Examine the Benefits, Drawbacks of Online Learning for Introverts

For students like Kelly Dyer, who classifies himself as an introvert, taking online courses could be a great choice. The May 2015 graduate from the security studies master's degree program at Kansas State University enrolled in online courses as he pursued a graduate certificate ​in public administration.

Dyer immediately recognized the contrast between the in-person and online learning environments: In the former, he had to respond to questions on the fly, but in the latter, he could really prepare what he wanted to say. Introverts like Dyer tend to be more reflective and really think through their ideas or answers to questions, especially when it comes to learning, experts say.

"During my first online class, I found out that I could take the time to construct my thoughts, craft an argument and then present it – post it – to the rest of the class for that week," the 24-year-old said via email. "That was really beneficial for me."

Experts agree that online education certainly has its benefits for introverts, particularly when it comes to partaking in group discussions and thriving in more personal settings. Introverts are also usually good listeners and can better express themselves through their writing rather than verbally.

Still, online education has its drawbacks for introverts as well. Experts say it's important for introverted prospective online students to examine both the positives and negatives of distance learning when deciding whether to pursue a fully online, blended or in-person program.

[Learn to decide between online, blended courses.]

Introversion, which experts say appears on a spectrum, is different from shyness, which tends to have negative connotations, says Heidi Kasevich, who leads education-related efforts for Quiet Education, an organization that aims to unlock the power of introverts in society.

"Introversion has to do with the amount of stimulation an individual enjoys and thrives on," says Kasevich. "Introverts prefer much less stimulating environments than extroverts."

The most obvious benefit of online learning for introverts centers on class participation, experts say, because in many online courses, students have more time to answer questions.

"You don't have this notion of a 10-second wait time from a teacher to have to respond to; you can respond an hour later or a day later – whenever you feel you have contemplated on the idea enough," says Curt Bonk, professor of education at Indiana University—Bloomington and author of ​"The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education."

In many online classes, discussions involve more than just speaking – a variety that introverts usually prefer​, Kasevich says. This was the case for Dyer, who says that in the face-to-face classroom, his grades would occasionally dip because of a lack of oral participation.

[Discover how to ace discussion board assignments in an online class.]

"As long as I met the expectation for posting and I put together a somewhat coherent argument, I always got A's," he says of his online class experience.

Among introverts, Kasevich says, "solitude is a catalyst for innovation." This is another reason why online learning could be an excellent choice: Students can choose to attend class in a quiet location.

Bonk, of Indiana University, says the fact that online classes generally present information in multiple formats makes introverts feel more confident in what they have learned, as they are generally more comfortable absorbing content expressed in various fashions.​

Still, when it comes to online learning, introverts should still be cautious. George Veletsianos, an associate professor at Royal Roads University in Canada ​who researches digital learning environments​​, says students shouldn't assume that just because the class is online, it definitely won't have a live discussion component.

[Explore how to choose between live, self-paced online courses.]

"It's also possible that the course is designed in such a way that it is built as a three-hour, virtual real-time class where one is engaged in discussions throughout that time, which can be draining to people," he says.

Even in an online environment, there are some disadvantages for introverts. Because an introvert is likely depending more on writing than speaking, there's always the chance of being misinterpreted, and in those cases, it may be easier to interact on the phone or in person, says Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of ​"The Genius of Opposites" and other books about introverts.

Match MCAT Prep to Your Learning Style

Match MCAT Prep to Your Learning Style

​With the rise of the Internet, the options for MCAT prep have multiplied. Certain types of prep will suit certain prospective medical school students, but key characteristics like learning style and personality affect who should choose what. Below are three common scenarios by which students begin their prep, with review suggestions tailored to specific learning styles.

• If you are a self-starter: Of the students who take the MCAT, a small percentage are true self-starters, with the necessary motivation to successfully guide their review plans. They will ensure that they study – they simply need a road map and the right tools first. 

Like all MCAT test-takers, self-starters will require comprehensive review resources, includingnumerous practice questions. Linguistic learners can benefit from guidebooks, but for students who prefer to listen to an illustrated lecture – like auditory and visual learners – video tutorials are key. Again, access to MCAT questions, such as the question packs from Association of American Medical Colleges, the organization behind the exam, is an absolute must for all students.

[Get ready for the MCAT's new natural sciences questions.]

