind that it will be the correct book.
Welcome to my blog!
Good afternoon!
I have created this blog to help out all of the students in the world with their educational questions. If you are like most students, you will have a series of questions when it comes to your education. There is so much to learn about the wide world of education and I'm here as a resource tool to help you as you look to start in your program, while you're enrolled and even help with life after school. Please make sure to message me any questions you have or what you would like to see offered on the blog and I will make sure to post them as soon as I get them.
I have over 5 years of industry experience with helping students both young and old with various pieces of education. I have worked in enrollment and advising as my official positions but also have a significant amount of experience in financial aid, student services and a WHOLE lot of counseling all around! I have worked for three different schools, attended three different schools and am currently working on my Ph.D. in Adult Education. On top of that, I have done the traditional route, the non-traditional route, online and in class. I have a lot to offer and I hope what I have to write about will help you or someone you know.
Happy reading!
Cat
I have created this blog to help out all of the students in the world with their educational questions. If you are like most students, you will have a series of questions when it comes to your education. There is so much to learn about the wide world of education and I'm here as a resource tool to help you as you look to start in your program, while you're enrolled and even help with life after school. Please make sure to message me any questions you have or what you would like to see offered on the blog and I will make sure to post them as soon as I get them.
I have over 5 years of industry experience with helping students both young and old with various pieces of education. I have worked in enrollment and advising as my official positions but also have a significant amount of experience in financial aid, student services and a WHOLE lot of counseling all around! I have worked for three different schools, attended three different schools and am currently working on my Ph.D. in Adult Education. On top of that, I have done the traditional route, the non-traditional route, online and in class. I have a lot to offer and I hope what I have to write about will help you or someone you know.
Happy reading!
Cat
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