“Online graduate courses” should not be confused with online education or open graduate education. These are two totally different things. Online graduate courses are courses that are offered online by a distance educational institution. Open online courses are free initiatives run by prestigious universities open to the public. The big difference is that you actually get a degree with the former. There is a lot of apprehension with some online graduate degree programs. It is because many online programs are lumped together with diploma mills. These mills have been a problem for a long time, they truly never go away.
A lot of people look quickly for a degree not really caring who issues it and how credible the institution is. They readily pay so they can post something on their wall to show people that they are educated or get the promotion they are rooting for. Regardless of the reason, getting a diploma from the mill is definitely a bad choice. If it’s an institution run from the basement or purely online, it is not worth your time and money.
Who best benefits from this online graduate studies?
The most common group of people who take up these kinds of classes is the group who likes to get accreditation for a job promotion. Depending on their employer, the source of their diploma may not matter. A lot of employers look at a graduate degree as a mandatory certification. They are not too hung up on the actual institution that gave the degree. They do insist on having the degree itself. There are many reputable online education providers that people can take advantage of. These are the ones that have a proven track record in providing quality education through an online medium. Unfortunately, they tend to cost more than diploma mills. But then again, it is really a no brainer. It’s like saying that an authentic Rolex watch cost more than the fake one.
The second group who will benefit most are people who are busy with their current job or those who need to stay home to take care of children. These people are just looking to get a degree to boost their career. They appreciate the flexibility of online education because they take courses and exams based on their timetable. This is a great and formative experience for people who have a busy workload.
Lastly, the third group who would benefit the most is the group of people who live overseas and want US based degrees. There are many distant educational institutions that can issue US based degrees. This helps people who are working for multinational corporations. They are looking for a US graduate degree to show their employer in order to secure a lateral transfer to the United States. Lateral transfers can be a long shot but having a US based degree can not hurt.
This post was written by guest blogger Chris Walker, one of the Internet’s leading writers of personal statement examples. You can see his amazing work at http://www.examplesofpersonalstatements.com