In his last term of office, President Bush “blessed” our country with educational legislation designed to help American students keep pace with foreign degree students. But will “No Child Left Behind” actually help - or hurt future university degree program students?

One of the key goals of this legislation is to help offer students gain more access to educational programs. How? By advancing the right of any student to enroll in any degree course and to “learn” from that course. What this basically does, though, is to allow any student at any high school to decide that they want to enroll in any course - and be granted the right to take that class.

For example, even if Sally is one of the poorest math students in her high school, she can decide that she wants to take calculus, and enroll in that class. The teacher must teach the class so that Sally has a chance of succeeding in this class - no matter how much more every other student in the classroom understands about math.

The problem with “No Child Left Behind” is that it leaves every  student in every classroom in the United States at risk of being left behind. Because students like Sally can enroll in calculus, the professor has less opportunity to teach the other students, which means that they will learn less and do more poorly on entrance exams for college degree programs. Because American students do poorly on entrance exams, students from other countries have a greater opportunity to enroll in American degree programs.

Sure, other students from other countries have every right to enroll in American colleges and universities. Unfortunately, greater numbers of foreign students enrolling in top undergraduate and graduate degree programs throughout the country mean that fewer numbers of American students will benefit from the the nation’s best schools. This offers fewer educational and employment opportunities to American college graduates.

Congress wants to leave no child behind - instead every American student will be left behind. As the United States continues to lose ground in comparison to other countries with respect to education, perhaps one day government officials will wake up and take notice. This attempt to help more students get college degrees will actually help fewer students to succeed in the best traditional colleges, and possibly even the top online schools in the country.

During the last 50 years, we’ve seen amazing advances in computer technology. From mainframe computers that filled an entire room to portable laptops and notebooks that are the staple of many university classrooms. Portable information storage has gone from punch cards to large floppy disks to tiny flash drivers, but now it appears that technology professionals are taking another quantum leap in computer networking.

Students enrolled in both traditional college degree programs and online degree universities are facing another learning curve as well. A relatively new concept, called cloud computing, has been making its way toward the forefront of university degree programs. Technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, and a few others have been developing new strategies for cooperative learning and online storage information.

“Cloud” is jargon often used by computer network specialists to refer to the Internet, or cyberspace. The phrase ‘cloud computing’ was coined to describe online storage databanks that can hold files or documents. People can log in from their own personal computers and access data without worrying about hard drive crashes, viruses, or lost storage devices.

Through this new technology, students at university degree programs across the country could log in to school at home or at work and edit homework assignments. Virtual conference rooms allow professors could simultaneously log in and view a student’s progress or make suggestions in real time. The potential applications for distance degree students are almost limitless.

How much do you understand about cloud computing? What effect do you think this technology will have on distance learning degree programs and traditional campus-based classrooms? Share your thoughts about the latest advances in informational and educational technology.

Scholarship deadlines are fast approaching throughout the country. Many scholarships require several references, an essay, or a transcript. It’s time to start searching through the scholarship databases and see what funds might be available to help you offset the cost of your university degee program.

Many students don’t realize that many scholarship foundations now allow their free scholarships for college to be used for distance learning degree programs as well as traditional college degree programs. This is in part due to the increased credibility of online degree education. Even though these scholarships grants can be used for online degree universities, many students are not aware of this.

If you have never searched online for university scholarships, here are a few tips to help. First, never pay to search a scholarship database. This is a scam. Most scholarship sites, such as www.fastweb.com, allow students to search for free. Additionally, you should never have to pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.

Try searching for scholarships based on unique skills or characteristics that you have. For example, if you are interested in getting a degree in education, search for teaching scholarships. Also, don’t be afraid to search for scholarships based on your name, age, religion, or hobbies. Who knows what you will find - but you had better start looking now, before you miss the deadline for a scholarship that is out there waiting just for you!

If you have taken classes for a job, for military advancement, or for another purpose, you may be eligible to receive credit for experience. This is sometimes known as life experience or work experience. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life experiences could offer you credit toward a college degree, perhaps it’s time to find out.

