Released on = December 13, 2005, 11:10 am

Press Release Author = The Educated Decision

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = If you compare online colleges before you commit to one you
will guarantee yourself a better experience. Doing a little research work now will
pay huge dividends later.

Press Release Body = As a nation of consumers, we have become more educated...about
consumption. We know to compare before we buy. We compare gas prices, grocery
prices, automobile makes and models, all before we commit to buying.

Unfortunately, this understanding of comparing products or services to get the best
doesn\'t necessarily seem to translate into comparing online colleges before we
commit to one. Many people, when they decide to pursue their education online
because of the speed and convenience the format offers, pick one, get information
from it, apply, and take the courses. This is an unwise choice.

If we apply the same consumer maxim - compare before you buy - to online colleges we
end up with a much better decision. If you are thinking of pursuing an online
education, the wise way to proceed, is to gather as much information as you can from
each college that offers the degree you\'re interested in. Then you can compare the
colleges to each other, ask the right questions, and choose the one that is best for
you.

Here are a few of the criteria you should consider when comparing online colleges
before you come to a conclusion as to which one is best suited to you.

Accreditation

Is the college accredited? Does the US Department of Education or a State Department
of Education recognize the agency that accredited the college?

Admission and Registration

What are the admission and registration requirements? Some colleges have limitations
in these respects: age, academic qualifications, required testing, transfer of
credits, and other academic policies.

Reputability and Reliability

Check if the college has been around for a considerable length of time. That will
give you an indication of how well established it is. It will also tell you if you
can count on them to provide technology that is relatively free of bugs.

Check if the college has a list of alumni. If possible, contact some of them and ask
about their experiences. If you\'re unsuccessful contacting them, ask the college to
provide you with their updated e-mail addresses so you can find out first hand.

Technology

Find out all the computer hardware and software requirements for the program you\'re
interested in. Also find out how frequently technical support is available? Try to
choose a college that has technical support 24/7. Also, is the entire course offered
online or do you have to attend some sessions on campus?

There are other issues that should factor into your comparison, but these four are a
few of the most important. The absolute most important thing to understand is this:
Before you start earning your online degree, if you do some initial comparison work,
you will have a much better experience throughout the process.


Web Site = http://TheEducatedDecision.com

Contact Details = Jens Rhoades