Online Universities: Is this for me?

So you think you would rather take online classes so you can work and go to school at the same time? Here are some thoughts for you:

• Are you an independent person who likes to work alone?
• Do you find yourself getting bored easily and turning on the television when your thoughts won't stop racing?
• Are you a motivated individual who works at a task until they get the job done?
• Do you need structure and someone to tell you what to do and how to do it?

These are just a few points to mention when considering an online university. There are several out there, but there are also some additional points to consider:

• Make sure your online university is accredited (you would hate to spend all your time to get a degree and then find out it is worthless)
• Does your online university have a residence requirement. Most online universities (university of phoenix and walden university for sure) have a residence program where you must spend an allotted amount of time on their campus.
• Does your university have access to financial aid resources (this can get costy because most online universities still run in a quarterly fashion)

What Kind of School Do you Want to Go To?

So you are ready for collge, but aren't sure where you want to go. Most people don't know what they want from college, so they end up being miserable and blaming the college for their unhappiness. There are several important questions to keep in mind. Where did you go to high school? If you went to a large high school and liked the fact that your teachers maybe didn't know your names and you could hide behind the "important others" then a large school is probably what you want. However, if you went to a small school and you liked the small class size and the individualized attention, a small school will probably serve you best. You may not like being around people at all. If that is the case, try searching for online universities. There are several different ones (university of phoenix, capella university, walden university). Hope this helps.

So You Wanna Know How to Pay For College?

Well most people want to go to college, but they are like, well I just don't have the money right now. Well worry no more. If you are in undergraduate school and age 23 or older, the government will provide you will grants (free money). Unfortunately, most of us are not over 23 and therefore we sometimes get into a jam. That is when student loans come into play. I know that loans may not be the route that most people want to take, but there sure are advantages. Just think, if you don't go to college, you may never get a good job and therefore, you will never have the money to go. But if you just take out the student loans, when you are finished you get a low interest rate and several options for consolidation. The opportunities are endless. Check out the government websites to learn more about the different types of loans: Stafford and Direct Ford.

Popular College Software

Here are some valuable pieces of software that every college student needs to have:

The most important of course is Microsoft Office. For my last six years of college I have found that I could not live without Office. What you may be wondering is what is the difference between student versions and professional. Well, the answer is not a lot when it comes to what you will actually be using it for (If you plan on majoring in Business, Marketing, or some Financing field, you might stick to the Microsoft Office Professional). For the rest of you, take advantage of the large discount that you get from Microsoft Office Student Edition.

Another good piece of software that most college students find invaluable is AIM. I know, sounds cheesy, but you would be suprised how many connections and friends one can make with the power of the instant messenger connection.

Welcome to One Stop College Shop

Welcome to the One Stop College Shop. Here you can find latest news about colleges, student financial aid, software, and answers to questions that college students want to know (For example, what do I really need to take when I move into a college dorm? Do I have to get a meal plan? What kind of major do I really want to pursue?) Come on in and post away...there are others waiting for your questions, so please don't be afraid to ask.