Let’s face it, whether you are planning to attend a traditional college degree program, or attend an online university degree program, college tuition is expensive. No one wants to take unnecessary courses or spend more money than is necessary to earn a college degree. Credit for life or work experience is a valid way to meet requirements for some basic or core courses.

Sometimes, universities allow students to test out of basic or intermediate level classes. For example, if you are fluent in more than one language, you may be about to test out of a foreign language. This can be particularly helpful in fulfilling humanities or language requirements for most university degree programs.

Another option is available for students who took advanced placement courses in math, science, or English at the high school level. Sometimes colleges allow students to test out of core classes, often saving the expense of 12 or more credit hours. These tests are referred to variably as CLEP tests or placement tests.

If you have taken course work for another purpose without being enrolled in a traditional or distance learning university, contact an evaluator to determine whether you are able to receive credit for this work. You may find that you are much closer to a Bachelor Degree in a related field than you could have imagined! Wouldn’t it be great to complete your degree in half the time that it otherwise would require?

If you are wondering whether Oscar Mayer has suddenly taken an interest in postsecondary education, don’t be alarmed. The Bologna Process has nothing to do with sandwiches, and everything to do with universities degree programs in foreign countries. Although this concept is primarily associated with European countries, many other nations have expressed interest or accord.

The Bologna Process is an attempt to standardize Bachelor Degree Programs and Master Degree Programs among European nations. If this becomes reality, this could open the door for other leading countries, including the United States, to follow suit. Evaluation of foreign degrees would become a very simple process, because everyone would have the same amount of education to get their degrees.

Currently, many European students attend high school for 13 years, instead of 12 years as American students do. They, however, are eligible to receive a Bachelor Degree after attending a postsecondary institution for only three years. Degrees from certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, are recognized by the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) as equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor Degree.

Other countries, however, have 3-year university degree programs that are not always recognized by the U.S. as equal. Countries in this category include India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Even though students who attend universities in these countries do not automatically have the equivalency of a U.S. Bachelor Degree, they may be awarded the U.S. equivalency of their degree in some cases.

Foreign degree programs are complex and often confusing. Finding a foreign credential evaluation agency that can give a good professional evaluation of your degree can be difficult. Do your research, and choose an agency that offers free pre-evaluations, and be sure to shop around for the lowest price. Make sure the agency is experienced, as well. Hint: If they have never heard of the Bologna Process, move on quickly to the next agency!

If you’r not a sports star or self-made millionaire, chances are you won’t get a big break or become rich and famous without getting a college degree. Unfortunately, big opportunities don’t usually come knocking unless you’ve done the hard work and are prepared to open the door. If you really want to succeed in life, you are probably going to need to earn a college degree.

Even if you do attend a university for a while and land the big job you were dreaming of without finishing your college degree program, think for a moment about what will happen if that company files bankruptcy or moves overseas. You may have the knowledge, but most employers today are looking for people who have at least a Bachelor’s Degree, or even a Master’s Degree. Without a college education, you may find getting another job difficult or impossible.

If you already are working in the field you’ve always dreamed of, you may want to get a degree online. Many highly motivated individuals decide to earn a college degree at home and work or raise a family while they do so. The increased availability and opportunities offered by today’s distance learning degree programs make this an excellent opportunity to spending endless hours in a college classroom.

 Don’t wait until you’re out of work or underemployed to keep your future secure with a diploma from an accredited college degree program. Take advantage of the wide variety of traditional and distance learning opportunities available to you. Find out more about careers that interest you today!

Have you ever wondered how higher education in the United States stacked up against foreign education credentials? Did it ever cross your mind that someone who graduated from a foreign university might have had more classes and course work than you did in earning the same degree? You may be surprised to learn how your college degree program measures up with regard to international equivalencies.

Some college degree programs in countries such as Pakistan have historically allowed students to complete a Bachelor Degree program in only two years. As the educational system in this country evolves to keep pace with the international community, however, the number of years required to get a Bachelor’s Degree has increased. Understanding how this has changed can be very important to properly evaluating educational credentials.