• If you do best with structure: Students who crave structure may be highly accomplished in college, but when faced with MCAT prep, they are uncertain about what to study and where to begin. They may also recognize that without an external guide, they will not complete their review. 

For these students, a prep course, either in person or online, or a tutor – also in person or online – is a great idea. Prep courses can be expensive, but they are also highly flexible. 

For kinesthetic learners in particular, a chapter in a guidebook or an individual lecture may prove ineffective, but diagramming biochemical principles with a tutor may quickly clarify difficult content. Remember, too, that online options offer ease of access, but the downside is the lack of a personal connection that helps some students remain motivated.

[Practice these three strategies when studying for new MCAT.]

• If you have content deficits: Not all students will sail through their MCAT prep. Some individuals may find that their undergraduate coursework was insufficient, or that they have difficulty integrating MCAT concepts for a number of reasons – one being a disconnect between their learning style and their current prep materials. 

With the proliferation of video-conferencing software and on-demand lectures, these students may find an online prep course useful, but if they are social learners, the online environment may not be sufficient. They may not be able to ask questions in real time, or to work in groups. In-person tutors can alleviate this problem, so long as students realize that not every tutor can handle every subject area on the MCAT. 

[Check out free online tools and apps to support MCAT prep.]

Students should also be realistic about the time and cost that tutoring entails. Twenty hours of one-on-one tutoring will not replace a four-year curriculum, but this tutoring can help students develop a comprehensive prep plan that suits their unique needs and it can efficiently address their greatest weaknesses.

Just as there are many students who will take the MCAT, there are many different learning styles and personalities that can affect prep. However, with a strong prep program that addresses their knowledge and study habits, students can utilize traditional or more modern methods of review to do their very best on the MCAT.

5 Reasons to Consider College Savings as a Gift

5 Reasons to Consider College Savings as a Gift

The day after Christmas in 2013, Brad Myers hauled away two loads of wrapping paper, boxes and leftover toy packaging in his pickup truck. His twin boys weren't even a year old yet.

"That next day, I just decided, I've got to figure out something better," he says.

The Virginia dad says he was frustrated with the way toys had taken over his home, adding that his boys would play with some gifts for "10 minutes, then chuck them aside, never to be touched again." For future birthdays and holidays, he and his wife decided to encourage friends and family to donate to their sons' college savings accounts with Virginia529, rather than give toys.

"Our intent was to decrease the clutter and give people in our immediate family a pathway to give gifts that are more productive than the typical thing you see," he says.

According to a study by Fidelity Investments, parents, friends and family will spend an average of $691 per child on gifts during the holidays; 87 percent of parents said they would welcome contributions to their child's college savings account instead of traditional gifts.

The idea that college savings is a lasting and valuable gift is just one reason to consider it as a holiday gift this year. Here are ​some others.

1. Your gift will grow in value. "Even small gifts can make a big difference," says Gretchen Cliburn, director at Springfield, Missouri-based BKD Wealth Advisors.

She uses the example of giving a gift of $1,000 today. If it grows at 6 percent for 18 years in a 529 account, a tax-advantaged college savings plan, it will be worth almost $3,000 when the child goes to college.

"Instead of buying them something that could get lost, broken or they'll outgrow, give them the gift of education," she says.

[Learn four steps to take before opening a 529 college savings plan.]

2. Parents will appreciate it. For parents planning to foot much of the bill for college, a donation earmarked for college means less that they will have to save on their own, Cliburn says.

The parent of the child "may appreciate this a lot more than a noisy set of drums," she says.

3. It encourages education. Children with a college savings account are almost seven times more likely to go to college than those without, according to a study published by the Center for Social Development at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis.

Even a little bit of financial support helps children get to college and graduate, says Mary Morris, chairwoman of the College Savings Foundation and CEO of Virginia529 ​College Savings Plan.

"We know that helps kids – when they know they have that kind of family support – to be successful in K-12, as well as making it to college and getting through," she says.

4. Children will thank you later. It may not be as exciting as a new video game or a "Frozen" toy castle to a child, but he or she may eventually come to appreciate the gift more later in life. An employee with a four-year degree will earn, on average, almost twice what a high school graduate earns, Cliburn says.

"By making a gift, you will give them significantly higher earning power in the future, and yes, they will thank you for that," she says.

[See how others can contribute to 529 plans.]

5. It's becoming easier. There are a few different ways to give college savings as a gift. If you know your intended recipient has a 529 plan, you may be able to print out and mail in a gift certificate from the plan website with only a small amount of personal information.

