If you are thinking about attending an online career college to get an information technology degree, you are not alone.
If you possess strong technical writing skills, the desire to write complex writing papers, technical documents, and e-books, a career as a freelance technical writer might be a rewarding and fulfilling career path.
But before you begin your online college courses, read these four expert tips to help you keep more money in your pocket, search for an accredited institution, and get the college degree that you deserve.
In this post, you’ll learn about:
Check the institution’s placement and graduation rates
Before you complete the online college application, ask the recruiter about the successes and failures of former and current students.
Armed with information regarding default student loan and matriculation rates, you can determine whether students are satisfied with their education.
Most importantly, low graduation rates will reveal whether college graduates make a successful transition from full-time or part-time students to gainfully employed workers.
Visit the school
Yes, you are taking online classes. Most online colleges however
are an extension of a physical college campus. Take a stroll on the campus to talk to students and to current faculty.
Visit the on-campus career center to see what employers are looking to hire students from this institution. Visit the registrar’s office to see if you can audit on campus to decide whether your technology professors are a great match for your online degree pursuits.
Surf the web for complaints about the colleges from former students
You must do your online college due diligence. Place the name of the institution and “complaint” in quotes.
While many online gripes are anonymous, detailed accounts of more than 20 students who are displeased with the online college is a cause for concern.
Contact your state’s Department of Education
To get more information on an online career college, contact your state’s department of education to ask if they’ve investigated the college or received complaints about this online institution.
As the web provides increased opportunities for freelance writers to get jobs virtually, getting a competitive edge with an information technology degree is an important investment in your future.
If you have the desire to work remotely and independently and prefer technical writing over lifestyle prose — consider obtaining and information technology degree.
With this new knowledge base and professional credential you can offer your services on a project basis, demand a higher pay rate because of your technical knowledge, and gain more control over your opportunities to create a successful life and career.