Getting Started

A quick search for online learning, distance education or degree programs online will yield pages and pages of results.

Have you decided what course you want to take?

Do you know what you want to be and how to get there? It's a good idea to find out how feasible it is for you to achieve your goals and to find out what it will take to get you there. Before enrolling in a course, you need to find out if it's the right course for you and decide how you are going to pay for it.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have the qualification necessary for this course?
  
• Does it fit with my schedule?
  
• How will I pay for it?
  
• What do I hope to gain from this course?
  
  

Does it fit into your schedule? Determine if you want synchronous or asynchronous learning and how interactive and collaborative you want to be with teachers and classmates. There are courses and programs geared to the person who wants to be actively involved and learn with others as well as courses for the more introverted who want to work on their own and at their own pace. Think about how much time it will take to meet your goals and whether or not you have the motivation and resources to make that kind of commitment.

How will you pay for it? Some courses cost a lot of money and will require you to obtain a loan. Some programs work directly with your employer for invoicing purposes if you have a tuition reimbursement program. Looking at the financial aspect of things is important. While the money may seem like a lot, investing in your education is in fact, investing in your future. Be sure you make a wise investment.

What do you hope to gain? Spend time choosing the right course so you will have the motivation and the staying power to complete your goals. Many people inquire on at least a handful of schools to see what each program is all about. Making a significant financial investment as well as your valuable time means that you need to research this and not go into it lightly.

Online education is very popular but not for everyone. If you prefer the face-to-face of campus life versus working on your own, you may want to think twice. Today's online courses can be very collaborative but there's still a small degree of isolation. Some programs will offer you a mini course as an option to see if their course fits well with your lifestyle and goals.