Keep It Real: Guide To Surviving Online College

It doesn’t matter if you study at Oxford or Post University Online, students are overworked, given responsibility after responsibility and in most cases have to actually work as well. If this sounds like your hectic life, here are a few easy tips to keep it real and enjoy your life.

Set Aside Quiet Time

Quiet time is actually exactly what you need as a student. While it might be tempting to go spend that free ten minutes online, try spending it staring at walls, doing yoga or just contemplating for a bit. This will leave you feeling a great deal more relaxed and more ready to tackle your never ending workload!

Use Your Free Time Wisely

You have free time, this is inevitable. Spend it doing things you want to do and forget working through that old tome your grandmother said you should read before you die. There’s plenty of time for that after college. Spend your time outside, having fun, have a party, do anything but study or work and in most cases you should avoid reading and being on the computer as well, why? Spending too much of your free time on these activities will mean that you only spend time on the computer or reading which can be quite depressing!

Avoid Routine

Routine will make your life boring. If you wake up and do the same things every day you can quickly feel bored or even trapped by the unending sameness of your life. Do things differently each day, do them in different orders (unless you find something more convenient) and try to throw in something new every day (even if it is learning something new). This will keep your college life fresh and exciting!

Make Study Time

As important as it is to have play time, make sure you have enough room for study time to. Scheduling your study time between certain hours or etc. (such as you must read this many pages before lunch) is a great way to motivate yourself and to help you get your work done as quickly and efficiently as possible!

Reward Yourself

Reward yourself for a job well done! At the end of the day when all of your work and study is done, do whatever you want. Whether it’s kicking back to watch a movie, play a video game or dressing to the nines and painting the town, do it. Have a blast and remember not to make it too late because your day starts again tomorrow. 

Making the Most of Your Holiday Break!

Making the Most of Your Holiday Break

Guess what, even as a student at an online school or college, you get a holiday break! You might be living at home already or living in a dorm but you will have at least one week to yourself to celebrate the holidays in whatever way you might choose.

However; in most cases you will also have a few assignments to complete over the break but, who cares! The rest of the time is mostly yours to spend with your family or friends. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your holiday break!

Get Your Assignments Done

You have assignments to do before you go back to school, try to remember this when you go on break and get them done as soon as possible. After all, not having to worry about finishing assignments means you can relax more and not having assignments to do means more ‘you’ time. Try finishing your assignments before you pack, this will leave you less stressed and much more equipped to make the most of your holiday break!

Finish Your To-D-List

Make up a to-do-list of everything that you would like to do or have to do on your holiday break. Do the items on the list as quickly as possible. This will not only get things done but will give you a satisfactory feeling of accomplishment which will help you to enjoy your holiday break that much more. Believe it or not, there is nothing quite as relaxing as knowing you have finished things you need to do!

Enjoy Family Time

Whether your idea of spending time with your family is going to visit them or you just want to call your mamma, you should remember to spend quality time with your family. Spending time with your family over the holidays can actually be relaxing and help you to prepare for the upcoming year of study!

Do Things You Like

Because you have worked so hard on finishing your assignments and knocking things off of your to do list or been henpecked by your great grandma because you didn’t peel potatoes the way she used to; you should spend some time doing the things you like to do. It doesn’t matter what it is, set aside some you time during the holidays and make the most of your break!

Relax

No matter what else you do on your holiday break, remember to relax. This is important because it will give you a sense of vacation (even if you stay at home or in your dorm) and will leave you rejuvenated for continuing school in another week or so!

Remember to enjoy your holiday break! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

5 Best Online Schools

Distance learning allows you to study where and when you like and in many cases at your own pace as well. This is not only convenient for students but allows them to schedule their schooling around work, family or etc. Distance learning is the #1 choice of Moms going back to school and students who wish to work while they study. If you plan on enrolling in an online college or school than you should be interested in learning about the best online schools, after all, no matter what you study, you want to know that your education is the best available for the money.  This top-five list of the best online schools has been chosen via user reviews, quality of education and percentage of graduates.

Kaplan University

One of the best online schools on this list is Kaplan University. Kaplan makes the list of best online schools because it is respected in the working and study community, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. Kaplan is divided into 10 colleges of learning and has received awards for several programs including their nursing program.

