Do Universities Accept Online High School Students?

If you wish to be accepted by a top-notch college, your safest option is to choose an online high school that is regionally accredited. You need to make sure that the school’s accreditor is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Accreditation is of two types: Regional and National. Regional accreditation is the more widely accepted in the U.S.

Value of an online high school diploma

 Most of the genuine online high schools provide college preparatory curriculum for students. So, students must avail of these. They must avoid online high schools that provide students with vocational training courses!Online high schools provide many exclusive and advanced-level online courses. You can opt to take dual-enrollment courses or advanced placement courses as well. Certain online high schools also enable students to graduate early. Students who are motivated enough can apply for these specially accelerated graduation courses. Such online degrees on the resume certainly increase its weight!

Look into the Grades, Recommendations, and Activities

Most of the colleges and universities ask students to turn in transcripts, recommendation letters, essays, and extracurricular activity lists as well. You are pretty much expected to stay on top of these requirements. Try to maintain contacts with your teachers and mentors.This will make it easier for you to ask for a recommendation when the time comes. In case your online high school does not offer extracurricular opportunities, you can try to get involved with community volunteerism, clubs, and other such activities, on your own.

Focus on the Standardized Test Scores 

Most of the universities require acceptable scores from the SAT or ACT exam. In case your online high school does not offer guidance in this particular area, you must prepare yourself. You can check out a preparation guide from your local library. You can even go ahead and hire a tutor. The SAT or ACT needs to be taken in your junior year.

Look into the reputation of the Online High School 

In the world of competition, you will be required to make your resume truly stand out! For this, you need an extra boost! For the same, you can opt for an advanced online high school. Try to increase your extracurricular activities. You must find effective ways to demonstrate your leadership ability. Try to build up a unique talent. In order to gain a deeper insight into it, you can discuss the same with a college guidance counselor and your online teachers as well as peers. Come up with a smart plan that will help you increase your credibility.

How does accreditation matter?

Keep in mind that most colleges and universities accept a regionally accredited diploma. The accreditation of an online high school is a sure indicator of the school’s legitimacy. In general, regionally or fully accredited online high schools are more widely accepted by as compared to nationally accredited schools. So, you need to go only for a virtual school that is regionally or fully accredited.

Most of the colleges and universities reject unaccredited online high school diploma. They are not convinced whether such diplomas are legitimate, no matter how hard you worked in your respective course! Some schools or universities even require you to take additional courses in such cases. They need proof of your credibility through a standardized test. So, it is better not to go for an unaccredited online high school, in the first place.

What Is A Diploma Mill?

A diploma mill or a degree mill is an institute that gives away fake diplomas or academic degrees in return for a good sum of money. Thus, they trick you in the worst possible manner! All they want is to make a profit for themselves. Most of these courses can be easily completed. So, be wary of such institutes.

Diploma mills only hand you with meritless diplomas. They pretty much reduce the effectiveness of real degrees. Thus, such fake degrees waste your time and energy, apart from wasting your money!

How to identify a diploma mill?

For any diploma mill, the address is a post office box, a suite number or a mail drop, as usual. You might find a sample copy of the degree on the website. The education offered by these mills is mainly based on life experience. Such programs are mainly offered through distance learning. It is often stated in the website that the institute is accredited. All accrediting agencies usually belong to an individual state in the US. Wyoming and Montana are the most common states, in this context.

A common online high school myth

Most of the parents worry that the online high school diploma received might not be accepted by the colleges or employers. This is the biggest worry of all times, for the parents!This is the reason why some of them do not let their children pursue online learning, in spite of knowing its benefits.

At the time of reviewing applications, colleges usually do not distinguish between the diplomas received from online high schools and traditional high schools. For them, both the diplomas are almost equivalent. They are concerned more about the student’s credibility and caliber. They expect the student to hold a high school diploma from a genuine regionally accredited high school. Usually, they verify the criteria for admission set by the specific school such as the number of credit hours completed in math, science, languages, and electives. They seek a rigorous curriculum that has truly challenged the student.

In an online high school that is accredited, students have the option to take electives that might not be offered in traditional high schools. Such exclusive degrees strengthen their resume! Most of the accredited online high schools offer plenty of exclusive courses such as foreign languages or arts or challenging life science courses.

