Guide to Taking your Fall 2020 College Semester Online

As COVID-19 swept across the world this spring, daily life changed in hundreds of ways, large and small. In particular, life on college campuses has been drastically altered for the foreseeable future. Now, hundreds of institutions will only be offering online classes this fall but will still be charging full tuition. Students at universities offering face-to-face classes will find themselves getting acclimated to a new learning environment in which they’re distanced from both their instructors and peers.

If you’ve thought about taking your fall semester courses online for health or financial reasons, consider taking your courses with StraighterLine. We can help you find the courses you want to take, learn how to transition into online learning, and assist you in transferring your credits to your chosen college.

Find Courses You’d Like to Take

StraighterLine offers over 60 low-cost, self-paced general education online courses that earn college credits at hundreds of institutions across the country. Our courses represent a wide range of college majors, including Business, English, Math, and Science. If you need help deciding which courses to take, please call us at (877) 787-8375. One of our Enrollment Counselors will work with you to help you set up a degree plan that works perfectly for you and will transfer seamlessly to your target school.

Transition Into Online Classes

Transitioning from a face-to-face classroom format to an online class can seem difficult at first, but StraighterLine makes it easy. StraighterLine doesn’t require a lengthy application process--you can begin your courses the same day you register as a student. Signing up for classes is easy and affordable: classes start at just $79 with a $99 monthly membership fee.

Once you’ve purchased your course, you’ll find the same top-quality content used in accredited institutions across the country. While most StraighterLine courses are self-guided, you may also be able to choose to take a professor-led course if you’d like additional support and explanation from an expert instructor who can offer you additional videos, office hours, and exam study guides. Both options are self-paced, which allows you to control both the duration and overall cost of your course.

Regardless of which option you choose, StraighterLine offers all the support you’ll need to be successful. Etextbooks are included with all course purchases, so you’ll never have to pay an additional textbook fee. All students can opt-in to personalized, one-on-one tutoring in all subjects, both on a drop-in and scheduled basis. Have a question not related to course course content? StraighterLine’s committed student advisors are available Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:30am-5pm EST via phone and chat to help you with tech issues, billing concerns, questions about your degree plan, or credit transfers.

Transfer College Credits to a Partner College

Fortunately, credit transfer is seamless and guaranteed--using StraighterLine’s course equivalency guide will help you know exactly which courses transfer as credit into one of our nearly 150 partner colleges and universities.

Transfer College Credits to Another College

If you don’t see your target school listed on our course equivalency guide, don’t worry--you may still be able to transfer your course. All StraighterLine courses have been evaluated and recommended for ACE CREDIT, which is accepted at accredited colleges and universities across the country. To date, over 2000 colleges have accepted StraighterLine’s courses for credit. We can help you find out if your school will accept it, too!

Working With Your School Transfer Office

If you’ve decided to contact your school about transferring ACE CREDIT, be sure to check out StraighterLine’s easy-to-use ACE CREDIT Transfer Checklist to help you start the conversation with your school’s Registrar. First, you’ll want to check to see if your school is part of the ACE CREDIT College and University Network. (Don’t worry if you don’t see your school there--they may still accept ACE CREDIT recommended college courses.)

Next, contact your target school’s Registrar or advisor to let them know you’re planning to take a StraighterLine course and would like to transfer your courses for credits.

Be sure to get verification from your school about whether the course will transfer. You may be asked to supply a course description and syllabus for your desired course, both of which are readily available online.

Also, be sure to check out this useful webinar we recorded about transferring your online courses to your school if you’d like to get more information.

You Can be Successful Taking Your Fall Classes Online

While transitioning online fall college semester may seem difficult, StraighterLine offers the resources and guidance you need to be successful every step of the way. Lots of things are uncertain right now, but one thing is for sure: StraighterLine makes it easy to find and take the courses you need online so that you can transfer your credits and stay on track to complete your degree.

Anissa Sorokin, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of English and Writing Program Administrator at Stevenson University near Baltimore, Maryland. Anissa’s interdisciplinary background and extensive experience teaching research, writing, and study skills help her demystify college expectations for students online and in her classroom.

Looking for more study tips while taking classes online? Check out this great article: Tips for Effective Online Learning

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