By Jennifer Petersen

In this day and age of multiple careers many people are considering furthering their education online. While this distance education alternative to the regular college campus offers the convenience of working with your current daily obligations this mode of education is not a good choice for all. If you are thinking about obtaining additional education and are looking at distance or online alternatives look over the following personal characteristics to help you decide if you would make a good distance student.

Are you self-motivated? This personality trait is perhaps the most important when it comes from separating successful distance education students from the rest. Unlike a traditional classroom you will not be meeting several times per week to keep you moving along towards progress. You will be assigned projects to complete, and have tests to take, and perhaps will view some teacher notes and then you will be left to your own devices. This means you have to make yourself study even the blandest of material. Your success or failure in learning the material and meeting deadlines will be solely on your shoulders.

Are you a procrastinator? While self motivation and procrastinating seem to go hand in hand, some people are motivated, but only at the last minute. If you wait until the last minute to study for tests or write assignments a distance education would not work well for you. Since you are on your own to prepare you will need to set aside time to prepare and study routinely in order to succeed.

Do you learn well by reading? If you went to a traditional college you would spend most of your class time in lectures, viewing videos, and participating in classroom discussions. If you learn well by reading and have better than average reading comprehension skills you’ll be more prepared to digest all of the reading material on your own. Unlike reading in a traditional environment, reading for a distance education may replace the majority of your lectures. If you cannot readily recall written material vs. learning by listening this could hurt your chances of doing well. There are some study tips that you could utilize to help you in this regard but you need to assess your learning style honestly.

Are you distracted easily? If you find yourself accidentally spending your study time watching the newest reality show, or on the phone, or surfing the internet, you will have to make sure you can discipline yourself come study time. Setting aside a quiet area to study will help. But ultimately, if you cannot resist temptation you won’t be able to take in the material you are attempting to learn.

Lastly are you a social butterfly? For many considering a distance college education you may be past the traditional college years and not mind missing out on sorority parties, or keggers. However, college has other social opportunities including classroom debates, and just taking in the eclectic sort that hang out on college campuses. If you are craving the social interactions that can only be had on a college campus you may regret choosing a distance education.

So, if you are self motivated and have faith in yourself and do not need the assistance of lectures or others to learn you may do well choosing a distance education.

About the Author: Jennifer Petersen is a staff writer at Education Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Career's Digest.

Source: www.isnare.com

By Andy West

Could you ever imagine hanging out at home by choice, and earning an online college degree in the process? Many people think that obtaining an online college degree is something that requires frequent trips to the computer lab and ongoing technical issues. It is anything but this way when you enroll in your choice of online college degree programs. The simple fact is that with a steady internet connection you can access the most powerful and effective programs. This sounds easy, but it does take effort. For the self-motivated, online programs are great ways to get an education.

The fact is that most online college degrees are based upon the self paced method that allows students to work at the time most convenient for them. Given that most self paced online programs are still in someway regimented by a timeframe, within this timeframe one can obtain an online college degree in a manner that suits the needs of the person and can still be somewhat flexible. This means that you will literally be able to login, and deal with every aspect of your [tag]online education[tag], and your online college degree program specifically at a time suitable for you. This will allow you to meet your personal or professional needs while obtaining your degree.

Earning an online degree can be individually structured to meet your specific timetable. You will never have to take an online degree class at a time that is not going to work for you. Essentially, you will be earning your degree while allowing life’s priorities to come first, and your education will fall into the place that is best suitable for you. This means that for most classes you will be able to work at night on your coursework if you have to work during the day, and vice versa if you have a night job. With the recent advancements in technology and broadband connections, one attending online degree programs can watch video and do coursework anytime in as much clarity as if it were being played on their television.

So what is the downside of being able to hang out and earn your online college degree at the time you prefer? The answer is that you still must do the work, which means that you must be self disciplined enough to deal with the intensity of being enrolled in college, and especially in a self paced online college degree program. This is not a great fit for everyone, as self paced does not mean no pace, and in order to earn your degree you must be prepared to work, and be prepared to make sacrifices, just as you would in any traditional college degree program

While earning an online degree is much different in scope and breadth than earning a traditional four-year degree, it is similar in the fact that both ventures require a considerable amount of work. This means that one must be prepared to give the online college degree as much effort on studies and the coursework as they would if enrolled in a traditional program. Taking advantage of the online college degree program's flexibility is the key.

