How Can You Spot A Fake Online Bachelor Degree?

By Mary Jackson

With the rise in demand for online bachelor degrees, many bogus learning institutions have mushroomed over the internet with the sole intention of taking advantage of innocent students seeking for a genuine degree. These so-called "Colleges" often attract applicants with their attractive degree programs which are boasts of easy graduation, low tuition fees, no examinations and credit given for life experience, all of which just sound too good to be true. Some of them even go to the extent of prospecting for customers by sending out bulk email citing university degrees for sale.

So, how do prospective students determine whether an online college is accredited or only offering bogus online Bachelor degrees? Especially for International students, it can be very difficult to determine a school's validity. In most cases it is impossible for distance learners to visit the campus, so the website is the only point of contact before making the choice and enrolling, which makes it hard to determine credibility.

One of the qualifying factors that can be utilized by students to make correct enrolment decisions is by determining the type of college accreditation that has been received by their college of consideration. If the college vaguely states itself as having "nationwide or worldwide accreditation" without stating specifically which regional accreditation body it is accredited with, then most likely this college does not possess legitimate accreditation.

Six accreditation agencies have been given the authority to award college accreditation. The agencies are divided by geographic location, so it is possible to contact the appropriate office to determine whether a college or university has legitimate standing and been registered in that district. The agencies are all appointed by the National Board of Education and include: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU).

Another important clue to illegitimacy is mass-emails or mail offering degrees for sale. There are cases of online Bachelor degrees, Masters, or even online Doctorate degrees being obtained by a fixed tuition rate. Some bogus colleges even have the audacity to promise a degree in the mail within 7 days. These unethical businesses take advantage of people who must have a degree in order to get a decent job, or keep the one they have in the first place. However, others take big steps to appear above board and genuine. Displaying evidence of accreditation from a bogus website makes the "school" look real. But, unless one of the 6 authorized agencies is mentioned, it may not be an accredited school. In addition, the only way to earn a college degree is by honest hard work and dedication. If a site offers credit for life experiences, travel, work experience, educational background, or even the amount of books read in the past, rest assured it may not be an institute dedicated to qiality, legitimate and excellent learning.

In short, because of the influx of fake degrees, it leaves the employers worried about the legitimacy of online Bachelor Degrees. Thus to avert these fears and ensure you get a job with an online degree, it is imperative to carefully select a college that possesses all the support and resources to provide quality education approved by the U.S. Department of Education, and granted accreditation through one of the 6 designated agencies with the authority to award proper accreditation to legit institutions. - 29940

About the Author:

Mary Jackson writes articles on legit accredited online degrees and programs and online bachelor degrees colleges for your educational needs.

Online High School Accreditation

By Terry Hatch

Perhaps the most important criteria for choosing an online high school or online academy is being an accredited institution. It should not be just any accreditation, either. The accreditation should include oversight and not just a license to do business.

Accreditation is the process of reviewing a school's program and policies to see if it meets the criteria of the accreditation agency. This is done to protect students, schools and employers from unscrupulous entities who establish fake schools or schools that care only for revenue and not providing quality education. If the school meets the minimum requirements, it will be granted the accreditation.

Proper accreditation is important to ensure the online academy's quality. With accreditation, other schools and employers will recognize your diploma and the course you have taken if you need to transfer. Opportunities to further your education may be lost if the school you attend is considered to be a fake or not properly accredited.

The question then remains, how will you know if the online school you are attending has the proper accreditation in place? Do your research, because some school will attempt to fake their accreditation. And accreditation from the wrong source is worse than no accreditation at all.

A fake accreditor may have misleading names that imply that it is a national or regional accreditor when it is not. It may also have a logo that looks like the logo of a legitimate accreditor. It could also be that its website has too little information and does not include names or contact information aside from a phone number and email address.

You can go to the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website to verify the accrediting agency used by the school is legitimate. The CHEA database includes a list of US accrediting organizations that are recognized either by the CHEA or by the US Department of Education or both. This includes any of the six regional accreditors, Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation and the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

You should also consider the difference between a national (DETC) and regional accreditation. While employers accept both types, many regionally accredited schools do not accept transfer credits from DETC accredited schools. This is not a problem if you are studying for personal enjoyment, but if you are planning to further your education at a later date, you will be better off attending an online academy with regional accreditation.

