New Year’s resolutions are a cliche for a good reason - when you start to plan in January to go back to college in September, you have enough time to apply and enroll for the next school year. Here is a list of easy steps to take to decide which college to attend, apply, and enroll in time to start your program:

- Evaluate your current educational credentials. While in the past credits that were more than a decade old and not included in a degree often were considered expired by educational institutions, today many colleges are willing to accept them as transfer credits, which can drastically reduce the number of classes you have to take to achieve your degree. If you no longer have your old transcript, request one to ensure that your grades will not pull down your new GPA before you even enroll.

- Consider why you want to return to college: Is it to grow in your current career, or attempt a new one - or is it to satisfy a desire to learn more about a topic? Speak with admissions counselors at your area community and four year colleges to determine what degree you need to achieve your professional aspirations.

- Create your own checklist of application materials, since you will have to submit paperwork ranging from high school transcripts to an essay, and even letters of recommendation - and missing even one of the required items will delay your application and possible cost you your admission.

- While most colleges make admissions interviews optional, an interview can be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection letter. Dress to impress, and be ready to talk about yourself!

- Once you have been accepted to college, and have decided which school to attend, take advantage of your new college adviser to map out a plan to take all required courses in a time frame that you are comfortable with.

Online degrees represent a terrific opportunity to return to college for a master’s degree, or obtain your first bachelor’s degree, without sacrificing your career by leaving work early to attend class. Online education also offers you greater variety in degree programs than being limited to your local college. Of course, signing on to an online degree program also puts you at risk for being taken advantage of. Here are some steps that you should take to avoid falling for a scam:

- Pick an established college. Many brick-and-mortar colleges have begun establishing online degree programs that leverage their existing curricula and professors’ knowledge, as well as offering you their reputation. An online degree from a well established college will garner you as much professional respect as one earned from that college in person.

- Check for an accreditation: Flip past the flashy endorsements from supposed world leaders and CEO’s and see if the online university is accredited by an organization like the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six such regional accreditation associations in the United States. Not sure if the accreditation listed on the website is real? Check the website of the accreditation association yourself.

- Can you apply for financial aid? Find out if you can apply for federal student financial aid, such as loans, for use in paying for the online degree. If their degree programs are ineligible for federal assistance, then think twice about whether you want to pursue your degree through them.

- Have you heard of it before? One of the reasons that an Ivy League education is so prized, is that its value is known internationally. Different career paths have their own “Ivy League” educational institutions, which are recognized as producing the best in their field. If you don’t already know which schools are the best for your chosen career path, find out, and then determine which offer an online degree, since that is the school that is most likely to move your career forward the furthest.

With nearly every job field now requiring a degree for the best jobs in it, now is the best time to start seeking a degree. Online education has taken the lead over campus-based schools in cost, efficiency and practicality. For this reason, most students in 2011, regardless of age, will be seeking online education. When searching for schools, here are some helpful hints about what to look for:

1. Accreditation - this is the most important aspect of any online school. Accreditation can be verified by using the Department of Education’s online database. Avoid schools that are not accredited, as their curriculum is less than satisfactory of state and national standards.

2. Tuition prices - some online schools offer a special rate to students who are in-state residents. Universities that offer online classes tend to be expensive for out-of-state students. For-profit schools also offer lower rates, but these are offered to students regardless of whether they are in-state or out-of-state.

3. Financial aid - not every online school offers financial aid. Fill out a FAFSA application immediately and if eligibility is determined, seek schools that offer federal financial aid. This will result in the opportunity to receive free grants and low-interest loans.

4. Program degree variety - choose a program that offers the opportunity to advance if desired. Many students who start with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program will later decide they want a higher degree. Consider what further options the school has beyond the degree sought. Not every online school takes transfer credits from another, so students who choose one program and want to advance in a different school may face taking the same classes again.

5. Job placement assistance - most online schools, especially for-profit schools, offer a job placement assistance program. Job counseling from guidance counselors, resume assistance and services for finding open positions are some services that are usually included in job placement assistance.

Everyone has a New Year’s resolution; 2011 is the best year to make that resolution earning a degree. Make the future brighter with an education and remember what to look for.

Distance education has come a long way from correspondence courses consisting of books and papers sent by mail. Today’s distance education comes via the internet, and is nearly instantaneous in delivery. There are several factors to consider though, before signing up and logging on for a distance education instead of attending classes in person.

- How much time do you have to devote to class? Distance education brings the classroom to your living room - or your office, or anywhere else you have a computer and an internet connection. This eliminates the commute that often prevents adult students from returning to college. Depending on the program, distance education may allow you to log onto your college’s website at the time that is most convenient for you to watch a pre-recorded lecture, instead of rushing to get to class on time.

