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How Does It Work? |
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Enrolling in a Course - Most independent study courses are open to everyone. Applications are usually accepted without entrance examinations. Enrolling in a correspondence course usually involves simply filling out the registration form and paying tuition/material fees. High school students are sometimes asked to present their current transcript and occasionally a letter of recommendation. Time Requirements - Most independent study courses do not run on the traditional semester schedule. Often, you can enroll at any time during the year and your enrollment is valid for a certain length of time (usually 12 months). You have until your enrollment period runs out to complete all of the required course work. Each school has their own specific policies and time limitations so check the institution's policy before you enroll. Transferring Credit - If you want to apply independent study credits towards your college degree or high school diploma, you need to be aware that some institutions have certain requirements that must be fulfilled before they will accept correspondence study credit. We suggest that if you wish to earn credit for an independent study course, talk to the institution you want to apply the credit towards and make sure that it meets their requirements. Many institutions also limit the amount of credits you can transfer into their program Course Materials - Course materials always include a study guide in the packet, this is usually provided as part of the initial program cost. Packets may also include books, videos, manuals, lab kits, audio tapes, slides, photographs, or other materials. The cost of textbooks is usually not included in the course fee. Some courses do require the purchase of the required textbooks but others allow you to rent them from the institution. Students in Foreign Countries - If you plan to take independent learning programs while overseas or are a foreign student seeking to enroll in a distance program here in the U.S. there are special considerations you need to make. U.S. students enrolling for a course they will be taking while out of country would be wise to enroll before you leave the U.S. This will save you exorbitant shipping fees and tariff expenses. Foreign students can usually enroll electronically on an institutions web site but need to read their specific policies regarding foreign admissions. Financial Aid - Financial aid is not often available to independent learning students. Students can sometimes get aid from employers, unions, and federal aid but institutional aid is usually reserved for "traditional" students. | |