About the Author: Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many Online College Degree programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/index.cfm to select the online program that is right for you.

Source: www.isnare.com

by Jane Hodgkins

An Online Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares you for further studies while you are still working. The associate's degree in nursing and the clinical experience that you acquire stand you in good stead when you decide to appear for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses nclex. The ADN is a two year course that allows you to become a registered nurse (RN) without having to acquire a bachelor's degree. It is not possible for everyone to devote time exclusively to studies and acquire a bachelor's degree. Hence an online ADN is a great way to traverse the RN-BSN path.

Even if you do not wish to acquire a BSN for the time being, becoming an RN after acquiring an online ADN itself is quite fulfilling. This is because with an ADN, it takes only two years to become a RN instead of four. A RN degree opens many career avenues and you can work in nursing homes, hospitals, and even insurance companies. Since a BSN degree is a pre requisite for a career boost in the nursing field, those desirous of management positions have to clear it. The RN-BSN way to a BSN degree is designed for working nurses; those who have obtained an online ADN and are now prepared for a career move.

You should ensure that the online associate degree in nursing program is approved by your state. You can estimate the worth of an online ADN by finding out the number of graduates from that course who become registered nurses. Look for accredited schools that offer an online ADN and have a healthy number of graduates doing the RN course. The worth of an online course will vary with the individual. You should look for a course that you can afford, it should fit in with your schedule, and you should hopefully get good vibes from the promotional material. Enquire about the faculty, it is important that the teachers provide learning with a flexibility that allows you to work and learn at the same time.

Jane Hodgkins recommends that you visit http://www.ondg.net/2005/12/online_associat.html for more information on getting anonline associates nursing degree.

by Aaron Brooks
Along with advancements in technology and globalization perceptions in work culture have undergone a significant change. Today career advancements and earning potential are linked to qualifications more than experience. Promotions and pay packet increases are less dependant on diligence and performance and more emphasis is being placed on furthering education, and further training in every field of work.

To keep abreast with times it is important to earn additional qualifications, learn new technologies, and develop new talents like team work, effective communications and management skills. Today online colleges enable people in mid-career and more to qualify themselves while keeping a full time job. The World Wide Web has changed the world of education and now one can earn a degree in any subject without taking a sabbatical from work. All you need to do is evaluate your present qualifications and skills and take a serious look at where your career is headed and where you would like it to go. Once you are clear what your aims are you can register for a degree in any of the accredited online colleges.

All you need to do is surf the internet and find out which colleges offer the programs and qualifications you are looking for, the course needs, and costs. You have the option of doing one course at a time or registering for more than one course. The choice of regular or fast track is yours and depends on how much time you can devote to studying and completing the coursework.

Leading universities like the University of Phoenix online offer great opportunities to advance your career and further your education. Be wise and choose an accredited college and a course that is relevant to your work. Unlike many years ago today employers seek workers who have qualifications related to the field of work so a degree in language, literature or arts will not help you if you want to make a living from marketing, manufacturing, or e-commerce.

Before you enroll for a course find out if the college is recognized by the US Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg4.html . Ensure that the college has all the permissions and likening. Read the Federal Trade Commission's Guide for Private, Vocational, and Distance Education Schools http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/vocation-gd.htm .

Through online education you can earn a degree, diploma, or certification in many fields from management, computer, and technology to interior design and nursing. The choices are many and can be confusing so you need to choose a course that compliments your work, career goals, natural skills, interests, as well as abilities. If confused or uncertain seek the help of an HR expert or career guidance counselor.

Focus on:

* What kind of advancement are you thinking about? Do you want to grow within the organization or are you thinking of a complete change in career.

* What are the degrees and training that are suitable for your job. Find out what your employer looks for and accepts.

Choose to educate your self and earn higher qualifications. If you do that you can put yourself on the fast track as far as your career is concerned. Your earnings will more than double with the right qualifications.the premier Car Insurance Quotes site http://www.1888carinsurance.com

Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for Online Colleges, the premier website to find top ranking colleges online directory including topics on public colleges, private colleges, online college, college course online, information on college costs, enrollments and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Insurance Quotes site.