- How do you learn best? If you learn best by discussing different ideas with others, then distance education, with its online message boards and chat rooms may prove challenging. If you prefer to study as an individual and then display your mastery of knowledge with a well written paper, then distance education will allow you that experience.

- Are you disciplined? Distance learning requires a great deal of initiative on the part of the student, which can be a great opportunity for growth, since this initiative translates outside of the classroom, and into your professional career. If you are easily distracted though, remember that there is no professor standing in front of you, to keep your eyes from wandering, or tell you not to have the television on while the lecture is playing.

- Is it really distance education? Distance education comes in a lot of flavors. Some colleges and universities offer true distance education programs, which can be completed by anyone, anywhere. There are others, however, that while they offer an online component, such as requiring students to post weekly responses to readings on a message board, still require your physical presence once a semester - which is problematic if you are cross country!

Choosing to go back to college is an important decision. It is a great investment in your future and your career, but it’s also important to take care of your family while you are attending college. This is important for them as well as helping you to succeed in going back to college. Here are some ways you can prepare your family for when you go back to college.

1. Discuss your plans for going back to school with your family. Let your spouse and/or children know about your plans to go back to school. Allow them the opportunity to voice how they may feel this will affect them. Acknowledge that their feelings are real and if they have fears over this; discuss options for working them out. It is important to let them know why you want to go back to school and the benefits this well be for the family unit as a whole.

2. Have a clear understanding for yourself on what your goals are and what you want to achieve by going back to school. Having a clear understanding of the degree you want to complete and reasons for achieving that degree will make it easier for you to stay on track when it comes to the difficult times that lay ahead. When you have a family and are attending school, it is common knowledge that most people will choose their families above all else.

3. Set up a support system to help in times when you may feel discouraged. Inquire the help of people who will help give you the strength and encouragement when things may seem impossible. Select people outside of your household or immediate family since this is one of the major areas that can cause the conflicts in the first place. Select close friends or even siblings who understand what goals you are setting for yourself.

4. Figure out what type of schooling system and degree program will work the best for your needs. There are multiple types of schools and training programs that are available. Once you have established a career field and degree level that you want to achieve, you can narrow down your options. If selecting to complete your degree through an online degree program, you will need to make sure that you can separate yourself from your family’s needs for the time you will need to dedicate to your studies. If you are planning on attending a traditional university or college, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the campus.

5. Set up a back up plan. If you have small children and are going to depend on a child caregiver or daycare center, you will want to have a back-up plan in the event that your child is ill or the caregiver cannot make it. Missing courses in college can cause you to miss a great deal of teachings. The ultimate result is your feeling of frustration and being lost where your studies are concerned.

6. Start designating household responsibilities. By designating other members of the household to help out with meal preparation, dishwashing, laundry and cleaning up you will help to free up some of the time you will need for your studies. You will also be allowing other family members to feel as though they are involved and invested in your educational process.

7. Set up a study area within the home where you can isolate yourself. Having a secluded area that you can set up as a study area or office type setting will help to give you the space and quiet you will need for completing your training courses and lesson plans. It is important that your family respect the fact that when you are in this area you are not to be disturbed unless it is an emergency.

Online courses often seem intimidating during the first semester or two. Don’t worry, though, this is normal and there are several ways to overcome that feeling. One of the most common issues that online students find difficult is asking questions - both to instructors and fellow classmates in discussions. This article will offer some helpful tips on this subject.

1. Think about it first - consider what kind of answer is needed and whether or not it is a question that requires detail. If not, it is a simple “yes” or “no” question. This will help in deciding how to word the question.

2. Plan it out - construct the question itself, being sure that it is not too lengthy, but does include every bit of information needed. Be concise and use adjectives and short sentences to be sure the question is easy to understand. Some instructors read through their emails quickly, so it is difficult for them to follow a long paragraph surrounding the question’s details. Word the question so that the instructor will provide the information desired. For example, if a math problem arises, simply ask the instructor “will you please explain the process for finding this equation?”

3. Be sure it is understandable - read the question over a couple times and think from the perspective of the instructor or fellow student. In addition to understandable grammar, it is vital that the concept of the question be understood.

4. Flesh it out - when sending a question to an instructor or fellow student, do not simply ask a question and send it in the body of a message. Remember the “netiquette” rules - most instructors include these guidelines in the syllabus or course links. Start the message with a greeting and address instructors as “Professor” to be respectful, unless they specify otherwise. Begin the message with a one-sentence introduction to the question, then follow it with the question itself. After this, add a phrase such as “Any answers you may have will be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance for your time,” then sign off respectfully.