Thus, colleges and employers mostly care about consistent good grades. They just look for solid evidence that the student is a determined learner and achiever. They are highly impressed by students who improve their grades every semester. They also look at what the students do outside of school.

How to be Successful Attending Online High School?

Many students are shifting from a traditional school to an online high school. They ought to know a good deal about the online learning environment before taking a plunge into it! Usually, the flexible and convenient nature of online learning gives students plenty of benefits. However, online students need to treat their online courses seriously, else they might land up in major trouble! After all, with flexibility comes responsibilities!

Identify your Learning Style and pattern
Customized education is the need of the hour. However, before getting your education personalized, you need to know what your learning style is. Try to gain insight and strategize the most effective way to learn better. Keep in mind that tailoring online learning means fitting your needs and not anyone else’s! You need to know about your personal interests and learning style. This step is critical. One good news is that online high schools usually provide multiple options to set students up for success. After all, the curriculum is always success and result-driven.

Take part and take the initiative
You need to dictate your virtual learning experience. This way you will be able to use all the resources that are available. This is inclusive of active participation in online discussions and forums. Interacting with instructors is important as well and get ready to take the initiative. You might need to maximize your online education. You need to reach out to peers and engage with the faculty. Putting your ideas forward helps you to socialize in a meaningful manner. Also, it makes you feel as if you are an important part of the virtual learning community.

Pen down your goals
You must always find ways to challenge yourself. This is a great way to stay motivated throughout your course and beyond! Online students are most able to learn at their own pace. They can advance more quickly in subjects that genuinely catch their attention and interest. Thus, establishing goals and objectives can help you succeed easily. You can avail many opportunities that are provided by online high schools to gain the necessary skills to succeed in college later on. You can very well envision your goals once you get your short-term as well as long-term goals noted down.

Maintain organization
The organization is vital when it comes to online course success. It starts with organizing your workspace, your time and also your assignments.It eventually helps you achieve academic success. Take the time to prepare, organize in a way the works for you the best possible way. You must have everything you need to set yourself up for success. You must have the necessary tools and supplies to aid you. This also keeps you on track. It helps to increase overall productivity as well.

Call for support when needed
Virtual students must utilize their resources to guarantee that they are getting the right amount of support needed in order to succeed. An online high school provides you with an extensive set of smart virtual tools as well as resources to facilitate you in every possible way. You need to learn the utility of these tools and resources in order to avail these. In case you face an issue, you can contact your school’s IT support team or the Academic Counselor to clear your doubts.

You can get help from your online peer support groups, from instructors and online tutors. Usually, online high school can provide learning materials on subjects in case a student needs additional information on a subject. One of the best features of online schools is that they provide you with multiple forms of educational material to help to accommodate different types of learning styles.

Build a smart routine
It is pretty evident that online learning environment provides you the flexibility that you need. Find a program that works with your schedule. You have the freedom to decide when to study and where. Your starting point should be to create a personalized learning schedule. It should be smart and feasible. It should be productive for you. It should help you to develop healthy learning habits and time management skills as well. Design your schedule in such a manner that it brings the best student and person out of you!

Fix a study space and organize it well
You must get some peace and quiet while working on your daily course. Go for s specific place where you can work without distractions from things such as family arguments, television etc.

You must adjust the height of your chair, keyboard, and screen so that you can be completely comfortable. Your forearms and thighs should be level and parallel to the floor. Keep in mind that your wrists should not be bent while typing. Try to set up good lighting and comfortable seating. Remember that lighting in the room should be at least as bright as the computer screen. This will keep away from eye strain.

Avoid digital distractions
Many overlook this point. But, it is highly likely for students, especially in their teens to get lured in by all the entertainment sites. Self-control comes into play here. Try to uninstall any computer games. This will help you avoid temptation. You can think of keeping the games on a different computer in the house.

Stay away from a cell phone if possible, at the time of studying. Do not bother much if friends are trying to contact you for some weekend party! In other words, prioritize. Keep in mind that you can easily lose track of the time as you wander from site to site, or chat to chat on phone.


Know the technicalities
As an online learner, you must know the basic technical skills. This includes the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software.

