24 Apr
How to Avoid Online College Education Diploma Mills
A real concern these days in the world of the Internet is the existence of degree mills and other online college education scams. There are many of them out there. They can sound real good to some people, but knowing what to look for will usually tip you off and enable you to avoid them.
Obtaining a university degree is not something that normally can be done in a short period of time. Students may want to finish quickly and get on with life, but it does not shorten the process. When you see an ad for an online college advertise that you can get a college degree in less time than other colleges, take heed and investigate it further. Most likely it is a scam.
Another indication that you are probably dealing with a college degree scam is that they promise life experience credits, or life experience degrees. Real colleges do not give credit for life experiences (except Physical Education credits for those who have been in the military).
One more way to check is to find out whether or not the college is accredited. More is needed, however, because some scam colleges have actually created their own accreditation agency to make them appear more authentic. If in doubt, go to the Department of Education Website, where they list all official accreditation agencies in the United States. Some states have Websites where they list known degree mills that should be avoided, such as this one from Oregon. Not all colleges are accredited, however, even many good ones, such as Ivy League schools and also certain Christian universities.
Finally, check out where the instructors received their college degrees. If they received them from the same university, then it is a bad sign. Generally, colleges prefer to hire from a mix of other universities, which gives them greater credibility and acceptance.
Remember that a degree mill cannot give you a real degree or help you in the real world. There could even be legal problems if you used that degree to get into certain career positions. If you are taking courses in one now, get out and stop wasting your money.
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