Post University

While Post University is somewhat small it is still one of the best schools online.  Post University offers more than 40 online programs in associate, bachelor and master levels and has been distinguished for their equine management, legal studies, accounting, business administration and human services courses which are described as above average. Post University is regionally accredited by the Department of Higher Education and nationally accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools.

AIU Online

AIU Online or the American Intercontinental University is one of the largest schools on this list of the best online schools. AIU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The American Intercontinental University grants Associate, Bachelor and Master degrees in the schools of business, criminal justice, design, education and information technology.  AUI online also features rolling admissions which means that students may apply for online study at any time of the year and begin immediately after being accepted!

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology or Florida Tech online is one of the most respected schools of technology which is why it made the list of best schools online. The institute is home to around 9,000 students, about 6,000 or which study online. The school has been distinguished as a top tier American University by the U.S. News & World Report and scored as #18 in the Fiske Guide to technological colleges.

Liberty University

Liberty University is one of the only online Christian schools and is one of the best schools online because of its high quality course material, teaching programs and student satisfaction. Liberty University Online does not require that students be Christian in order to attend, however they do request that certain morals are followed. The school enrolls around 60,000 online students and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools and the Transnational Association of Colleges & Schools. 

5 Tips For Making The Best of Online Research

5 Tips for Making the Best of Online Research

As a student studying online courses, online research is probably the most convenient method of study. If you aren't sure how to do it or what the best ways to study online are than you've come to the right place. First, any student can study online, even if you attend a traditional college rather than study online. Second, online research is only limited by what your college does and does not approve as research material. 

1.       Make the Best of Search Engines

Your search engine is probably your most effective tool for finding great research and reference material. For example, putting a search into Google can literally come up with books that are available online for reference or an article written by a doctor on the subject. You never know what you will find until you look so get looking!

2.       Check With Your Advisor/Teacher

Possibly the most important part of conducting research online is to ask your teacher or advisor which sites, reference spots or authors cannot be used as reference material. Knowing what you cannot use will allow you to make better judgment when it comes to using whatever material you do find.

3.       Use Websites Labeled For Student Use

Believe it or not there are lots of websites created just for students to use as reference material. Most of them have university approval or are even sponsored by a university or school. An easy way to find something sponsored by your school or one of its affiliates is to type in your school name + online library. This will come up with anything they have created for their students to use as reference material online.

4.       No Wikipedia

As tempting as it might be to use Wikipedia as a source (after all the material is all laid out in easy to understand format) it’s usually not a good idea. Wikipedia and other user created content sites are generally not suitable for use as reference material because they are not guaranteed to be truthful or up to the quality required for university reference material. In general, avoid any user created article or information sites including Wikipedia, Ezine and etc.

5.       Use Online Libraries

There are many online libraries that are not only available for free but contain university approved material. A few of these include the Guttenburg Project, Artcyclopedia, and many more. Most of these online libraries will allow you to download content to your pc, to your e-book reader or even to your smartphone! 

Questia Review: The Worlds Largest Online Library

Questia is without a doubt the world’s largest online library. With 76,000 books, 7,500 topics and 2,000,000 plus articles, magazines and newspapers they are one of the only online libraries that does not offer their content for free. But is it worth the money to pay for? Let’s review:

Questia Was Designed For Students

Questia was designed for students by former university members as a full research and reference resource. Questia was designed to cater to students no matter where they study, at one of the best online schools or Yale, Questia is available at anytime and anywhere which is perfect, especially for online students without access to a campus library.

Questia’s Material Is University Approved

Probably the best feature about Questia is that most or all of their material is University approved! This means that anything you might find on Questia’s website can be used as a reference or as research material for your article or assignment.

Questia Provides Easy Search Options

Questia’s entire website is carefully organized to be search friendly, easy to find and organized by category, date, author and more. The library provides access to the Benzene search system as well as chapter page preview and research suggestion tools such as alternate article or book suggestion.

Categories at Questia Online Library

Questia’s library is divided into subjects according to student study groups and students may access and browse each of the following groups.

• ·         Art and Architecture    
• ·         Communication
• ·         Economics and Business
• ·         Education
• ·         History
• ·         Law
• ·         Literature
• ·         Music and Performing Arts
• ·         Philosophy
• ·         Politics and Government
• ·         Psychology
• ·         Religion
• ·         Science and Technology
• ·         Sociology and Anthropology

The Bottom Line

At only $99 per year, Questia can save you a lot of money on purchasing books. Unlike with free libraries, Questia provides copyrighted books that are commonly used by schools which will make your research more relevant. In many cases, your scholarship, grant or student loan may be willing to help pay for Questia, however, in some cases they might not. Before you buy, do the math, how many books will you have to buy this year? And how many of them will be on Questia and accessible for only $99 per year? 

