How to Choose a US-based Online Degree?

Catalin Braescu asks: "I have an Egyptian friend which wants to finish highschool in US, using an online degree institution. Her American BF advises her to go for Keystone, but I really don't think she can later on be admitted to any college with that kind of diploma. So I am asking Slashdot if there are any good resources online (or at least some easy-to-understand checking points) to verify whether any online diploma is good for going to college or is just some worthless paper. Being from Europe, I can hardly know such details myself - and the same issue can be applied to online college degrees, too. HELP!"

Comments

Talk to a college admissions advisor

[astrashe]

I'd try to email the admissions offices of a few universities, and ask them. They'd know.

People who drop out of school here in the states can get something called a GED, which is a "high school equivilancy" certification. I know that people with GEDs can go to university here, although they usually woulnd't be able to get into top tier schools. But many public state universities will take them.

So I think that it might be possible to make something work -- the standards here are different from those in Europe, and are (unfortunately) lower. But it will help your friend.

The main thing, though, is to talk to people at admissions departments, because they know who they'll take and who they won't.

I'd try state schools.

Re:Talk to a college admissions advisor

[hammeredpeon]

If you get a GED, just do well on your SAT or ACT. I got into school that way.

RE: Homeschooling

[Woofles]

Many college's find programs like Keystone quite respectable (in America), and from personal experience I know it is a good program (although expensive). If your friend does not wish to attend an American Public School then Keystone is defiantly a good alternative. Like a few other posters have pointed out; you can always go for a GED, which is generally as good as any high school diploma. Also as they have said make sure and speak with a college adviser. For more information on these topics I suggest you look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GED (GED) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschool (Home Schooling) Good luck!

Depends upon your career path

[tyates]

You have to match the credential with the career path you want to take. What kind of university do you want to go to afterwards? American Community College? In that case, a GED would be fine. UK/European/Australian University? Go get your A levels. For US some private schools, you may not even need a high school diploma if you have strong SAT scores. Your best bet is to contact the admissions office of the next university you want to go to and see what their requirements are.

Go straight to college, but...

[aquarian]

So the GED has been mentioned. However, many American colleges and universities don't actually require high school graduation or a GED, if the student is otherwise qualified. This can be determined through testing. Most people don't realize this, but in fact it's true. OTOH, a GED should be a breeze for anyone who's truly college material.

I suggest your friend try to go straight to college. Contact admissions departments to see what the requirements actually are, and the best way to get from "here to there." One caveat though -- is your friend really ready for college, emotionally, and maturity wise? Think about this carefully -- even if intellectually ready, most students under 18, and especially under 16, are simply not ready for college level responsibilities. Then there's the language/cultural issue -- is this student fluent enough in English, and comfortable enough with American culture, to handle college studies?

I went to high school in a foreign country. I returned to the US for my senior year. In retrospect I should have gone straight to college, rather than waste that one year in American high school. (It really was a waste, but that's another story.) I was ready, both intellectually and emotionally. But the idea never occurred to me, my parents, or any of the counsellors I talked to. So I say to anyone in the same situation, if you think you're ready, just go for it. A good community college or state school is no more or less demanding than a rigorous high school program, but it puts you much further ahead in life. Coming from elsewhere, the rest of the American "high school experience" is meaningless anyway. Might as well adjust to college instead.

International Baccalaureat

[anticypher]

I know a bunch of American families attached to NATO here in Europe who send their kids through a program called the International Baccalaureat. It allows the kids to either apply to a European university or an American one, with the equivalence of a HS diploma.

From what I've heard, there are qualified schools just about anywhere there is a large ex-pat community. Egypt probably has them, but only in the areas where the petroleum companies have their compounds.

Supposedly the program is advanced enough to convince the French and the Brits it is the equivalent of a Bac or an A-levels, and leaves the kids at about the level of American University juniors. It requires the kids to be fluently tri-lingual, english, french, and one other. Typically the kids enter the program no later than about 12 years old, unless they are already bi-lingual.

Google turns up some info, about half a million links. Continue from there.

the AC