Online Education

You’re a recent high school grad or an adult who needs a better career. You’re thinking about going to college or technical school to get training. Great! But you’re unsure of the admissions requirements. What kind of grades do you need? Does life experience count? How about entrance exams? Let’s look behind the scenes and discover what you need to know about admissions to a variety of college and career school programs.

Adult continuing education. These programs are typically offered in the evening and on weekends. They are designed for working adults who want to learn something about a specific topic, such as grantwriting or French literature or gardening. They are offered at a wide variety of institutions from major universities to local community colleges. Generally, there are few entrance requirements other than conversational English and perhaps some prior knowledge of the field.

Advanced courses may require prerequisites or evidence of basic knowledge in the subject. For example, if you want to enroll in a computer networking class, you will have to demonstrate academic knowledge or job experience in computers or information technology.

Diploma programs. These are short-term programs designed to provide the graduate with appropriate professional skills to qualify for entry-level positions in a variety of fields such as dental assisting, medical assisting, criminology, computer networking, auto repair, or massage. The admissions requirements for a typical diploma program are:

1. Be a high school graduate, or

2. Have a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or

3. Have a Home Study certificate that is recognized by the student’s home state.

Evidence of high school graduation may include a General Educational Development Test (GED) certificate (or official notification that a GED has been earned), a copy of a high school transcript indicating the date of high school graduation, a certified copy of an original high school diploma, a copy of a DD214 indicating date of high school graduation, or a college transcript indicating the date of high school graduation.

The General Educational Development Tests are administered by your state government. Typically, the GED includes five tests in the areas of writing skills, reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. The questions generally ask for general knowledge rather than lots of facts or figures. With the exceptions of the mathematics test, which may have open-ended questions, and the writing skills test, which may require you to write an essay, all of the questions on the GED test are multiple choice with five possible choices.

If you don’t speak English very well, you may have to take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). If you need to improve your fluency, take an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, either before you enroll or during the program. At some schools, ESL programs are offered free of charge.

Associate Degree Programs. Admissions requirements for two-year programs tend to be similar to diploma programs–you need a high school diploma or GED. There are often additional requirements:

1. You may have to sign an enrollment agreement and student information form. The enrollment agreement must be signed by a parent or legal guardian if you are under 18 years of age. 2. A personal interview with an admissions officer is often required. 3. A tour of the campus or online learning environment is encouraged. 4. English language fluency is often required. English abilities can be determined through the college’s interview application process and/or a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 5. International students may need to meet additional requirements including an acceptable score on the TOEFL. 6. Prior to commencing clinical courses or externship experience, documentation of required health examinations, pathology tests, and immunizations may be required. 7. If you have a criminal record, check with the admissions staff about possible requirements. Before students can be placed in an externship or take professional licensing, certification, or registration exams, the state or other agencies may require criminal background checks.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs. The application process for entry into bachelor’s degree programs can range from easy (your state university system) to very difficult (Harvard or Yale). In general, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED, your high school grade transcripts, letters of recommendation, application fee, and a completed admissions form. Most colleges and universities-but not all-require college admissions test scores (SAT or ACT exam). Some also require a personal interview.

Many students who apply to a prestigious college and don’t get accepted have an alternate plan. They attend a local community college for two years and then apply to the college as a transfer student. This strategy works surprisingly well, and the advantage is that you often pay much less for the two years at community college and still get a degree from the prestigious college.

One of the most intimidating tasks when applying to college can be the admissions essay requirement. You’re often asked to write about yourself, or why you want to attend the college. For many applicants-teens and working adults alike-this can seem daunting. Just remember that the school wants to know about you and if you are bright and inquisitive, or if you are a robot. The school wants to see if you know how to write and communicate effectively. The key is not to rush it. Write your essay well in advance. Put it aside for a few weeks and then look at it again. Does it make sense? Are there typos or errors of grammar? Have someone else read it and comment.

At every school-regardless of program-students are required to make appropriate financial arrangements before the first day of class. This means that you must have paid your tuition in advance or made arrangements with the financial aid office. When you are applying ask the admissions staff about financial aid. They will advise you on your options.

To find the right college or technical school for you, go online to a reputable college directory service. Get free information about programs, career services, and financial aid. Compare three or four (or more!) colleges and apply to the ones that give you what you need.

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