Convinced that taking a year off before college will make you look like a slacker and decrease your chances of getting into college?

Turns out you’re wrong! In fact, Ivy League schools do see the benefits of a “Gap Year”: taking time off (usually a year, but not always) before college.

But don’t start dreaming of a year-long Spring Break getaway just yet… the gap year is not  your free ticket to a year of partying or lounging on an exotic beach. Colleges believe that taking a year off can give you life experience, make you more worldly and mature, and therefore help you when it’s time to devote yourself to your college education.
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Getting Connected? Closing in on Distance Learning and Online College Degrees

Do you spend more time browsing and chatting online than you do attending classes? Heck, do you even surf the net while you’re in class?

Then you may consider teaming up these two activities in a more productive way.

Many schools now offer online college degrees —which means the time spent on your computer can actually benefit your education!

Unsure if you want to plug in?

You don’t need to make a full commitment right away. You can get connected slowly. For instance, let’s say that you have to return home from college during the summer months to visit your family; you can stay ahead of your class by taking online summer courses. So, you don’t have to go the distance with your distance learning. You can blend online learning with traditional courses as well, and take the time to see if it is right for you!

If you are thinking about digitizing your education, here’s CampusCompare’s guide to online bachelor’s degrees. (more…)