It is a waste of your time and money to attend an online school that does not have the proper accreditation in place. Your certificate of completion will also be worthless and could cost you your job if your employer found out. No matter if you attend online school for college or online high school, the proper accreditation will guarantee you are getting a quality education. - 29940

About the Author:

If you are thinking about going to an online academy make sure it has the appropriate accreditation in position. Classes are available for online high school as well as middle school and some elementary school courses.

Distance Learning Degrees - What Do Employers Think Of Them?

By Mary Jack

With the technological expansion of the Internet, distance learning degrees have become increasingly popular. With great support facilities and the convenience of online degree programs, parents and workers can still have a family and a job while receiving an education. Unfortunately, the Internet has also provided an avenue for individuals making money by selling bogus degrees over the Internet. In a 2003 report by USA Today, 400 diploma mills are already in operation, with the shameful industry already worth $500 million per year, and the numbers are still rising.

However, despite all of the negative talk about the value of distance learning degrees, many such colleges and universities offer valid online learning degrees and diplomas. The students and instructors are held to the same standard of educational excellence as those in the traditional classroom. The method is simply an alternative for the individuals who may otherwise not have an opportunity to earn a degree. Online courses, online video lectures, test examinations, and even online library facilities ensure the students truly earn their degree in higher education. Unfortunately, many potential employers have heard about the bogus degrees and tend to assume an online degree is of lesser value.

To address the misinformation, 6 accreditation agencies have been authorized by the U.S. National Education Board to weed out the unscrupulous bogus programs. Then, the agencies give accreditation to the colleges and universities that meet the minimum standards for legitimate learning institutions. In addition, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) also provide accreditation specifically to distance learning schools. The DETC has the backing of both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education. Therefore the students can rest assured their education has matched, and often exceeded that of their traditional peers.

Other distinguished specialized accreditation agencies exists that are designed to accredit specific course programs. Programs that meet the set standards of excellence are given accreditation by these specialized accredit ting agencies based on area of specialization. A good example of such an accrediting agency is International Association for Management Education (AACSB) which accredits accounting related programs. Also American Health Information Management Association is tasked with accrediting health programs in different colleges. It is worthy to note that all these accreditation agencies have to be recognized by CHEA for them to be considered as legit agencies.

So, to verify the educational quality of any institution, students, parents, and potential employers should be concerned about accreditation status. If any college or university has that coveted seal of approval, it means distance learning degrees have met the same basic standards of excellence with the support and facilities necessary to adequately offer online degree programs. Conversely, specialized accreditation concentrates on evaluating the course curriculum based upon the established standards of the university or college.

Accreditation ensures students have received quality and adequate training in their perspective areas of study and definitely earned their distance learning degrees. Parents and potential employers can believe these students are prepared to become a productive member of society. By the same token, employees who have taken accredited courses have met the requirements of their specialize area of study. Alternatively, it also mean that institutions denied accreditation have not met the minimum standards of excellence.

Nevertheless, in the end, it all comes down to the discretion of the employer. He or she must decide whether potential employees have satisfactorily completed an online degree program. Hopefully, with accreditation through a well recognized agency, the confusion can be eliminated, and a valid resume will make it to the short list of excellent candidates with their distance learning degrees as an impressive symbol of fortitude and dedication to personal achievement. - 29940

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Find resources on online education degree and other distance learning degrees and legit colleges and universities for credible online education.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments At Disney Grad Nite

By Neil Brickman

If your school is looking for an alternative party that offers a safe and sane way to celebrate, take a look at Disney Grad Nite. This evening at Disneyland is a great way for graduates to celebrate their accomplishment is a very fun way.

Beginning in mid May and running through most of June, Thursday nights are Disney grad nite at the Disneyland. On those evening, the park closes early to prepare for the special event enjoyed by high school graduates from several surrounding states.

To attend Grad Nite, the school must agree to be a part and your principal will need to sign an agreement that your school will abide by the rules. There is a strict dress code and alcohol, drugs and tobacco are not allowed as a part to the party. Participants need to arrive in a charter vehicle or bus or a vehicle driven by a chaperon in order to get into the party. The gates are locked and participants must remain in the part for the entire event.

One of the new options for 2010 include the Blastoff party that takes place in California Adventure. This offers graduates an additional two hour party and time to ride some of the great thrill rides available only in California Adventure.