In case you do not know the basic computer skills, you can consider finding an online tutorial to get to know those. It is not rocket science, after all! Also, you must check the online school's main website for their hardware and software requirements. Your computer should have those requirements.

How do Online High School Classes Work?

Most of the online programs offer the same types of classes as their traditional counterparts. The online high school diploma programs need to be state-approved. Also, you must only go for an accredited online high school. From a generic perspective, coursework and testing for online programs are the same as those of brick and mortar high schools.

The functioning of Online High School Programs

 The online high school diploma programs are taught by certified teachers. These are usually offered through accredited institutions. The top feature of these virtual courses is that these are self-paced. Also, there are no location constraints here. A student living in a desolate area can apply for these courses.

What to know about online coursework?

Usually, the online classes are almost equivalent to those offered in traditional high schools. These classes usually include English, social studies, science, mathematics, visual arts, physical education, foreign languages, and career education courses.

Online students actually have many options to choose from. They might go for the general education curriculum. However, if they want something extra, they can apply for a college-prep diploma or any other advanced online course such as an advanced placement course. Online students are also free to apply for dual enrollment classes. In a dual enrollment class, students can earn credits toward both a high school diploma and a college degree. Usually, these advanced courses are pretty challenging. So, students should take these courses only if they have enough room in their daily schedule to prepare for these courses.

Online schools also enable students to graduate early. Certain specialized courses are provided to motivated students who wish to graduate early, maybe within 3 years. Normally, it takes 4 years to complete an online high school course. Graduating early saves a good deal of time and energy for many kids.

What to know about the course instruction?

When it comes to an online high school program, students receive online as well as offline assignments. Thus, they are not required to be in front of the screen all the time! Online schools provide many feasible ways for students to effectively interact with teachers. This type of communication is pretty different from that of a brick-and-mortar classroom setting. Usually, students receive course materials in various ways. These include video lessons, downloadable lecture notes, and slideshows. In order to interact with and ask questions of course instructors, most of the classroom platforms use many contact options like email, phone, text, and even chat.

What are the Technology Requirements and Other Components?

Most of the students access their work via an online content management system (CMS). The good thing is that all the resources and tools are available all the time. This is because all of those are online! Online schools provide students with assignments via physical media, like books or DVDs. Usually, students require computers with operating systems that can manage online access and CMS applications. There are some software programs that may also be required. This highly depends on the online program. So, you must investigate well before starting your online course. You must have all the requirements ready at hand. After all, you would want your online course to be seamless. Being an online learner, you can communicate with teachers through the CMS or email. However, in some cases, you might be able to communicate through physical mail. It is up to you!

What to know about testing and graduation?

In an online school, students receive transcripts upon graduation. Some of them also receive a certificate of completion. Usually, the online school transcripts verify that a student has taken specific courses and earned particular grades in each of those courses. A vast majority of the post-secondary institutions ask for transcripts to be submitted. This is required to verify an individual's academic prowess and overall credibility. These transcripts prove that you are a potential candidate who is determined and strong-willed when it comes to your career.

How to register for online classes that will count on their transcript?

Almost all of the accredited online schools offer online high school courses that align with state and federal standards. This clearly indicates that the credits will transfer to any high school transcript. Thus, these form major graduation requirements. So, you must make sure that you choose a school that aligns with those standards. This is a vital step. When you zero in on an online school, registration is going to be easier than you think! You will be required to provide certain basic information. You might be required to provide a current transcript. Once registration is complete, you will have to create an account. Then, you will be required to select the courses you are interested in taking. It is then that you will have to talk to an advisor. You will have to attend an orientation before getting started with your course.

How are the online tests conducted?

Effective ways are used to conduct online tests. Usually, tests online are done at the convenience of the student. Students can take these tests when they feel they are prepared. They are not proctored. However, instructors can lockdown screens if they chose to! Online schools usually employ artificial intelligence tools to act as a next-generation test proctoring solution. These read student facial expressions and verify student with facial recognition. Today, most of the online schools allow students to take tests online anytime. Usually, the questions are pretty challenging. In order to score well, online students need to put their best foot forward!

How do online group projects function?

Most of the online schools come up with such collaborative projects to promote socialization as well as team spirit. These are important attributes of an ideal employee in the work field. Usually, students are first connected via teachers in live lessons or in discussion forums. Then, students form groups for future projects.

How does grading take place?

Grading happens on the basis of the child’s performance, just like in any traditional school. The child is usually assessed from an overall perspective. Thus, this grading system is genuine and fair.

How Online Learning Can Help Us Improve Our Education System

The high dropout rates of schools across the United States have been playing on the minds of educators and parents for quite some time now. However, conventional schooling systems have had limited success in tackling this rising problem. Globalization has virtually revolutionized everything around us and as the world comes closer together, competition for jobs and work has increased dramatically. A high school diploma is no longer sufficient to help our children secure a steady job and the sooner our children realize that, the better off they will be. Online home schools across our country seem to have taken the bull by the horns when it comes to helping our nation improve its student graduation rate. With the job market demanding more employable skills, students everywhere are now seeking more efficient alternatives that will help them succeed in a more globalized world. If statistics are to be believed, alternatives such as online learning programs seem to be doing a really good job at it too.

If you are looking for an opportunity to secure a quality education, The Ogburn Online School has a few words of encouragement for you. Not only is it the right place for you to begin your journey but they also have all the necessary credentials that make them the ideal choice for you. They are a regionally accredited school by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and a nationally accredited member of The National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). Additionally, The Ogburn Online School offers you a holistic environment for your education. Joining an online homeschool with all the necessary accreditation is absolutely essential to your long-term progress, which is why they provide you with a course curriculum that has been aligned and articulated to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

To know more about the programs they offer, log on to www.ogburnonlineschool.com. There’s plenty of information for you to browse through that will help you better understand how technology can help you secure a better education. For those of you seeking a second chance, you need to understand that a high school diploma is just a starting point. There is so much more that lies ahead of you. Virtual learning has the potential to open up opportunities you’ve probably never even thought possible. Of course, harnessing those opportunities will require you to put in a lot of hard work. If you are willing to put in the effort then The Ogburn Online School is there to support you every step of the way. Online learning programs aren’t just about earning diplomas and degrees; they are about opening up new avenues and helping people access opportunities once considered out of reach.

Technology has made things so much easier for us. The question is – Are we able to leverage that in our favor to deliver a better future for our children?

Preparing for Your Online High School Courses

The fact is that online high school programs provide students with a good deal of flexibility. The student needs to be organized and good at time management.

Here are some common ways to prepare for your online high school courses:

Take your online high school course seriously
This is truly vital. And, this is the least you can do! Make sure to take your online school course seriously. As far as online classes are concerned, you need to be self-disciplined. You need to be a diligent learner and be devoted to your online learning course. Prepare a proper learning schedule and stick to it. Since online school classes are highly flexible, you might tend to get too comfortable. But, this is not a good sign, especially if you want to succeed in your online high school course. Challenge yourself whenever possible. Take part in all the activities that are brought forward by your online high school.

Make sure to follow through. Treat your online high school course as seriously as you would treat your traditional high school course. Log in regularly. Even if you end up missing a particular class, make sure to resume back as soon as possible. Take ownership of your education and reach your true potential!

Cut down distractions
This is equally important! Many of you might feel that there are zero distractions in an online learning environment. While the number of distractions is less, you would still have to fight some specific distractions. Digital distractions are pretty common here. And these distractions can derail your studies. You would have to come up with wise strategies to reduce these distractions. Make sure to set aside time to focus on your learning. You would have to show a good deal of determination and will power if you truly want to succeed. You can increase your concentration level by listening to a playlist of motivational music. You might want to switch up your learning spaces sometimes. You might go to the nearby coffee shop and work on your assignment. It might cut down boredom if any. Thus, you would have to be honest with yourself and find out ways that work for you.

Keep your study time fixed on a daily basis. During this study time, make sure to turn your cell phone off. This would help you avoid minimizing focus every time a notification pops up on your cell phone! You can even go further and get a website blocker downloaded. You can use several applications such as Cold Turkey and Freedom to help cut down distractions by blocking some apps or websites. Spend less time on social networking sites. In other words, keep a track of time. Do not waste your free time. Take short breaks only.

Identify your learning patterns
This is an important one as well. Before you choose any online high school program, you would have to identify your own learning patterns and objectives. When you have established where you would learn, think about ways to accomplish your work. You can simply put on a soothing playlist and work on your online high school course. Study diligently!

You might have some great study habits and might have some bad ones as well. Identify as to which ones are the bad ones. Procrastination can be a really bad one in this context! Make sure to work on your bad habits. Adopt healthy lifestyle habits as well as study habits. Learn as to what type of learner you are! You might be a visual learner, a kinesthetic one or an auditory one. You might even be a mixture of all! If you are a visual learner, you can print out transcripts of the video lectures for reviewing purposes. If you are a kinesthetic learner, you can listen to your online lectures while jogging or doing some exercise! Most of the online high schools make sure to provide you with the facility to learn in multiple learning formats. Thus, all you need to do is to choose the right learning format and going forward with it.

Manage time smartly
When you are an online high school student, you would have to learn wisely. For this, you would have to make good use of time. You must avail of the flexibility to create your own learning schedule. Without a proper learning schedule, you can never do your online classes properly. For this, you would need to have various time management skills. Do not procrastinate if you truly wish to succeed in an online high school course.

In order to manage your time wisely, you would have to schedule your time wisely. Make sure to be familiar with your learning style as well as personality. In order to enhance your time management skills, you would have to take a few steps.

First of all, go through the syllabus. Do this right at the start of the semester. Make sure to make note of prominent assignments. You can then mark them on a study calendar. And, you must check this calendar daily. Thus, you would be well-aware as to what type of workload is coming in the upcoming weeks. Keep your prior commitments in mind. After all, these might interfere with your daily study schedule. In such cases, make sure to give yourself additional time to finish off assignments. Make sure to create a weekly schedule and follow it. Make sure to read more, watch lectures, finish off assignments, taking part in forums and studying, etc. You can set reminders for yourself to finish off these tasks. While working on your assignments, go for time-blocking. Here, you would have to set yourself a particular amount of time for every task.

Keep a check on how you are spending your time. You must dedicate a good deal of time to course reading plus assignments. Reflect upon yourself, identify your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

Be accountable
Write down about your goals, short-term as well as long-term. Do set goals right at the beginning of the semester. You would have to set personal deadlines to stick to those. 

Online Learning Is Misunderstood. Here's How

Here are the top myths related to online learning:

Online classes are not that effective
Many believe that online classes are not as effective as conventional school classes. This belief is so strong since there are no ‘live’ teachers and peers in an online environment. Also, there is no rigid schedule. Textbooks are usually not required. However, it is nothing but a big myth.

Though some of the online courses might be ineffective, not all are the same. If you take online school classes from an accredited online school, you are bound to experience a wholesome learning journey. This is because you are allowed to prepare your personalized learning schedule and follow it. You are also allowed to follow your own learning pace. Thus, online learning caters to your academic needs and objectives. You can slow down when you come across a difficult topic and take time to explore more on the topic. Also, you get to interact easily with your online teachers whenever you have doubts.

You have to be technologically brilliant to take an online course
Many believe that one needs to be an expert at technology in order to succeed in an online learning course. This is untrue. Yes, you do need to know the basics. But, so does any traditional school student!

You do have to know how to do basic interactions on a computer. And, many present-day students know that! There are many online educators who truly work hard to create accessible online courses. Most of these courses are student-friendly and success-driven. All the online student needs are just some basic computer skills that one needs in their daily lives.

Online classes are too easy
Some students and parents believe that online schooling is just too easy. In fact, some do enroll in an online school because of this same reason. However, they tend to suffer later! An online course is simply as challenging as any traditional school course. The syllabus is almost the same. The only difference is that an online school embraces various learning formats to keep the student engaged and stimulated. Also, since in an online learning environment, there are fewer distractions, students are able to finish off their daily online course work faster. The workload is almost the same as that of any traditional school course. However, online learning is easy since it is fun!

There is no interaction with teachers or peers
Many believe that online students are not able to talk to their teachers when they have doubts. After all, there is no direct interaction in this learning environment. However, direct interaction does not prove to be beneficial for the student all the time, does it?

