Learn from home if you don’t want to leave
September 21, 2012
A lot of moms want to go back to school but can't stand the idea of leaving their children home alone, not being there when they get home from school or hoping they can take care of themselves without her around. For those who aren't able to attend class outside the house, there are plenty of online schools available, but picking a good one can be hard.
Fact check
Not all online schools are created equal. There are national colleges and trade schools with eLearning programs, but check with financial aid for moms before applying. If a scholarship program won't work with an educational institution, chances are that opportunity should be dropped in general in lieu of another school. Some schools will present themselves as academic leaders when in fact they are not accredited.
Nearly every school has online courses of some kind, but if the institution has no accreditation, it means there is something wrong with their requirements, faculty or overall quality of education. This pedigree signifies the U.S. Department of Education or another legally recognized body has inspected the school's programs and curriculum, reviewed faculty and staff and found the total practices and expectations of the college meet certain standards of excellence. In short, if an online school is not accredited, a scholarship for mothers probably won't accept the admission and that person won't receive funding.
Acceptable programs
Once it is determined that a school has a satisfactory pedigree and financial aid for mothers has been approved, getting into the right degree program is also essential. Not every school offers the right majors and minors to meet a specific needs set. Money can also be an issue here, making public institutions more appealing than private establishments. Checking the rankings on different online schools is also important to make sure the degree issued from this academic body will be worth it in the eyes of future employers.
Check online databases for national rankings and ask friends and family for advice on the best schools to attend. As a remote learner, there should be no concern about how far the actual college is, unless being an in-state resident provides an additional discount. Most of all, check course listings and be sure the kind of classes offered within an intended field of study are numerous and comprehensive enough to satisfy a degree. Fewer classes in a single major will make it hard to get into the necessary ones later on.
