by Ysolt Usigan
|
|
But, what about getting in? Are online programs' admissions processes as convenient and simple as virtual learning itself? And since cyber schooling is somewhat new ed' territory, prospective online students can't help but ask.
How do schools with online programs conduct their admissions process?
Most online degree programs' admissions procedures are similar to on-campus programs - you need to complete an application (usually during the term before you start), supply prior educational information such as transcripts, and, in some cases, take a specified entrance exam. If you need financial aid, you should start the process as early as possible since the turnaround of forms can take a fair amount of time.
Some programs use an "open entry" process for their online programs with a quick turnaround. "[Students] can apply for a program right up to the day before classes start and take up to two courses as a 'conditional admit' while we review your prior educational record," explains Stephen Anspacher, Chatham School of Continuing Education's vice president for continuing education. "If you get satisfactory grades in the two courses, you're fully admitted in the following term."
Also speeding up admissions are schools that conduct the application process entirely online. "Students have the option of either filling out forms online or sending in a paper copy for staff to input [into the system]," explains Jessica Sadaka, director of admissions for University of Maryland University College (UMUC). While the online format for admission, registration, and course payment at UMUC allows students the flexibility to quickly complete the admission and enrollment process, staff members are available to help students providing reassurance that documents have been completed correctly and received.
Other schools make the admissions process interactive, which in essence, speeds it along. "Once an interested student fills out the request information form [online], he or she will be given a username and password that allows them to log in and fill out an application for admission," says Jennifer Woolever, an admissions counselor at Buena Vista University (BVU) Online. As soon as the student submits an online application, she says, all they have to do to complete the admission process is send supplementary information for review.
Do I have to take an admissions exam?
Like traditional schools, online program admissions exam requirements vary. Some schools, such as St. John's University, maintain the same requirements for online programs as their on-campus programs. That means undergraduates must take the SAT or ACT, while graduate students in some programs are required to take entrance exams.
Other schools allow students to steer clear of entrance exams providing that other academic standards are fulfilled. Most acceptances are determined by the traditional benchmarks of GPA requirements and transferable credit hours.
When do programs start?
Start dates for online programs vary from school to school. "UMUC has a unique way of offering courses," explains Jessica. "It's not based on the program's start, but individual class start dates." Most online schools follow a similar format in that if a student wants to enroll in a particular course, there are a number of classes with varying start dates to choose from. UMUC offers classes in the fall, spring, and summer with start dates running throughout each season.
At Chatham School of Continuing Education, courses start every seven weeks, offering five start dates each year - two in the fall, two in the spring, and one in the summer. "This is not unusual for online programs," Stephen asserts.
St. John's University's online programs, however, follow the same schedule as traditional classes. "They are identical except in the form of instruction and the greater use of e-mail and telephone for communication," explains Jefferey Olson, the school's associate vice president for online learning and services. "Deadlines for applications are also identical."
Are deadlines for admissions set in stone?
Just as with traditional colleges and universities, if online programs have an admissions deadline, they are usually definitive. What differs, though, is the number of deadline opportunities many online programs offer.
"As most online programs are targeted at working adults, we realize that deadlines are sometimes hard to [meet] in a full life that may contain job requirements, family and household responsibilities, and other pressures," explains Stephen. "This is why Chatham tries to offer as many points of entry as we can - we usually have deadlines, but we offer many of them so if you miss one, you usually don't have to wait more than a few weeks to meet the next."
Applications at other schools, such BVU Online, are reviewed on a rolling basis, similar to the rolling admissions offered at many traditional schools. In other words, applications are reviewed throughout the year, without a specific deadline to meet, and admitted students can usually begin taking classes when a new term begins. "But in order to ensure acceptance, be sure to have your application and supplementary information submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the term," advises Jennifer.
Is there a difference between enrolling at a traditional school with online programs and schools that are fully online?
"Traditional brick-and-mortar schools that have online programs, of course, tend to have more history and more traditional processes, even as delivery methods are very cutting-edge in the online world," explains Stephen. "Fully online schools, on the other hand, have generally grown with technology and are much more 'millennial' in their texture and style."
What it boils down to is the quality of the program and the expertise of the faculty, he adds. "It doesn't matter if you study through a traditional school's online program or a fully-online one as long as you're getting the education you want and need," says Stephen.
So when you're ready to begin researching your online education options, you now have another factor to consider beyond the quality of potential programs. Find out if admissions deadlines correspond with your desired start time, and be sure you meet all of the eligibility requirements for admission.
© 2006 Classes USA, Inc. All rights reserved.