Many countries, including some European countries, India, and now Pakistan, offer 3-Year Degrees. Many of these programs offer the same number of contact hours as programs in the United States. Some, in fact, offer more course work and hours than American universities do.

Other countries, such as those that were once part of the U.S.S.R., typically provide students with double or more than double the amount of courses and contact hours required for graduation from an accredited degree program in the U.S. Some students who attended college in the Ukraine, the Russian Federation, or Uzbekistan, may earn over 300 credits for a Bachelor Degree.

Overall, though, how do educational programs compare worldwide? The universities in most countries typically recognize the Bachelor and Master’s Degrees offered by other countries. Some European countries have agreed to become part of an organization called the Bologna Process, which is designed to standardize higher education. The United States has not yet committed to this perspective, but developing a standardized system of offering college degrees would certainly help to universalize higher education.

What do you think?

If you’ve decided to go back to school and earn a college degree at home, you may experience a brief culture shock at first. Students who get a degree online often find studying and exams more convenient, but there are challenges unique to distance learning degree programs as well. If you have decided to finish your college degree program through an online university, you should be aware of the unique challenges you may face.

You may often find that deadlines are more flexible than in traditional degree programs. However, you have little recourse if you miss a fixed deadline, such as an online submission or post. Although you can argue that your internet service was down (which can and does occasionally happen), you aren’t going to be able to get away with this excuse very often. So, although the program is flexible, you are expected to take responsibility for your own education.

Furthermore, you are expected to be able to use a computer and email, as well as to take responsibility for learning any other computer applications used by the online degree courses you have chosen. While this may sometimes mean a large learning curve, you must be motivated and determined enough to meet this small challenge, or distance education degree programs aren’t right for you.

Some students also argue that nontraditional education offered by online degree university programs doesn’t offer the “full college experience.” While you can’t play college sports, pledge to a sorority, or go to a homecoming dance, distance learning certainly offers a full range of educational opportunities. Only you can decide which is more important for you; education or socialization.

Online degree programs offer professionals a number of excellent opportunities in healthcare administration and management. MBA students are taught to problem solve and collaborate with colleagues, and to learn and grow from the rewarding, enriching experiences created by the interactions of dedicated, motivated individuals who commit themselves to earn a degree online.

These university degree program emphasize financial, research, and technology aspects of healthcare organizations. They also instruct graduate students in important concepts such as healthcare infrastructure and database management. These models help to prepare graduates to assume management roles in today’s healthcare businesses.

People intending to pursue careers in this field also learn about economics and strategic planning. These courses are taught to help them focus on future, as well as current, healthcare trends. Students can choose between online university courses that focus on long-term care, public health, or even health informatics.

Earning a graduate degree online, even from a top online school or university, requires self-discipline and critical thinking skills. People who successfully complete these college degree programs, can display their diploma with pride. Finally, most students agree that the convenience and flexibility of being able to earn their degree at home is well worth the effort!

After finishing a Bachelor Degree program, most people are ready to leave college for a while and start the rest of their lives. Many find entry-level positions in their fields, get married, and purchase a home. Children arrive, and they settle into a routine of work, school activities, and family nights.

What happens when that entry-level job becomes stifling? When you feel you just have to get out and try something new? Suddenly your education isn’t enough, and you find that you need a Master Degree to advance to the next level in your profession, or to try something new and challenging. Are you ready to leave your family behind and return to a traditional university campus to get a graduate degree?

Before you give up your daily routine, take a moment to consider the benefits of online degree schools. Earn an online management degree, or get an advanced degree in nursing, computer technology, accounting, or education. With distance degree programs, you can study in your spare time, after everyone has gone to bed, or during weekends.

Don’t decide that you have to put your career to sleep while you’re raising your family. Grow in your profession while your family is growing, and take advantage of the excellent opportunities offered by distance learning degree programs. Today is never to late to start your future!