There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to make some crucial decisions: which university course to sign up for? What degree to work towards? And what happens afterwards? That's quite a lot of decisions to make all at once, especially when you take into account the idea of travelling, accommodation, changes in lifestyle and perhaps even the sudden shock of total independence. Perhaps an alternative could be distance learning.
Distance learning means you can study almost anywhere with an internet connection - from the office desktop to a smartphone while you're sitting underneath a shady tree in a local park. Distance learning doesn't make such inroads on your lifestyle, but you do have to be committed enough to know when to accept a party invitation and when to turn it down because you have an assignment deadline looming. On the plus side, potential employers are looking for the kind of time management and prioritisation skills that come with distance learning. But before you make a commitment of both time and money you might want to try a sample of distance learning... just to make sure.
Ideally, you should be looking for something short, sharp and enjoyable. Minimal costs would be an advantage, and a degree at the end of a brief period of study would be absolutely fabulous... but too much to ask for. Two heavyweight universities: the University of Edinburgh here in the UK and Stanford University in California might just have the try-before-you-by solution for you. It's a course that lasts five weeks, with two lectures a week to attend - online. And as for the cost? There isn't any. It starts at the end of January next year, which gives you enough time to register and prepare yourself.
At the end of it, there won't be much in the way of a degree parchment. There will be a certificate of completion, though, and that's not such a bad thing. It shows higher education institutions or potential employers that you have the commitment to set aside your time and complete the course - however long it may have lasted.
And if, at the end of those five weeks, that taste of online learning starts you off on your way to a greater things, like an Open University degree course, then that's excellent. On the other hand, if you'd decided on the strength of that course that you and distance learning are incompatible, then that saves you years of potential grief and expense. And what about the course itself? It's called Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life - definitely a university course, Jim... but not as we know it!
Distance learning means you can study almost anywhere with an internet connection - from the office desktop to a smartphone while you're sitting underneath a shady tree in a local park. Distance learning doesn't make such inroads on your lifestyle, but you do have to be committed enough to know when to accept a party invitation and when to turn it down because you have an assignment deadline looming. On the plus side, potential employers are looking for the kind of time management and prioritisation skills that come with distance learning. But before you make a commitment of both time and money you might want to try a sample of distance learning... just to make sure.
Ideally, you should be looking for something short, sharp and enjoyable. Minimal costs would be an advantage, and a degree at the end of a brief period of study would be absolutely fabulous... but too much to ask for. Two heavyweight universities: the University of Edinburgh here in the UK and Stanford University in California might just have the try-before-you-by solution for you. It's a course that lasts five weeks, with two lectures a week to attend - online. And as for the cost? There isn't any. It starts at the end of January next year, which gives you enough time to register and prepare yourself.
At the end of it, there won't be much in the way of a degree parchment. There will be a certificate of completion, though, and that's not such a bad thing. It shows higher education institutions or potential employers that you have the commitment to set aside your time and complete the course - however long it may have lasted.
And if, at the end of those five weeks, that taste of online learning starts you off on your way to a greater things, like an Open University degree course, then that's excellent. On the other hand, if you'd decided on the strength of that course that you and distance learning are incompatible, then that saves you years of potential grief and expense. And what about the course itself? It's called Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life - definitely a university course, Jim... but not as we know it!
About the Author:
ApplyToUni.com helps and prospective students on how to apply for university and information on university degrees. The site also provides a wide range of resources available for university students to help them choose the best course university degrees.
0 Comments: