GUEST POST #1

HOW TO GET ADMISSION IN A GOOD UNIVERSITY FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION?

So, you have decided to join a distance education course, and you are now confused about how to go about enrolling in one. Fret not, and read on to understand what a good distance university is, how to find one and learn how their admission process works.

What makes a good distance university?

Check rankings (E.g. Google top MBA colleges in India for MBA courses), check when the university was established, check its credibility (brand, history and awards), certifications (e.g. ISO 9001:2008), attend educational seminars and look up educational newspapers such as the Education Plus (The Hindu) or Education Times for information about the university.

How to find one - Search online, word-of-mouth and comparing the syllabus of different universities.

What is the eligibility criteria? There maybe certain minimum requirements to join universities for distance education. These may include, but not be limited to, 10+2 original report cards, original graduation certificates and meeting the minimum cut-off percentages in entrance exams (depending on the university).

So, how does the enrolment process go?

·       Make an application form online

Make sure to complete the online application form with all accurate and relevant details.

Tip: The prospectus can be downloaded from the official website for a fee, or could be requested from the college by sending a DD. When the forms are filled and submitted, the college will then re-check and notify the students.

·       Upload required documents

All important documents such as all marks cards and degree certifications need to be uploaded along with the application form.

Tip: Keep all the scanned copies ready so you can upload them without any delay. Watch out - the requirement may be for attested copies.

·       Attend an online interview (if requested) / or a phone call

Once this is done, the university management team may cross-verify all the details of students and may schedule either an online interview or telephonic interview.

Tip: It’s best to test your phone and internet connectivity consistency before the call to be sure that you have an unhindered interview process. Wait for a decision.

·       Begin admission process

The process may involve an online test followed by counselling leading to admission. The fees structure is based on each semester and may vary as per revisions done by the university’s management.

Tip: Check the mode and the frequency of payment which may offer options such as cheque payment, DD, online payment (NEFT) or others, at quarterly, half-yearly or yearly intervals.

Keep in mind many other aspects that go into making a distance education program enrolment a success. For example, an MBA admission has an intake of two times per year, or one can even choose various courses and specializations that the university offers. The candidate needs to evaluate all the course details to choose the option that is best suited for his/her needs.

The ever evolving 21^st century technology has marked apath of tremendous growth and this has led to a change in the way education is offered. So, why not adapt to the changing times and move away from a typical classroom teaching to an online experience with all the tools at your disposal to succeed?