5 Libraries for History Students

 

Online Libraries for History Students

If you are a student studying history or working to earn your degree in education than you should be interested in using an online library. Online libraries save time, you don’t have to leave your house to access tons of information, and they are usually free. Plus, you will never have to pay late or damage fees so they are a great way to study on a college budget! Here are three of the best online history libraries.

Digital History

Digital history is exactly what it sounds like; a digital history log. The website contains interactive material, reference material, reading material, textbooks, documents, teachers, guides and more! Digital history works in collaboration with several museums and institutes of history such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Chicago Historical Society, the National Park Service and more. Students may use the website without signing up and material is approved for both teaching students and for research and reference purposes.

Internet History Sourcebooks

The Internet History Sourcebooks are a collection of copyright permitted textbooks, books and study material that has either run out of copyright or is legally permitted for free public use. The project is funded by the Fordham University. The layout is clean and intended for educational and research use rather than for advertisement or profit.  Categories include ancient history, modern history, medieval studies, history help, history by country and more.

Perseus Digital Library

The Perseus Digital Library is the worlds’ largest collection of online material on ancient history. From ancient Greece, ancient Rome, art in history, coins, images, photography, texts, textbooks, articles, mythology and fables and more. The library is an open source funded website that updates each time they receive funding.  Subjects are divided into easy to search categories and do include material in other languages, scans of documents and other rare finds. This is the perfect online library for anyone studying the ancient world. 

5 Reasons To Use Online Libraries

5 Reasons to Use Online Libraries

Any student studying an accredited online course should consider using a digital library. If you aren’t sure about it, here are five great reasons you should switch to digital!

Saves Money

First, digital and online libraries can help a college student to save money. Why? Most of them are 100% completely free. This is great if you are living on a college budget and don’t have a lot of spare cash lying around.  Many online libraries offer free access to great information sources like textbooks, articles, books and documents as well as image and art galleries.

Easy Search

Have you ever noticed that if you go to a library you can spend a lot of time looking for the right book? Sure they are categorized but unless you know the library by heart, even after you find the book code it can be a hassle to find. At an online library you can search for books by title, subject or author/date which allows you to bring up the correct book in seconds!

No Travel Time

Guess what, online libraries can be accessed from the comfort of your own home. No car, bust, tram or walking required. So be lazy, sit back down and look up the nearest online library! It’s fast and easy!

Faster

Let’s face it, if you don’t have to travel and searching is easier, you are going to save a lot of time. Instead of quitting study, getting ready to go to the library, delaying and perhaps stopping for food, all you have to do is type into your address bar, go to the library and continue study. This allows you to finish your study assignment much more quickly than were you to use a traditional library.

Easier

Despite all of the other benefits of using an online library, the best benefit is perhaps that it makes study (and life) easier. No hassle, no charge, no flipping through books until you find the right page. Digital libraries take up less space, are easier to access, easier to search and generally don’t charge late fees! 

Five Online Libraries for Art Students

As an art student attending one of the best online universities you probably don't want to leave your home to go to a library to find reference material. That is one of the reasons why online art libraries are useful, the other is of course that they are usually free and great for someone living on a college budget. So, take off your coat/shoes, save the travel money and just turn on your computer, all of your art reference materials are right where you want them, online. Here are the top five best online art libraries.


Artcyclopedia




Artcyclopedia is exactly what it sounds like. An encyclopedia of art, if you aren't sure what an encyclopedia is, it is a comprehensive collection of information regarding a subject. In the case of Artcyclopedia this means everything from expansive libraries of art history and information to a collection of over 8,000 digital art images (many of them classics) that are available for free to use as reference (or reading) material. Artcyclopedia allows students to search by artist name, by title and by location (for art museums). A few of the artists available include Van Gogh, Picasso, Da Vinci, Monet and more!