Morris says Virginia's gift certificate program only requires that gift-givers know the beneficiary's name and date of birth, not account or Social Security numbers.

4 Ways to Use Social Media as an Online Student

4 Ways to Use Social Media as an Online Student

For online students, social media is an opportunity to personalize and enhance their experience, allowing them to interact with classmates, ask each other questions and collaborate on group assignments, experts say.

"Your learning experiences are no longer limited to the physical borders of a college campus," says Dawn Edmiston, clinical associate professor of marketing at the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary,​ ​who has taught online courses at several different universities. "Literally the world becomes your classroom, and social media is a great channel for exploring that classroom."

"The world is now engaging on social media," says Connie Johnson, provost and chief academic officer at Colorado Technical University, which offers online degrees. "The benefit is that we can reach students through a number of different avenues that they are on anyway."

[Learn about how online instructors incorporate social media into course curricula.]

Experts say social media can also serve as a way for prospective students to gain knowledge of online programs by asking current students and alumni questions and checking out the latest program updates. Then, to get the most out of their online education experience, students can use​ different social media platforms in these ways.

1. Create a virtual classroom environment: In many online programs, students aren't meeting each other in person on a regular basis. Therefore, many of them turn to social media to facilitate interaction, experts say. ​And even if an online instructor doesn't openly encourage social media interaction among ​his or herstudents, online learners can still take the initiative.

Stephen Rapier, an assistant professor of marketing at the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management​ who has taught in the online MBA program,​ says his online students have used private class Facebook groups as a forum for academic as well as ​casual conversations.

"It kind of supplements the potential loss of not being in the classroom, not having that social aspect," Rapier says.

In addition, CTU's online students can follow their program's​ Twitter account for relevant announcements and engage directly with the deans, Johnson says, as well as ​use Facebook to ask questions and share insights.

2. Work with and get to know classmates: Social media can also enable online students to get to know their classmates personally and allow for interaction among smaller groups of learners, such as in a review or study session, experts say.

Katy Ullrich, who recently graduated from the Master of Educational Technology online program offered through Boise State University, says Google Hangouts, which allows users to message and video chat for free, ​provided an avenue of interaction for her and her classmates, including when she was working with other students.

"Everybody could call in at that particular time and just visit and talk about an assignment," she says.

[Discover the do's and don'ts of online group work.]

Jenna Youngs, who completed her online master's degree in communications through Spring Arbor University ​this past May, says she connected with other students located around the world in her online classes through Facebook. After "friending" each other, they felt more comfortable messaging each other privately about assignments and class-related matters, she says.

"I could see them more as a person than just some other interaction I had online," Youngs says. "So I got to see their families, significant moments that had happened to them."

3. Ask experts and online communities questions in real time: Social media can also allow students to interact with experts in their fields to gain insight into their disciplines and ask questions, says Tanya Joosten, director of eLearning research and development at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee.

"Having that accessibility, that access, to experts in your field is just awesome," says Joosten. "So I encourage students to reach out and take advantage of that. Ask them questions. A majority of them are more than willing to participate in a dialogue."

Edmiston, of William and Mary,​ says one of her students once asked a question​ on a social media marketing group on the professional networking site LinkedIn. She received more than 700 responses in just a few weeks.

"Many folks really want to help – to contribute to a student's education," Edmiston says.

4 Tips for Creating a Winter Break ACT, SAT Prep Schedule

4 Tips for Creating a Winter Break ACT, SAT Prep Schedule

​Winter break can seem like an illusion. You might think that the world stops when school does, but every passing day brings your ACT or SAT exam closer.

Instead of panicking and ruining your vacation with worry, set aside an hour to create a plan that will keep your test prep progressing.

• Create a review plan: Begin your vacation prep by realistically assessing how much work you need to do. By this point, you have hopefully completed a practice test or two under simulated exam conditions. If not, take one now, and then finish reading this article—remember that you cannot decide on a plan until you know the true size of the project. 

Also pay attention to the exam version that you will be taking. Studying for the radically redesigned SAT may be enlightening, but it may not be a wise investment of your time if you are sitting for the SAT in January.

[Get five tips for SAT and ACT procrastinators.]

Simply reviewing your score is not sufficient. Look at each subject area and question type to gauge your performance on each section of the test. 

