Alliant International University class profile

Online Courses - MOOCs

The best college for a student isn't necessarily the highest-ranking school in the Forbes or US News listings, but rather the college that offers their students the best career opportunities. If you remain true to your career interests, your overall job earnings will increase as you gain experience. However, if your focus is more on salary alone, there's a higher risk that you'll suffer early signs of burnout, and be forced to change careers later on.

Technical programs are a low-cost alternative to attending a regular four-year university, and you can earn good money as a highly-skilled, technical specialist. By taking some of your required degree courses online, you may be able to graduate a semester early, thus saving money on tuition. If you're currently employed, you can take online technical education classes in your free time to advance your career. Massive Open Online Courses are known as MOOCs, utilizing interactive platforms such as Blackboard, and mobile apps. Udemy is a startup with backing from the founders of Groupon, and Khan Academy offers a free class profile and lecture videos served through YouTube. Then there's Norfolk State University chemistry degree, with enrolled students from around the world.

Admissions Process

Most colleges accept either the SAT or ACT, and have formulas for converting raw test scores. Colleges use standardized tests because there are substantial differences in course requirements, high school GPA, and grade curve difficulty among US high schools. The SAT test is more focused on testing reasoning ability while the ACT is a content-based test of achievement. On average, over half of students retaking the SAT saw improvements in their scores. Further, Advanced Placement exams are offered in a variety of physical sciences, offering you AP test credit for honors-level classes that you have taken while still in high school. Test yourself with practice exams online, before visiting the College Board website to register to take your actual AP Tests.

Public universities are more likely to evaluate applicants based on grades and test scores alone, while private universities tend to be more holistic. High school grades are the most important factor in gaining admission to the college of your choice, along with letters of recommendation. According to Troy University fall term 2015, an ideal academic record consists of a high GPA in courses of progressive difficulty. About half of colleges use placement tests and a waiting list, and many community colleges have agreements with bachelor programs at four-year universities, so that the transfer of college credits is ensured.

Financial Aid Information

Government scholarship program disbursements and Pell grants only account for one third of total college aid. Student loans, work-study earnings, and personal savings make up the remaining two-thirds. Please make use of the financial aid calculator online, and see if you qualify for need-based financial aid or a fee waiver. In fact, millions of students that would have qualified for some financial aid were late in submitting required scholarship program application forms. The official FAFSA website is fafsa.ed.gov and is free to use. Filing taxes early is recommended, but using estimates for FAFSA from previous years is possible provided the correct data is updated later.

According to the US Department of Education, nearly 45 million Americans incurred student debt during their college career. Student loans often carry an origination fee. Origination fees are a one-time charge based on the amount of the loan. Financial aid may be administered through Lamar University billing. Alternatively, student credit cards may seem like a good short-term solution, but the interest rates are high, and credit cards often carry an annual fee. Peterson's scholarship search is good to check not only for college scholarships, but also for the extensive resources on the college application process. Volunteer organizations offer scholarships or grants to students whose background or chosen field overlaps the field of the organization.