Shopping around for the best degree

As many know there are a ton of options for one to choose when going back to school so it is essential to choose the right things to look for in a school. The first and most important for anyone to look for is accreditation. There are two major accreditations, national and regional, regional accreditation is the highest a school can receive and the only one someone should look into.

Another great aspect is if the school has a brick and mortar campus, a physical location. I am not talking about 5-50 “locations” in certain areas (like certain schools with a mythical bird as a mascot), I am talking about one campus with a tradition behind it that has an online program implemented with the material based on their campus program. This alone will make your resume look stronger; employers are tending to look down upon “all-online” programs. Also make sure your diploma does not include verbiage about being done online either.

The last thing I asked myself when shopping around was: “Who is teaching me and what is the level of support while in the program?” As you shop for a program ask the school if they utilize adjunct faculty or graduate students to teach, as you might imagine it is better to be taught by those with experience in the field – adjunct faculty. Also, as you shop, think about how much communication you would like to be able to have while in your program. For me, I need to be able to call someone if I have an issue and not end up with a recording on the other line. With a good program you will have multiple contacts and a helpdesk that can assist you with any technical issues.

The school I chose (Marylhurst) has all of these things: regional accreditation, a traditional campus with history and legacy, a diploma equivalent to an on-campus program, and full on support from real teachers and technicians. I couldn’t ask for anything more…