As online education becomes more common, more and more students and learners are applying—and finding that they have more options than ever. What’s more, even after doing deep research and making a careful choice on which college is the best fit, the application process can still be unclear, leaving prospective students wondering what they need to apply.
While every institution is different and has their own unique criteria for admission, prospective students can consider a few general steps to prepare to apply to a college offering online courses or programs—and perhaps even apply free—where they can begin to take the next steps on their educational and career journey.
What Are the Requirements for Applying Online?
While requirements for applying to colleges vary from school to school and perhaps even program to program, prospective students can plan to have the following handy when they apply for college:
- Prior Education: Different programs will have different degree requirements, which means applicants will need to be able to verify their previous education. This means requesting transcripts—which, in some circumstances, colleges can be able to do at no additional cost to applicants.
- Testing: Some colleges with online offerings no longer require traditional tests like the SAT or GMAT; however, there may be language requirements for students who are not native speakers of the college’s primary language.
- Citizenship/Visas: Colleges with online offerings may have citizenship requirements for their students.
Prospective students should also be aware of any program-specific requirements, including minimum GPA or other prerequisites.
How Can Students Save on the Cost of Education?
Cost can also vary from college to college, as well as from program to program, based on varying requirements. There may also be additional costs including background checks, health screenings, or professional exam fees paid to third parties. In order to pay for these costs, applicants should keep the following in mind when applying to college:
- Transfer Credits: Prospective students can often apply previous college credits to a new program, though this is at the discretion of the college, who use transcripts to make their final evaluation.
- Employer Benefits: Applicants should talk to their employers about ways to defray the cost of education—and in some cases, colleges have cultivated specific relationships with organizations in order to make applying and paying as seamless as possible.
- Prior Learning: Applicants may be able to earn potential college credit based on previous professional training or experience, as well as through life experience.
- Scholarships: Many applicants may have earned scholarships before they apply, but they can also consider whether a college offers additional opportunities they qualify for.
- Competency-Based Degrees: Some programs may be offered in a competency-based format that allows them to be completed quickly and potentially at a lower cost.
- Alternative Credit Providers: Colleges may partner with other learning providers, where students can enroll to earn credit towards their program.
While many applicants will have already considered costs before they apply, the application process itself can also help determine whether there are additional savings available.
Also note that some applications may incur a cost—but there are also options to apply to colleges online for free, based on need or other circumstances. It can be useful to get in touch with enrollment or admissions offices when applying to colleges.
What Resources Do Colleges Provide to Applicants?
Learners require support, not only from teachers and classmates, but also from staff, and any other number of invaluable college resources. Some colleges may even have specialists to help prospective students apply:
- Enrollment Representatives: Some colleges have representatives to provide personalized assistance, in some cases to help prospective students decide to apply to a college, navigate the application process, and prepare for the program. They can be experts on the application process, admission requirements, fees, programs, transfer credits, and help create an initial education plan.
- Finance Advisors: Finance advisors assist with all aspects of academic funding, providing information on financial aid, grants, scholarships, loans, payment plans, and other financial services. They understand that each student’s circumstances are different and are available to support you throughout your educational journey.
Prospective students can also look at what resources are available after they enroll, including student support services, academic support and counselors, and career services.
Taking the Next Step
With the right help, prospective students can apply to a college with ease and efficiency and begin their educational journey as quickly as possible, while still feeling confident that they have made the right decision.
University of Phoenix offers an accessible and straightforward admission process for working adults and busy professionals. With support at every step, University of Phoenix makes higher education attainable for those balancing work, family, and education. University of Phoenix offers students a number of factors to make applying as easy as possible:
- There is no application fee.
- Students do not need to provide an essay or scores from the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT.
- UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX is often able to request transcripts at no additional cost to applicants.
- Students can get estimates for transfer credits, scholarship opportunities, and financial plans as part of their application process.
- Enrollment representatives are available to answer questions during the application process.
For more information, visit phoenix.edu or call 844-710-0516 to speak with an enrollment representative to learn more about the next steps of your educational journey.
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