Choosing an Online Degree Program: 6 Things to Know

Things to Consider When Choosing an Online Degree Program

When beginning your career, it’s important to choose an educational institution and degree program that are aligned with your expectations and professional goals. Some of these institutions and degrees are offered in a campus setting. Others are available online. If you are interested in online learning, there are a few things to consider before making your final decision.

6 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Online Degree

Online schools are as varied as schools that teach learners in person. Understanding these differences can help you choose a distance learning school and program that’s for you.

The Admissions Process

One of the first steps to starting your online education is enrollment in the school, and in your desired program. What does this enrollment process look like? What are the steps you must take to become a student? Is the process easy or hard, simple or complex?

The reason this is important is that your interaction with the admissions department is often your first interaction with the school. It gives you an idea of how the school operates and how student-focused it is.

At Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), our admissions process is designed to be both simple and supportive. We work with prospective students to answer any questions they may have about UMA or a specific program. This can help you decide whether UMA is right for you, as well as help you to select a career training program that can meet your professional goals.

Learner Support

Attending school at any stage in life can sometimes be challenging — especially if you have other obligations related to family or work. But these challenges don’t have to stop you from being able to advance your education in pursuit of your desired career path.

When getting your degree online, look for a school that offers student support. If you’re struggling with completing your coursework on time, for instance, do you have someone you can go to for help? Or maybe you are having trouble balancing your classes with a full-time job. Learner support can provide guidance with this, too.

UMA has a team of over 100 Learner Services advisors that help students with guidance toward resources that may apply to their personal obstacles. A dedicated support team like this can be an invaluable part of an online degree program.

Academic Services

Another consideration when choosing the right online program for you is the type of academic services it provides. Academic services can include assistance with completing homework or preparing for tests.

At UMA, it also involves helping you prepare for a certification exam in select programs if that’s the route you wish to take. We also offer our learners access to one-on-one sessions. This enables us to identify and meet your particular needs within an academic setting.

Career Advisement

Higher education is just one piece of the career puzzle. Once you have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue work in your desired field, it’s time to find a job that enables you to apply this knowledge and skill set in a real-world setting. Choosing an online school that assists with your search helps you take the next step in your career path.

UMA’s Career Services serves this very purpose. Our team is here to help throughout the job search process. Need help creating a compelling resume? We’re on it! Want to practice your interview before going in for the real thing? We can assist with this, too.

Depending on the program you choose, you might also be able to participate in an externship or practicum. This gives you access to the UMA Externship Team as well. This team has relationships with employers in the healthcare field and can connect you with them if it feels like a good fit and if there is availability in your area.

Education Partners

Some online learners don’t want to stop at a diploma or associate degree. They want to pursue their bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or higher. An online school should be equipped to help you continue your education, even if it means attending another institution for a higher-level degree.

When you choose UMA, you also have access to our partner schools in the event that you want to take your education to the next level.³ Some of these schools also offer online courses and programs. Others are schools that you attend in person.

The value of choosing a school with education partners is that it may be easier to transfer credits. This can reduce the number of classes you need to take in order to earn the higher degree as some of the necessary credits have already been satisfied at UMA.

Education Designed for Student Success

Put all these factors together and you don’t just have an online school that believes in higher education; you have an online school that wants you to succeed should you decide to enroll. A school that offers student support in numerous ways can help you feel less alone in your academic pursuits. It gives you a team of people who are there to answer your questions, help you overcome your academic challenges, and prepare you for the career that you want to pursue.

This is how we feel at UMA. We want you to succeed not only as a student but also in the real world once you land a position. We do this through our various learner and career services, starting from before you even enroll and continuing well past graduation.

Contact us today to learn more or to see what we’re all about!