Many people associate online school with adults who use web-based institutions to earn degrees in a convenient and cost effective way. However, high school students – both those getting their education in traditional and nontraditional settings — can also reap the benefits of online learning. Distance learning is always a great option to provide more educational opportunities for those living in isolated rural communities, or those whose education options are limited for other reasons. But even students enrolled in traditional institutions can also use Internet classes to earn college credit and save money. Many Ivy League and top-tier universities offer web-based programs for students to earn their diplomas, to get a head start on their college workloads, or to broaden their horizons with subject matter they would not otherwise encounter. Here are three universities offering online school. Harvard University The creme de la creme of higher education makes learning accessible with online school. Through its Extension School, Harvard offers several options for individuals looking to push themselves with college courses. This program offers more than 200 distance learning courses. Students have the option of courses consisting of video recordings of lectures, live web-conference classes in a “virtual classroom,” and others that are a hybrid of pre-recorded video and live web conferences. Cornell University The Ivy League institution Cornell also offers classes in a number of topics. The Summer 2014 course catalogue includes anthropology, Asian studies, philosophy, and many other topics. There’s even one called “Dinosaurs.” The classes consist of pre-recorded lectures, but students may have to arrange specific times to meet with professors virtually. Stanford University The venerable California institution takes online learning to a whole new level with its Online High School (OHS), which offers a curriculum for students in grades 7-12. The OHS provides many amenities of a traditional education — including one-on-one time with instructors and extra curricular activities — but in a virtual environment accessible to people from all over the world. Students can get the best of both worlds with the real-life components of the OHS, which include regional meet-ups and a Graduation Weekend for enrollees. They can enroll on a part-time or full-time basis, or they can just take a course or two. Things to Know About Applying for Online School: -Consult available counselors about how these courses can supplement your existing course load. -Home schooled individuals should research applicable laws and requirements. -Taking online classes at a specific university does not guarantee admission. -Applicants will still need to meet the academic requirements to gain admission into top universities. However, taking college level courses in high school can provide a competitive advantage in the college application process. And, because these courses will get the student used to college-style learning, they may feel comfortable more quickly at a traditional university. Conversely, poor performance in universities’ online programs can negatively affect transcripts. -Most of these classes charge tuition, but students can save money in the long-run if they are able to earn college credit. Students looking for a Michigan online school can visit My Virtual Academy. Learn more about this topic at http://www.myvirtualacademy.com.
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