The Internet has made education accessible to almost anyone – the popularity of online master’s degrees is on the rise, largely due to the convenience and multitude of course delivery methods available to students. GetARealDegree.com, a site that helps prospective degree-pursuers research brick-and-mortar schools that have online degree options, recently interviewed Kaplan’s Director of GRE Programs, Lee Weiss, about some of the benefits of online education and what five factors to consider when deciding between online and campus-based degrees. According to Lee, the most important things for prospective students to research are:
– Post-grad employment statistics: The eventual goal of any bachelor’s, master’s, medical, law, or any other type of degree is ostensibly to get a job and/or pursue a specific career path. Degree programs publish information on how well their alumni fare post-graduation, and as with any campus-based program, potential applicants should review this data to determine the extent to which a degree from a particular school will actually further their goals.
– Fit with curriculum and faculty: As with campus-based programs, online programs that offer the same degree are not all created equal. Name recognition or ranking is not the same thing as overlap with a student’s interests and aspirations. Says Lee: “…it’s good to do your research and make sure that classes are being taught by, getting graded by or getting input from faculty who excite you and mesh with what your long-term interests are.”
The full article, with the rest of the factors that Lee advises potential online program applicants to research, can be found here. This article, along with the plethora of resources on GetARealDegree.com, is a great hub for any student who is thinking about pursuing on online degree!