Are you struggling with vocabulary questions? Reading comprehension? Algebra? Missing one or two questions in an entire section, or incorrectly answering only the most difficult questions, may mean that you can focus your attention on other areas.

If your practice score is significantly below your target result (as defined by the admissions standards at your top-choice schools), plan for multiple hours of studying – per day – over winter break. If you treat your vacation as an extension of school, with test prep replacing your normal class and homework schedule, you will be on track. 

A medium-intensity plan may involve three to five practice tests per week, plus several hours a day to focus on target areas. While this may not be an ideal way to spend winter break, keep in mind that this next ACT or SAT exam may be your last chance to strengthen your college applications.

[Check out free apps to help jump-start SAT and ACT studying.]

• Set aside time for homework: As you develop your prep plan, remember to set aside time for any homework that you have been assigned over vacation. Completing your homework in a timely manner is important, as it will help you ensure that your prep schedule suffers minimal interruption. If you procrastinate on class work even as you bear down on test prep, you may find that your last days of winter break are utterly consumed by finishing homework assignments.

Scientific studies, as summarized in this advice column for graduate students in psychology, have shown that regular repetition is much more effective than cramming. Two 10-hour days per week will be much less effective than five days of four-hour study sessions. Remain current on your homework so that you are able to maintain a steady review schedule.

[Here are four ways to set realistic SAT or ACT study goals.]

• Take multiple practice tests: Just like engaging in regular repetition, completing frequent practice exams is one of the best test prep methods. Each practice test should be taken in a single sitting, just like the actual ACT or SAT exam. Work in a quiet place with only those items that you will have during the test (i.e. a calculator, pencil and scratch paper). Adhere to all timing stipulations. Your goal is to become familiar with the "feel" of the exam—when you sit for the actual test, you will, mentally, just be working through yet another repetition.

The regular repetition of practice exams is also useful for building stamina. More than three hours of intense mental effort is challenging to sustain. Just like runners prepare for a marathon, you will want to build your mental stamina before your actual test day.

During the school year, it is easy to fit 30 minutes of vocabulary practice in between classes and band practice. Completing a full practice exam, however, is a task that most people can only tackle on weekends. Thus, over winter break, you can do the daily practice that will truly shape your ACT and SAT skills.

When building your plan, keep in mind that you will likely have competing demands for your time. Work with your parents to clarify when you will be needed at family functions. It is also a great idea to make time for friends or general relaxation. While it is all right to take a day off here or there, try to review for the ACT or SAT on most days. After all, quality prep time is a precious commodity.

3 Student Loan Wishes for 2016

3 Student Loan Wishes for 2016

​Welcome to the last Student Loan Ranger blog post for 2015. This year was a busy and exciting one in the student loan world, especially for consumers. 

Corinthian Colleges, one of the biggest higher education corporations in the U.S., filed for bankruptcyand eventually closed its doors, leading consumer advocacy groups, attorneys general ​and the Department of Education to explore ways to provide relief to affected students. 

The Obama administration issued a Student Aid Bill of Rights, and as a result of other actions, the U.S. Department of Education wrote rules for and released a new income-driven repayment option, called REPAYE.

Despite these and other positive changes, there are still a lot of struggling student loan borrowers out there and we thought we'd dedicate our first blog of the year to our wish list for 2016.

[Understand the many facets of the student loan process.]

1. The implementation of a Federal Student Aid complaint system:​ Having a centralized place for students and borrowers to file complaints was part of the Student Aid Bill of Rights the Obama administration issued last spring. 

There's been some recent progress on this goal with the Department of Education recently sharing some mock-ups of what some of the pages on the system might look like, and with the publication of a Federal Register earlier this month requesting feedback on the proposed system. It appears they plan to have this centralized system up and running by July 1.

While the Student Loan Ranger thinks that a centralized complaint system for consumers is a very good thing, our wish for 2016 is that this system be used to its full potential. 

[Take five steps to file a student loan complaint.]

Ideally the system will eventually provide timely resolutions for students and student loan borrowers and also be used to identify trends that might help streamline or change existing processes, laws and regulations to continue to improve the higher education financing system. We also hope that the system promotes further transparency within the federal student aid programs. 

Finally, as a consumer advocate, we recognize that many federal-aid-related disputes are the result of misunderstandings or miscommunication on what is allowed under federal law and regulations. We'd love to see this complaint system evolve into one that helps consumers self-help and self-educate as they submit their disputes.