After Disneyland closes early to the general public on Thursday night, the party moves across the plaza to the main park for another six and one half hours. In addition to all the favorite Disneyland rides, there is music and dancing in several places.

Each of your favorite characters will be there pictures with your own camera or by the Disneyland photographers using the Photopass system that allows you to purchase these special pictures online once you get home for up to one month after the party has ended. You can even design your own memory book of the evening and have it delivered to your home.

All of your favorite rides will be open these nights to complete your Disney adventure. If you seek the thrill of all of the mountains or the fun of Fantasyland, you will appreciate all that Disney does to make the rides fit a theme.

For a real fright visit the Haunted Mansion in the middle of the night. The moon overhead increases the creepiness of the haunts.

Will there be fireworks? Of course, and no one can put on a fireworks show like Disney can. This will allow you to celebrate graduation with a big bang as you celebrate your accomplishments.

Of course you are going to work up an appetite with all the dancing and running from ride to ride. Several of the better eateries in the park will be open to serve drinks, snacks and meals to quench all the hungers that you work up.

Graduation is a time of great changes in your life. It is a time to celebrate your accomplishments and then step out to greater challenges in life. Whether your next step is college or a career, Grad nite at Disneyland is a great way to celebrate what you have done. It is a wonderful final memory with friends that have helped you along the way. - 29940

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Interested in making your own memories at Disney grad nite? Stop by Flamingo Edu Tours to see how you can book a vacation for your class.

Things For Parents To Consider About Preschool And Their Child

By Julie Jones

Preschool is a very important time in your child's life. This is a time for them to learn some independence from you. As parents it can be difficult to let our babies grow up but it is not something we can stop so we must adjust. Some parents do not realize it but they are likely to have just as hard a time as their child on the first day at your Frisco preschool. It can be difficult to leave your kid for the first time and it will be just as hard for your child to let you leave them.

You may want to prepare yourself for a tantrum or at least some crying. I'm sure this will make leaving your child even harder but you must do it. When your child becomes upset and starts to cry if you simply take them home and do not leave them they will start to believe that is all it takes to for them to be able to go back home. When children start liking preschool they would still much rather be home with their parents. You should be prepared to be strong. Simply tell your child how much you love him or her and that you will see them soon.

You may find that telling your baby this with dry eyes is quite difficult when they are crying and asking you not to leave. After you leave the preschool feel free to call as many times as you like to check up on your baby to see if they are calming down.

If your kid has continued to throw a fit and be upset then go pick them up. They will not realize that you are picking them up because of the tantrum they threw. Most children do much better on the second day of preschool but if your kid is still upset and screaming don't worry it should get better soon.

The first week is usually the hardest but after that most of the children have started to adjust to the new environment. If your baby still continues to cry when you are dropping them off it is alright. The tantrums and screaming should have died down by the second week.

It is perfectly normal for children to not be happy when first starting a preschool. If your child continues to be unhappy with the preschool it may be time to look at other options. You should do something to change the situation if you think your little one is still unhappy after some time has passed. You know your little one and what things upset them.

Your child may not be used to being away from you for the entire day and it can often be overwhelming for children. There are some preschools that only have half days this may be something to look into. This is a great way to help your kid adjust before it becomes time to be away from you for a whole day.

Some parents have found that putting their children in a daycare for a couple of days a week can help them adjust to the idea before it is time to start preschool and kindergarten. Even parents that don't work have started doing this so they can find something that works for their child before they become school aged. Once they are school aged the law says you have to send them to school so if they don't want to go you can not just keep them home. - 29940

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Want to find out more about Frisco preschool, then visit Julie Jones's site on how to choose the best care for your needs.

Checklist For Selecting An Online School Academy

By Jim Sorenson

The considerations for choosing an online school are the same, whether it's for acquiring a high school diploma or a college degree. The only difference is that there are four types of virtual high schools to choose from -- private, public, chartered and university sponsored - and it is possible that geography will be a factor (e.g. charter schools are available only to students living in a certain area). Being familiar with these types can help parents and students in their decision.

Does the school offer or specialize in the program or courses that you are interested in? For example, you may want to study medical transcription in a school that specializes in medical courses. Also, check if you will be getting a diploma or just a certificate for your chosen program.

