| You have just made an important decision - to | | | | Will the school assign a personal academic advisor |
| earn your accounting degree at an online | | | | to you? One who will take care of the managerial |
| university. | | | | details of your enrollment, guide you in the |
| Your next task is to find out which online | | | | selection of your subjects, and help you plan your |
| accounting school is the right one for you. This is | | | | career choices? If these services are available find |
| a crucial step in starting your online accounting | | | | out how you can take full advantage of them. |
| school education. | | | | Qualified Online Faculty |
| Refer to this checklist as a guide in making the | | | | Select an online university whose faculty |
| right decision. | | | | members have been trained and are experienced |
| Appropriately Accredited Accounting Program | | | | in the use of these technologies. |
| Many schools claim to be accredited. But are their | | | | Flexible Schedule |
| accreditations specific to your educational needs? | | | | Look for an online school, which allows you to set |
| Select an online institution that follows the | | | | your learning pace, or one that offers an |
| standards set by The American Institute of | | | | accelerated format. |
| Certified Public Accountants and/or Fundamentals | | | | Limited Number of Students |
| of Bookkeeping program. | | | | Consider enrolling in an online university where |
| Transfer of Credits | | | | there are few students per class. The ideal ratio is |
| If you have previously taken some accounting | | | | 8-13 students to a teacher. In terms of learning |
| subjects in another school, look for an online | | | | you will get a bigger slice of your professor's |
| school that will credit these units. It would be a | | | | guidance. |
| waste to retake subjects you have previously | | | | Ask the prospective school about their accounting |
| studied in another school. | | | | graduates. How many have graduated? Is there a |
| Appropriate Technologies | | | | testimonial section where you can read these |
| The use of technologies is a critical component in | | | | satisfied graduates comments? |
| online learning. Most virtual schools use a | | | | Financing Options |
| combination of these technologies.o Audio - | | | | Does the school have low interest financing plans |
| examples of these include audio-conferencing, | | | | or scholarships? What lending processes do they |
| tapes, and CD ROMs.o Video tools such as slides, | | | | participate in? Find out and ease your tuition fee |
| video tapes, and video-conferencing.o Computer | | | | load. Remember an education is a major financial |
| aided applications such as e-mail, discussion boards, | | | | investment. |
| instant messaging programs, and websites. | | | | It is imperative that you select the online |
| Select the school which uses a combination of | | | | accounting school that is right for you. This |
| proven technologies. Many innovative software | | | | decision will have a direct impact on the quality of |
| programs still have glitches that schools need to | | | | education you will receive, your career, and future |
| sort out, so be wary of schools using older | | | | financial prospects. |
| technology. | | | | Good luck! |
| Personal Academic Advisor | | | | |