Featured Articles

Most college students will get to visit a campus before they enroll. They will have the opportunity to get a real “feel” for the school, get a good idea of what their fellow students are like, and meet teachers in a one on one basis. This gives most incoming students a good idea of what their academic experience is going to be like.

For those doing an online college search there are usually no campuses to visit (though more and more traditional colleges and universities are offering online degrees), there is no library to browse, no student lounge or cafeteria to meet new friends, no face to face experience with professors. This however will not greatly affect most traditional online college students. Why? Because most of the students who enjoy an online college degree program take their courses and classes because the traditional college experience is not an option for them.

The predominant number of people who do an online college search begin their search because they need to take classes in their spare time or at their own pace, and a traditional college or university does not make that opportunity available. While there are many schools that have “twilight” and evening classes available for people working full time jobs, this too can present a problem. Many people who are trying to get an education while maintaining their full time jobs do so because they have families with children or other responsibilities and cannot sit in a classroom for two to three hours twice each week.

For many people an online college search provides a lot of answers. First they get to see how easy it will be for them to set and meet some educational and career goals. The amazing number of degree and certificate programs available can meet almost any need or interest.

Secondly, an online college search may present them with an affordable method of increasing their own earning potential or professional opportunities that they were previously unaware of. For example, some people are convinced they must commit to a full time course load for a four year education, and after performing their online college search realize that they are able to take a part time course load for a two year program or certificate. This can allow them to continue on to a four year degree if they choose, without needing to apply to a different school altogether.

Finally, many people who do an online college search find that there are courses and classes that may not pertain to their field of study, but they can take as part of their degree work. This is often a source of delight for many people who are unaware of the “general studies” requirement that is a basis for any degree program or major.

While it may sound appealing to pay someone to do all of the research and documentation for a college scholarship search, it is perhaps best for the student and their parents to do the work themselves.

This is for several reasons; first only the student knows all of their own interests, activities, hobbies and relevant data. A typical scholarship search agency will ask about academic interests and career choices and may miss out on dozens, if not hundreds, of potential scholarship sources. For example, there are hundreds of civic organizations that make scholarship funds available to the children of their participating members. An agency may not take the time to ask for all of the relevant data.

A student should, however, make a comprehensive list of all the groups they and their parents belong to. Does Dad participate in a bowling league? Is he now, or was he ever a Scout Master? Is Mom a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution? Could she be? What about the student? Are they a member of 4-H? A list of all the groups and organizations will turn up dozens of scholarship opportunities.

What about the hobbies and interests of the parents and the student? Does the family watch NASCAR? Are they hikers that are members of a local or national naturalists group? Does anyone collect coins or stamps? Here too are hundreds of opportunities for college funding. Many local, state and national groups provide support to college students and their parents through prizes and scholarships.

What does the student do with this information? There are many free scholarship search engines on the internet, there are many publications that list annual scholarship opportunities and there is always the school guidance counselor who is aware of every local and state opportunity as well as the major national opportunities.

A second reason that a student and their parents should perform their own scholarship search involves family history. There are many groups that grant funds to people from specific backgrounds. For example, there are many Native American specific scholarships for students who can demonstrate their heritage and connection to a tribe or Nation.

Another reason a student should do all of the leg work for their scholarship search is to save money. Most search services will ask for a small fee, and with the cost of applications, materials and travel a college and scholarship search will all ready be taking a toll on a parent’s or household budget.

Finally, when a student performs their own scholarship search they are able to make realistic choices for application. They will know exactly which awards they qualify for, and which they do not. They can locate unique opportunities for themselves based on full knowledge of their parent’s and their own background and can find better success in receiving financial assistance.

There are some amazing opportunities for students interested in literature, the written word, and the literary arts to study in online classes and courses. In fact, a person performing an online college search will have the entire catalog of classes for most colleges and universities available to browse.

With so many wonderful opportunities it may be difficult to choose a single school to enroll in. There is a way around that in the online educational environment; it is called “credit banking”.

When a student of English, or any other field of interest or study for that matter, does their initial online college search it is a good idea to investigate those schools, colleges and universities that offer the credit banking service. What this means is that the student can be enrolled as a full time English major in that specific school, but take classes from any accredited college or university throughout the world.

Working with their guidance or student counselor an online college student will present their plan and all of the relevant information about the school for review. After getting approval they can enroll in their alternative class or school, enjoy a unique and rewarding learning experience and then transfer the credits from their work into the credit banking account at the college or university where they are enrolled.

For anyone interested in English, or literary arts, this is a fantastic benefit because it can mean the chance to enroll in a local or community college workshop, take a class from a college or university in Great Britain, and rely on alternative online courses and classes to meet graduation or degree requirements.

Imagine taking an advanced course in the works of Shakespeare at a state college, heading home and doing some work on children’s literature for an online course and submitting a written essay about American literature through a correspondence course, and earning all of the college credits for this widely varied work! This is the reason so many online students will seek out a credit banking arrangement when they do their initial online college search.

There are literally thousands of courses, classes and learning opportunities available to non-enrolled students at hundreds of college, universities and schools throughout the world. With a bit of creative thinking and effort an online college English or Literature major could easily enjoy such diversity and opportunity.

A thorough online college search will have to take into consideration various goals and needs of the student. It is a good idea to write down all of the “plus” and “minus” points about each school in question. A good choice for any student will be a school with flexibility, numerous options for course work, and a credit banking service that allows a student to truly explore the educational world through an online college experience.