How to Fit College into Your Busy Life

There is no question that college degrees generally translate into larger paychecks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an associate degree can put an extra $6,500 per year into a typical high school graduate's pocket and a bachelor's degree is, on average, worth $19,000 per year more than just a high school diploma.

If you are considering investing in an associate degree, bachelor's degree or MBA, you should carefully consider two questions:

* How will you fit college into your busy life?
* Which program will help you achieve your goals in the most direct manner?

How to fit college in - Go Online
Many working adults, including homemakers, active-duty military personnel and those who travel professionally, find online degree programs that allow them to complete college while maintaining sane work-home-school balance.

As an online student, you will never have to worry about driving and parking. Child care? No problem. Scheduling? Attend class at midnight if you like.

You may even be able to compress the typical time frame and complete work for an associate degree in as little as 18 months or a bachelor's degree in three years.

If you have access to a computer, you have access to online courses and distance-learning degree programs. Lessons are typically delivered through special, Web-based distance-education systems. A course may include online lectures, assignments, practice drills and quizzes with instant feedback.

What to look for in an online program
Find out how often you will be required to log in for class. Look for a program where you can interact with classmates using a discussion board and instant messaging. Ask whether exams will be taken online or at a local testing site, and whether tests must be taken at specific times.

Look for a college program that leads to career advancement
Check out a college carefully. Do instructors in career-specific courses have practical experience in the industry or business? Go to the school's Web site and look for instructor biographies or contact the school and ask the program's director to verify that your instructors will be experienced professionals.

Find out how the college develops a degree program. Ask if business and industry professionals worked with instructors to develop a program that will provide you with the skills employers are looking for. For example, if you are pursuing a degree in Information Technology, will your program include industry certification training? Or, if you plan on a career as a paralegal, will you learn how to use state-of-the-art legal software?

130 Years of Tradition
For 130 years, Globe University/Minnesota School of Business has provided the skills and training employers are looking for. No matter where in the country -- or the world -- you take a GU/MSB program, you will benefit from that tradition of quality, and enjoy interesting and challenging classes taught by experienced instructors.  

Online programs at GU/MSB focus on providing high-value degrees that lead directly to rewarding career moves for students. We offer MBA, bachelor's and associate degrees in areas including  business administration, paralegal, healthcare management, criminal justice and sales and marketing management.

For more information about specific programs offered by Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, visit the online program office.

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