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Straits Times journalist from Singapore, Lim Yee Hung reported in a newspaper article that he received two university degrees last week. One is an associate degree in Criminal Justice and the other is a bachelor's degree in Journalism. It took him just one week to get both degrees. If university degrees are that easy to get, they are probably fake degrees.
He went on to say in the report that he got the associate criminal justice degree from Belford University and the journalism degree from True Diplomas paying a total of US$349 for the degrees excluding freight charges without any studying on his part or examinations to take.
He called Belford University's hotline before buying the degrees and was assured that Belford University degrees are perfectly legal, properly accredited and accepted all over the world. In order for an applicant to qualify for a Belford online degree, the candidate must have sufficient 'life experience' or an 'online equivalency test' which can be done under one hour.
True Diploma have no degrees of their own to offer for they sell replica and imitation degrees from about 115 genuine universities including Ivy League universities such as Brown University and Cornell University. The degrees offered by True Diploma are certainly fakes and they tell you upfront about it.
When Lim received The Belford University degree, he found that it was very impressive. Along with the degree package were also educational transcripts with grades for each module. The university seal is embossed on the degree and looks authentic. How could there be grades and transcripts if tests and examinations are not taken?
The journalism degree though can be easily spotted as a fake. There are glaring misspelling and grammatical errors. For example, in his degree, December was spelt as Decemberf.
He reported that in the United States, fake degree scams are so rampant that the problem is seen as a national security threat. An audit in May 2004 showed that a total of 463 employees in the federal government had fake academic degrees. Some were even high ranking officials in sensitive positions with top level security clearance to boot.
According to fake degree mill expert John Bear, co-author of Degree Mills, fake degree mills are a billion dollar industry having sold thousands of fake online degrees and diplomas every week internationally.
Although some employers may check the qualifications of a prospective employees directly by calling up the university which awarded the degrees, this screening may not be effective against some degree mills as some of these degree mills provide verification services. Employers who called are told that the job applicant is indeed a graduate from that particular university.
However, not all college and university online degree programs are frauds. There are some great universities such as Harvard University offer online degrees.
So if you want to get an online degree, then it is prudent for you to do a thorough due diligence and check with your local educational authorities for the online university's authenticity so that you will not end up with a fake degree by a costly mistake.
Earning a University degree online can be an experience that is every bit as enriching, interpersonal, and dynamic as attending college the traditional face-to-face way. A big misconception is that online learning is impersonal. This isn't the case at all. Programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communication as do traditional methods of learning. In fact, attending college online helps to facilitate the independent learning process, as well as developing time management skills. Attending college online takes just as much commitment as the old-fashioned way of going to school, and the potential career and personal benefits are just as great, if not greater.
There are many advantages for a student seeking a University degree to choose an online institution. A student does not need to live locally to attend the school of choice. Attending all classes and submitting coursework online eliminates the need for commuting or relocating. Earning an online University degree is a convenient way to advance your education and training. A school may offer more sections of popular courses, as well as night and weekend courses, which allows a student more flexibility. This is an ideal situation for those who work full time and/or care for a family. Additionally, if you are a student who is considering returning to school after several years, going to school online is a perfect way to ease into the routine of class work and projects again, and can lessen the stress of feeling the need to fit in with younger students. Besides, who wouldn't find it appealing to attend college from the comforts of home?
It is possible to earn and online University degree in a fraction of the time that it would take to attend a traditional college or University. Many online programs offer accelerated degree programs. This is ideal if you are looking to advance your career, and are in a hurry to do so. Many online programs also offer students the option of attending part time. These are often fully accredited programs, which is a benefit for you in having your degree recognized by potential employers and various professional organizations. Attending a fully accredited online University is also critical if you have credits from previous college courses that you wish to transfer, or if you decide to transfer to another University later on. It is important to check the credentials of the online institution to be sure of its accreditation.
If you are worried that you might not be able to afford an online University, there are options. Some employers might offer to pay a portion or even all tuition and fees toward an employee receiving a degree. Also, financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and even scholarships might be available to you. Check with the particular online program of interest to see what financial options are available.
The type of degree earned at an online University is practically limitless. Aside from earning Associate's, Bachelor's, and PhD degrees, professionals can continue their educations and stay up to the minute in their fields. Online learning is no longer just for web designers and computer programmers. You may study Business, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Humanities, Mathematics, Human Resources, Fine Arts, and various Healthcare programs. Depending on the type of degree you are seeking (graduate, for example), there may be certain academic requirements that you have to fulfill to be able to attend. Make sure you do your research when trying to decide on an online University.
With the prevalence of the Internet and technologies such as teleconferencing available today, it is possible to come away from the experience of attending and online University not only with a degree, but also being more in tune with technology, which has the potential to broaden your career opportunities even more. Attending an online university is a legitimate, convenient, and flexible way for you to advance you education, as well as your career and personal potential.