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

Why not Egypt?

[dshaw858]

I think if she wants to get admitted into a US university, her best bet would probably be to finish high school in Egypt (or get a GED from the US), and apply to a US college as a foreigner. Colleges like diversity and foreigners.

- dshaw

Re:Why not Egypt?

[Anonymous Coward]

They also like to charge foreigners buttloads of money..

Re:Community college system

[psykocrime]

There is also the community college system. By attending a two year community college, which is open to anyone who is willing to pay the small admission price, a student who attains decent grades can transfer to most state schools.

Very good point. I don't know how it is in all states, but by way of example... In North Carolina, the Community Colleges generally have an "open door" admissions policy... if you apply, you're in, period.

The only trick is, you usually have to take a "placement test" that determines what classes you get to start with. Ie, score really low and you have to take "remedial" (non credit) classes before you get to take the "real" classes.

And once you get a few credits - if not a degree - from a community college, you'll be considered a college transfer student when applying to a university, which will typically make H.S. pretty much irrelevant. Granted, this might not work for getting into Harvard or Princeton, but if you're creative, you should be able to "boostrap" your way up. Go to a community college, do well, transfer to a slightly more impressive school (maybe a well known state university) and then transfer again to your school of choice.