Intute




While Intute is not solely an art library, it does have an expansive arts and humanities section. The online library features articles, information, reference material in all sections of art including dance, visual, fashion, design, music, theatre and drama, and the visual arts. The library also features short training programs for basic information about the arts as well as a good search system that can be used to bring up specific artists, performances and more. The website is a UK based site, however, the information is intended for worldwide use and may be used anywhere. If you are required to use only American reference material than you may want to discuss using Intute with your adviser before actually using it. It should also be noted that what is currently on the site is all that will ever be added to the site as it was closed in June 2011.


WWW: Virtual Library:History of Art



The World Wide Web: Virtual Library: History of Art is a long name and as a downside can take a lot of time to type when referencing, but hey, its free and it has a lot of great information. The library allows free access to art history, large image prints of art, articles on art sites, periods, themes and more as well as references for art students and much more. Everything can be searched using the sites easy search features and the site also allows access to the virtual museum of art. It should be noted that this site is also a UK address but is updated from worldwide database's.

Dadabase 




This site is a Canadian art website that allows access to one of the largest collections of virtual art on the internet. Dadabase features not only a very large art photo gallery but also information on artists and mostly features modern art. Other features of the website include a list of real-life art exhibitions, dates and times, etc. For the artist studying modern art, Dadabase is a great tool that can be used to extensively research the style and form of modern art as well as to find inspiration and reference material.

Oxford Art Online 




Oxford Art Online is an online art library developed by (you guessed it) Oxford University. The site does require students to sign up to it but it allows access to the online version of the Grove Art Online and the Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Both of which can be used as reference material at any university or college. Oxford art online is an art history research center, a digital art image library of over 40,000 images and has over 23,000 subjects, 21,000 biographies and information on art movements and more.

5 Online Libraries for Online Research

Studying online can save you time and money. Here’s why. Most online libraries are 100% free which will save money you received from your scholarships and grants for other things like paying rent or paying for your actual tuition.  Online research can also save you time because unlike in physical libraries where you have to search for books or articles that match your subject; online, all you have to do is type in keywords and select your reading material from a list.  Many online libraries are even state and college approved to be used for reference material by students like you! Here are the top five online libraries for research.

Research Guide for Students

A Research Guide for Students is an easy to search guide to all things research including how-to’s for writing papers, documentaries, Style Guides and much more. The website also contains a great deal of informative articles in their virtual library. Articles are arranged by the Dewey Decimal system for easy search and range in study topics from Computers/Reference, Psychology/Philosophy,  Religion, Mythology, Social Sciences, History, Language, Science, Math, Technology, Health, Business, Arts, Music, Sports, Literature and Geography.  In some cases, actual free lessons are linked to the article so that the student may learn about the subject matter.   

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world so it only makes sense that the Library of Congress Online is a great place to research. The online library has multiple sections of research and reference books as well as copyright information, photo archives, presidential archives and much more. This information is available freely to the public and may be searched on the site and referenced in research papers.

Internet Public Library

The Internet Public Library is a branch of the physical public library that you would normally walk into to check out a book. While there aren’t quite as many books available, the internet version has a large collection of books and reference material in most study areas. This material is available for free via the website and may be searched for by author, title or initials. Reference material is housed in 12 categories with more than 50 sub categories.

InfoMine

While InfoMine was not created by a school or government institution, it is sponsored by several universities as a reference material source. The website provides a great deal of free information and study material in the areas of politics, economics, history, science, agriculture and more.  However, the site is mainly devoted to providing significant information about the mining industry. The site also offers paid subscriptions in order to receive email lessons/information/news and much more.

Biomed Central

Biomed Central is a website devoted almost exclusively to providing free information for medical students.  The site hosts a variety of information including articles, books and news on medical incidents, diseases, and etc.  Also, there are a group of doctors in the medical field who regularly review all of Biomed Centrals content to ensure that it is fit for use as reference and study material

Top Five Websites for Online Students

Top Five Websites for Online Students

If you study online or are seeking information about online study, these five websites are the best places to look. Each website has been selected for informative content, helpfulness and non-spam content as well as number of users and Google rating.  Websites have been listed best to worst; however, all websites are good sources of information.

1.    My Colleges & Careers

My Colleges & Careers is a great website for any student or aspiring student. MCC features assistance for locating an online learning program as well as information for students already studying. This includes information such as available grants, living in college, life while studying as well as other helpful, amusing or informative articles for students.

The website also features a complete list of available online courses, grants and online colleges along with reviews, information and requirements for each school.