2. Expand and promote websites that educate families about college finances:​ Our second wish for 2016 would be the promotion and expansion of Department of Education websites that help families determine which college would be the best social, educational and – arguably most importantly – financial fit. Two examples are the recently implemented College Scorecard and the older but still underused College Navigator tool.  

Understanding the debt levels and potential incomes of a particular school and degree program can save so much financial stress and regret down the line. So can knowing a school's graduation and student loan default rates. ​

In 2016, our wish is that every college freshman knows the average starting salary of his or her field of study, the anticipated total debt their degree will incur and an estimated postgraduation budget.

[Know what should – and shouldn't – affect student loan borrowing.]

3. Help for older borrowers:​ When talking about the student debt problem, the focus is usually on recent college graduates. But​ 35 percent of student loan holders are over the age of 40 and almost 20 percent are were older than 50​.​ These are student loan borrowers that should be aggressively saving for retirement, or who are already retired and on a fixed income. 

If the borrowing is parent loans taken on behalf of their children's college education, the situation could be even more dire as parent PLUS borrowers are not eligible for most of the income driven repayment options available to other federal loan borrowers. If you consider that there's no debt-to-income test for Parent PLUS loans, and no sanctions for schools with high Parent PLUS default rates or low repayment rates, you have a real potential for harm.

So, our third wish is that more options for relief be available to parent borrowers, as well as more thoughtful lending policies that are mindful of these borrowers' future earning potential.

How to Tell if an Online Program Is Accredited

How to Tell if an Online Program Is Accredited

Back when Lauren Marrett wanted to be an art major, she didn't care much about whether her school was accredited or by whom.

It was the quality of her art portfolio that mattered, she thought, not the reputation of her college.

She enrolled in a for-profit online college lacking regional accreditation. But six months into her schooling, she started to get nervous about how employers would view her school.

"I started to think, 'Art is a competitive field and I need a backup plan,'" says the 23-year-old, who eventually transferred to the University of Illinois—Springfield, a college with solid academic credentials. "I wanted to go online and have it be a legitimate school."

[Video: Find out if your online program is legit.]

With a little bit of Google research, Marrett got to the bottom of a problem that plagues many online students: how to determine whether a school has recognized accreditation – verification by an outside, legitimate authority that a college or university provides an education that meets certain standards.

Discovering whether your school has a stamp of approval can be a painstaking process, but it's an important one, experts say. Many colleges and universities won't accept transfer credits from schools without recognized accreditation and employers often won't pay for their employees to attend them.

"When searching for a university that offers online courses, students must inquire about accreditation," says Susan Aldridge, a senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. "Accreditation doesn't guarantee quality, but does provide more assurance that there is oversight regarding the instruction and their authority to issue degrees."

During the typical accreditation process, a nongovernmental body conducts reviews and site visits to assess faculty, student support services, finance and facilities, curricula and other factors. There are so many so-called "accreditation mills" – groups that will accredit schools using minimum standards – out on the Internet that it can be particularly easy for online students to get involved with schools that lack legitimacy, experts say.

"They have very misleading names. They sound like they are these wonderful institutions but they are not," says Judith S. Eaton, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or CHEA. "This is especially a problem for international students. We take our complex higher education system for granted. Someone will see something called 'U.S. University' and assume it's okay, but it's not. It's just a degree."

To see whether an accrediting agency is legitimate, students should check to see if it's recognized either by the council or the U.S. Department of Education.

Both groups investigate accreditors to ensure they are using appropriate standards when they are evaluating schools. But students can only receive federal student aid from schools accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. government.

The council, a private sector group, publishes a list of accrediting organizations recognized by both it and the federal government.

[Learn how to vet a for-profit online program.]

The federal government recognizes seven regional accreditors, which evaluate schools in certain parts of the country, while the council recognizes six.

Both groups also recognize fewer than a dozen national accreditors, such as the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation and the Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission, which evaluate faith-based schools or career-oriented programs. Many religious institutions have regional accreditation as well.

Students who take courses from nationally accredited universities may have difficulty transferring their credits to regionally accredited schools, since most regionally accredited universities do not accept transfer credits from those schools, according to Aldridge.

"State universities and private nonprofit universities are regionally accredited," says Aldridge. "This is the most desirable accreditation because students taking courses at one regionally accredited university will be more likely to transfer their credits to another similar institution."