An online school enables its students to interact smoothly and effectively with the online instructors as well as peers. Usually, online classes provide the opportunity for instructors to join in on certain discussion room chats. They also tend to offer webinars or conduct effective video chats with students. This benefits students who need personalized attention and guidance. One-on-one interaction is conducive to a student’s success in any learning system. Teachers provide students with genuine instant feedback after monitoring their performance in some classroom activities. Most of the feedback is provided from positive space to help the students grow personally as well as academically.

Many online schools provide students with discussion forums, group webinars, and virtual collaborative projects to facilitate online students. During an online course, students get to interact with each other easily. In fact, introverted students find it easier to open up through online platforms since they do not fear being judged.

Online school diplomas are not accepted by employers or institutions
This is one of the most common myths surrounding online schools. Many believe that diplomas from online schools are not acknowledged by universities, colleges, and employers. But, this is not true.

If you take classes from a regionally accredited online school, your diploma is bound to be accepted by colleges, universities and employers alike. Keep in mind that all online courses are not the same. So, aspiring online students ought to be cautious while choosing an online school. They should do a good deal of research and background check to determine the accreditation status and credibility of the online school course.

Online classes are not credible
It is certain that all online classes are not alike. Also, not all are credible. An online school is certainly credible if it is regionally accredited. So, aspiring online students need to make their choice wisely. They need to check the accreditation status of the online school before choosing it. One can visit the school’s credible website to check the level of accreditation. When students get enrolled in a regionally accredited online school, students and parents can rest assured that they are getting quality education as per the Standards of the state.

You can easily cheat in an online course
With the evolution of technology, the chances of cheating are reduced in the online learning environment. There are various browser blocking functions that are implemented at the time of test sessions. These are used for tracking purposes. In fact, today, most of the online school courses have great cheat-proof functions.

Also, in an online schooling environment, students are evaluated very differently from that of a traditional school. Since online school courses need interaction in classroom discussions, video presentations, and various micro-quizzes, it is not that easy to search for ways to cheat! It can be said that in an online school environment, there is less room for cheating.

Online credits are not transferrable
Some online school credits do not transfer to another school. There are some online school students who face problems while transferring credits. However, this has nothing to do with the online learning mode. The student might have been subjected to the same issues if he/she had studied in a traditional school. It can be said that credits from online school programs are as easy to transfer as conventional school credits.

The Ogburn Online School- Providing you with more than just a second chance!

Over the years, the United States has witnessed a high rate of dropouts from school, which has been a cause for alarm in every sphere. Academicians and parents everywhere are concerned about the future of the younger generations given the rapid pace of increasing globalization. Will our future generations have jobs to look forward to? Will they be able to sustain themselves? These are valid questions very relevant to the present-day situation. A high school diploma was once considered sufficient in the United States to secure a good, well-paying job, which could sustain a family. But that no longer holds true. With more and more work being outsourced, students these days need to be prepared for a diverse range of scenarios ranging from sudden layoffs to becoming redundant in a company’s overall functional design. The Ogburn online School is an accredited online homeschool in the United States that helps students equip themselves with the skill sets they need to survive in a globalized world.

For those seeking a second shot at getting a good education, The Ogburn Online School is the perfect place to begin. They are a regionally accredited school by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and also nationally accredited by Accreditation International (Ai). Making sure the online school you enroll with has all the necessary accreditation is important to your long-term progress. Higher education and employment opportunities are certainly affected by the presence of qualified credentials or the lack thereof. Students and parents who have overlooked this fact have often ended up with diplomas and degrees that have rendered them very little use, and starting from scratch in the right manner is not always feasible. In being fully accredited, The Ogburn Online School has set itself apart from the run-of-the-mill institutes in the country.

In addition to having all the right accreditation, they also provide you with a full curriculum that has been aligned and articulated to the Common Core State Standards. It is never too late to begin afresh and if a second chance is what you’re looking for then they’re that chance for you. A online high school degree is just a starting point. There’s so much more that you can do with your life if only you wish to. However, getting anywhere in the current world requires certain qualifications, and we’re ready to help you with that. Online homeschooling can offer you so many opportunities you never knew you could have. All it takes is an open mind and the willingness to learn.Traditional schools are slowly becoming a thing of the past and if we are to truly succeed in the Information Age, online learning systems are certainly the way forward. So head to day to http://www.ognburnonlineschool.com and enroll yourself. The professional counselors are available to guide you thru the process.