1. The cons.The internet, wonderful invention that it is, has
allowed more scams than ever before to flourish in the vast anonymity of
cyberspace. Just like anything else you find on the WWW, you must investigate
your chosen school before you enroll, and definitely before you pay anything.
There are literally thousands of web sites offering “accredited degrees without
study.” You pay them a substantial sum; they print out a diploma with your name
and mail it to you. Employers are catching on fast to this hoax. One column
writer applied to and received a degree in the name of his cat. The owner of
this particular degree mill was caught and jailed—and now operates his “school”
from prison under a different name.
I repeat: never send money to an online school unless you’re sure
it’s legitimate. If a degree is offered, but no course outlines, degree program
descriptions or faculty list is posted, it’s probably a scam. If you can’t tell
from the web site, e-mail the owner/president and ask if you can contact a few
of their students to find out about their experience. Most of the time, a
simple Google search for “school name” + “fraud” will generate plenty of
information.
2. Limited subject matter. There are some things you just can’t learn
through e-mail. Would you trust a doctor with a degree from a distance learning
institute? Careers requiring hands-on experience generally aren’t offered
through online classes, or if they are you must enroll in a “mixed” program
that requires periodic on-campus attendance. However, the range of degree
programs offered online is extensive and still growing: you can receive A.A.S.
or B.S. degrees in business, management, graphic design, just about any IT
field, criminal justice, education, and more. But if you want to be an airline
pilot… you’d better start looking for a flight school.