Has anyone done an online college?

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I have recently been thinking about returning back to China to teach English again this summer after I finish my last semester of community college this spring. I am just not happy here in superficial California and need to get out. I have been thinking about possibly just doing online college while I'm in China. I will just work part time and live with a friend while I am doing the college stuff during all my free time pretty much. I only have about a year of college left (if that). I am wondering if it is possible to transfer credits from community college to continue at an online college? If this is possible, does anyone know which online colleges are good and legit? I am going for a BA in Psychology. I was taking a look at a few places already:

Argosy, Ashford, Capella, Columbia, Florida Tech., Kaplan, Liberty University, Post, Robert Morris University, Saint Leo, University of the Southwest and Walden University.

here is the link:

http://www.collegeonline.org/online-deg ... ology.html

I would greatly appreciate help with this because I want to return to China and still be able to continue working towards a degree.

I have found that some of these online colleges are BBB(Better Business Bureau) accredited and others aren't:

http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/ ... A-13180030

http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/ ... -100006677

Some aren't rated at all:

http://www.bbb.org/sandiego/business-re ... -23003139/ :/

I was wondering if I got a degree from a BBB accredited online college...would some schools in South Korea or Japan still view the online degree as worthless? I have this constant fear that online degree = worth nothing.

An online degree is not worth nothing. If it’s from an accredited college recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, you can be rest assured of the quality of education provided. I’m reading about the accreditation of Independence University (by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) recognized by the USDE) so I know that the college is legitimate and the quality of education sound. It is not worthless.

I'm also looking at an online university, but not sure how to pick one. I live in the US, but I'm not sure I have the stamina to go to physical classes.

I once took a class from University of Phoenix and it was absolutely horrible. I did nothing but BS in the forums and somehow got a B.

I took a class from my community college online, but we had to go in for tests. It was okay. I don't think I would have gotten anything from the lectures, so it was probably better off.

Maybe look for public schools that offer online courses? I know in California this is very common, especially with the current budget crisis. I have a friend (acquaintance to be precise) who did his entire lower-division studies online with a california community college while living in NYC! He'd mail in papers if he had to. The professors made it easy as long as he cooperated and was up front with them. Maybe email them prior to registration and make your circumstances clear? This would be advantageous because it is easy to find an inexpensive school with rock solid accreditation rather than an expensive private school with 'secondary' accreditation.

If you must go the online route, at least do it through an accredited (and not by the BBB) university that has a legitimate physical campus. This way, your degree will actually be worth something. If you get a degree from U Phoenix or friends it won't be worth the paper it's written on due to their policy of passing anyone who can pay. Basically, avoid for-profit schools. They don't care about education as long as they collect your tuition money.

Of those you mentioned, at least Columbia and Florida tech are legit; not sure about the others though of course you can check yourself.

I am working towards a BS in space studies through American Public University http://www.apus.edu/index.htm, it's not cheap at $250 per credit hour but I have been very impressed with the quality of instruction I have received. They hire professors who are experts in their fields of expertise, for example my human spaceflight course instructor was Wendy Lawrence, a retired NASA astronaut who flew on four shuttle missions. http://www.amu.apus.edu/academic/facult ... b-lawrence

I also take classes from a local community college and besides not being in a classroom the courses are at least as challenging if not more so than the courses at NMSU.

American Public University System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org, 312-263-0456). The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, including West Virginia. The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.
http://www.apus.edu/accreditation-licen ... Letter.pdf

I would try to avoid any for-profit college. I don't really believe in them.

A college needs to be accredited by an educational organization. For example, in Maryland, most colleges are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. http://www.msche.org/

Some non-profit colleges do run online programs, for example "University of Maryland University College"

Try to find these.

Everyone made good points about finding a reputable place...

I want to warn you that you need to be organised and motivated to do a correspondence/online course. It would be helpful too, if you've completed a university course or have some university experience. I really wouldn't recommended them for a young student, a mature age student would have an advantage. Unless the student was very dedicated.

I've done a few of these. I had trouble keeping focused despite interest in the subject. I wasn't sure what was expected of me, the standard required for assignments.

Otherwise best of luck!

Everyone made good points about finding a reputable place...

I want to warn you that you need to be organised and motivated to do a correspondence/online course. It would be helpful too, if you've completed a university course or have some university experience. I really wouldn't recommended them for a young student, a mature age student would have an advantage. Unless the student was very dedicated.

I've done a few of these. I had trouble keeping focused despite interest in the subject. I wasn't sure what was expected of me, the standard required for assignments.

Otherwise best of luck!

Avoid for profit colleges like the plague. If it gets advertised virally on the internet and day time TV commercials, it is generally not a school that prospective employers will take seriously. In fact I have talked to hiring managers who admitted to throwing away resumes that had University of Phoenix or other for profit schools listed. your friends aren't likely to respect you much for it either.

What you want is a distance program from an accredited brick and mortar university or a respected, accredited online degree program. Look into something like the Open University, for example. It's one of the few online schools that is respected by employers.