2.    World Wide Learn

World Wide Learn describes itself as the world’s premier online directory of education.  Truthfully, the website has a lot of information about signing up for college, aid programs, studying abroad, studying online and available online degrees and programs. The website also provides a full list of available colleges by state/area so that students interested in attending an on-campus program may locate a suitable college. 

World Wide Learn offers information on different areas of study, generally short articles either about the study program or about the actual information as well as helpful articles for students in the form of blog posting and etc.

3.    Study Online

Study Online is about 90% a guide to any and all online programs at accredited colleges and about 10% information and help for students. The website offers a simple search with graduate levels (undergraduate, graduate, dual, etc.) separated into categories so that they are easier to search and browse. The page also allows browsing via degree level (Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral) or via study program of interest. This website is most useful if you have decided which program you would like to study but do not yet have any idea where you would like to study. Other available information on the site includes information on online tests, available aid and a list of degrees that may be earned online.

4.    Merit Nation

Merit Nation is different from the other websites on this list because it does not offer student information about schools; instead it offers a way for students to learn to study more effectively and effortlessly. Other programs offered include tutoring, personality and aptitude tests, question & answer zone and more.

This website does cost money, however, many students testify that using the websites learning techniques and study programs helped to advance their learning capabilities so that they received better grades.  The pricing ranges from free for the most basic course and to about $70.50. All prices on the site are listed in Indian Rupees due to the site location.

5.    Study 2U

Study 2U is a website that offers information about online education programs worldwide. It should be noted that some of the colleges on the site will qualify as international education and may not be accredited in the USA. The website offers information on online study programs, schools and colleges as well as useful information for students or aspiring students.  Other information offered includes lists of available online study programs, available online degree levels and what courses are available within that level as well as information on requirements and more.

Study 2U also offers options for sorting schools and information by country so that you may select only those you are interested in. 

Best Colleges Online

Best Colleges Online

For anyone wishing to attend an online school, a list of the best schools online is an invaluable tool that can be used to quickly and easily sort through the majority of online colleges and simply choose one of the best.  This top-five list of the best colleges online is designed for students who wish to consider their options before signing up for a distance learning program.

Phoenix University

With more than 50,000 students enrolling in one of its programs each year, Phoenix University is one of the largest online education programs in the world. The school is accredited for all of its available programs and features courses at Associates, Bachelors and Masters’ Degree levels. Online study is conducted through the website and through email with courses and assignments being sent and turned in digitally. Lectures, speeches, class discussions and etc. are all conducted online and each class has access to an advisor who will reply to any email within 24 hours. 

Kaplan University

While Kaplan University isn’t quite as big as Phoenix, it receives some of the best ratings online for providing a quality education with attentive and helpful teachers as well as for being a good bargain for the money. Kaplan provides a full accredited education that can be completed 100% online, partially online or on a campus. The school offers Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees as well as certification programs and single course study in over 20 different academics programs.  Kaplan keeps classrooms small with 15 students or less so that each teacher may concentrate fully on their students. 

American Intercontinental University

The American Intercontinental University or AIC online is an American Institute offering international courses and is open to almost anyone with either a High school diploma, GED or equivalent. The school offers a full range of courses and diplomas considering that the student has the applicable requirements for the study. The institute offers 100% online courses as well as hybrid or physical sessions. Some courses require a brief physical study period for demonstration purposes but generally this is only required for doctorates.

Liberty University

Liberty University is a fully accredited and Christian university with a full range of accredited Christian and Christian based courses. The school has a full campus located in Virginia and enrolls around 70,000 students per year between its on campus and online courses. Liberty offers online admissions which require the student to register; upload applicable documents and conduct a short online chat with one of the universities admissions monitors.  LU online offers a good quality, affordable education to anyone who passes their evaluations tests. The school also accepts transfers from other colleges so long as the students pass evaluations and in some cases, credit transfer is also accepted. Liberty EDU consistently ranks high on charts for graduation rate, retention and student employment.

Post University

Post University is the smallest college on this list, but also one of the most respected. The school has been accredited since 1972 and offers a variety of programs at Associates, Bachelors and Masters' level. It should be understood that there are not as many study programs as would be found at a larger school, however, the quality of the education received is generally much better than a bigger school because the teachers have smaller classrooms, more time to spend per student and the school is required to offer a better education in order to compete with the options and pricings of a larger school.