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II. Things to Consider

A. School Life & the Work World

1. School - Full, Half or Part Time?

As technology changes more schools will be offering unique opportunities to receive a degree. Some now offer degrees by modum!

Evening, Correspondence & Tele-Courses As more adults enter higher education, colleges and universities are recognizing that they must find ways to meet the needs of these busy students. They are devising new and unusual ways to reach adults through correspondence and televised courses or classes offered during the evenings and weekends. If you are considering any of these options remember that you do not have to be limited by geography. Use the Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees available at most libraries and book stores, to identify schools offering programs and majors you are interested in. Write to these schools for a brochure of their current correspondence or television offerings. Be sure to also consider off-campus and branch campuses as many colleges and universities have locations away from their main campus to accommodate working adults. These extension campuses often provide classes and workshops offered in the evenings and on weekends.   Credit by Exam & Life Experience Credit If you are proficient in specific areas you may be able to earn college credits by challenging introductory level courses. Many schools will allow you to apply a certain amount of credits toward your degree, earned through examinations. These exams can be offered directly by the school or program, or may be run independently through outside organizations. Exams such as the CLEP or the PEP can focus on general knowledge or test specific subject areas. Be sure, however, that your school accepts them for credit toward your degree by talking to an admission counselor at your school. Some colleges and universities offer you the opportunity to receive credit for knowledge gained outside the classroom. Prior learning credits can often be gained from life experiences such as running your own business or learning a foreign language which may be equivalent to material taught in many college level classes. These valid learning experiences may help you save time and money in earning your degree, but care must be taken to contact the schools you are considering or to which you transfer. Not all schools will accept prior life experience transfer credits.

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