Home | Education Articles | Education Advisor | Office Hours with Professor Melody Gough | Choosing an Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Choosing an Online Bachelor's Degree Program
August 29, 2006
Dear Dr. Clare,
I am a bank manager in Albania and would like to get an online bachelor's degree in management or a BA from an accredited university in USA or Canada. But, in order to do so I would like to have some good information about which university to choose. First, I need to know how things work for international students with or without previous college history. What processes do I have to undergo in order to be enrolled in any university? What are the requirements I am asked to fulfill as a prospective international student? Are there big differences between universities offering online degrees in fees, paper works, accreditations etc.? Sincerely I remain, Shpetim Guxholli
Dear Mr. Guxholli,
There are significant differences among U.S. bachelor degree programs, particularly those offered online. It's crucial to research your options before choosing the program that's best for you. Consider the following criteria:
As you suspect, tuition fees vary widely from school to school. A school's reputation can be a huge factor in the expense, so you may want to steer clear of 'brand-name' schools. For American students, name recognition is almost more important than the degree itself, and many are willing to pay for it; in your case, I expect the degree is more important than the particular institution. Admission requirements can also vary from school to school, but most require a secondary school degree and academic entrance exams. International students need not have any college experience, but they will probably need to present an equivalent secondary degree from their home country, with coursework in science, mathematics, humanities, and English language. The crucial entrance exam for foreign students is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), which evaluates your proficiency in reading and writing English. Some also require the TSE, the Test of Spoken English. There are a number of online resources for evaluating different online programs and their admissions requirements. A good general information site for international students is eduPass.org, which provides a broad overview of the American college system and the admissions process. Good luck in your search, Dr. Kaufman About Dr. Kaufman Dr. Clare Kaufman taught Freshman Reading & Composition at UC Berkeley. She found her niche as a student advisor and dispensed wisdom regularly on writing, research, Shakespeare, getting an A in class, choosing a major, and career planning. Clare completed her PhD in English with a focus on Elizabethan poetry. She currently works as an editor for an internet publishing company. Have a question for Dr. Kaufman? Send your question to professor@worldwidelearn.com. 
Get Personalized Career Advice
|