Is the school properly accredited? This ensures that you will not be wasting money, time and resources on a diploma that you can't use later to pursue a higher education or advance your career. The accreditation should be by recognized by creditors and include oversight as well as a license to operate.

Cost: Similar to traditional learning institutions, the cost for attending an online school can vary, from the very expensive to the practically free charter schools. Aside from tuition, some charge additional fees on training materials, graduation and the like. Learn what your payment options are, and it doesn't hurt to ask about discounts and scholarships, either.

Policy on credit transfer: Some schools allow you to earn credit for real-life work experience or for equivalent courses you have already taken in another institution. With this, you can reduce your course work and reduce the amount of tuition that you have to pay. It also allows you to earn that diploma in less time.

Classes: Ask how classes are conducted or, better, attend demo classes, if any are available. Try to assess the learning format, qualifications of online teaching staff, technical and academic support offered to students and the teacher-to-student ratio. You can then decide if the online school fits your learning style and schedule.

Track record and history: Basically, an online school that has been in operation for more than a couple of years is more stable than one that has been in business for less than that. A large number of students currently enrolled is not necessarily indicative of a good school. You should also try to find out the number of graduates, number of graduates who went on to college (for virtual high schools) and the drop-out rate.

Finally, parents and students can get additional feedback from current and past students and faculty. Other sources include online discussion boards and blogs on online schools. The important thing is to take time and exert effort to get to know several prospective schools before making a decision, instead of settling for the first school that seems to meet all the requirements. - 29940

About the Author:

Jim has explored the options that students have to take part in online high school and helps parents to find information. It is important that kids obtain a suitable education whether in public schools or participating in online school.

Childrens Music Classes Richmond VA: Which One Should You Choose For Your Child?

By Jacob Biggs

Childrens Music Classes Richmond Virginia: This task of choosing these for children may be daunting when you first begin. Why? There are many wonderful class offerings in the city. Many parents do want to find just the right one, but with so many classes available it can be hard to know what to do. You might consider the advice of one expert music instructor.

What age is the child who will take the classes? If your child is aged two to five, then you should consider programs such as Kindermusik, Yamaha, or Suzuki. Each method uses popular instruments to teach music basics such as singing, movement, rhythms and note reading. Kindermusik does it with lots of rhythm instruments, Yamaha uses the piano as its central instrument, and Suzuki uses the violin as its core instrument. In each of these programs parents must take the classes too. Parents are the guides that help their children to practice during the week days between the classes. This musical relationship is extremely important for success, and these programs do excellent jobs of encouraging family participation. And they are lots of fun for children. There are several Kindermusik studios in Richmond, and for some families this may be a good starting point.

Other options for classes include programs such as Music Together. Several studios in Richmond offer this program. If you participate in classes with these professionals you will find a dedication to helping families with very young children learn about making music together with singing and rhythms. The program focuses on the belief that every child is musical, and that music making can be done by everyone.

If you have a very active, physical child, you might wish to take a look at a curriculum called Tumble Tunes. This program is a combination of gymnastic movements, exercise and music all combined together in classes that last about forty-five minutes each. This program is presented by Romp and Roll in three different easy to find locations in the city.

Family Music for Babies is a program offered by Birth and Baby Kneads. This program encourages musical aptitudes in very young babies. It is designed to teach parents how to organize their babies' musical learning by playing together in an organized musical environment. Babies and their parents enjoy rocking, singing, bouncing, and dancing with music. It is available at The Wellness Village at Starling.

Classes in piano or violin for children ages 6 and up are an excellent next step, once early music is completed. Classes and private lessons are offered in piano and violin at The Center For Creative Arts at Shady Grove. Here, children can explore these instruments in a group setting using Suzuki method, with recitals presented in the winter and the spring. If piano and violin seem to be the favorite instruments in your home, then you should also consider the Yamaha method as an option.

If you believe that it is time to actually begin private lessons, then you can find them at the center for voice, drums, piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, clarinet, electric bass, saxophone, and flute. You might also check online for other private instrument teachers in the Richmond area.

The best part about having children take early music classes is that they often ask to take private lessons on their favorite instrument when they grow a bit older. There is an amazing array of music classes available in Richmond, so many good choices are there to make any interested child very happy. - 29940

About the Author:

Learn more about Childrens Music Classes Richmond Virginia. Stop by Jacob Biggs's site where you can find out all about childrens music classes and what it can do for you.