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| Avoid Online Tricks | It is better for a student to shop around and see why the "big" online schools near him or her do not propose the same program, or call them and ask why. Frequently a look at the fine print will tell about foreign or offshore company names, paragraph after paragraph of disclaimers, unlisted faculty, or minute clauses that state that the work being paid for is only coaching or instruction toward the goal of a degree. In order to prove a student passed a course with a suspect, or possibly fraudulent, online company, could he or she produce screenshots of every question he or she answered correctly? Could he or she prove that these programs came from the company listed on his or her credit card? If students do not receive a quality teaching experience, have they really reached anything more than just a piece of paper?
If a student feels there is an online service he or she wants to check, he or she should research the school or find discussion boards that tell about other student’s experiences. He or she should not trust testimonials from that site. It is useful to contact his or her state board of education or the county education offices where that school claims to be located. A student may ask the personnel there if they know of the school or have processed any inquiries or complaints. A student also should keep in mind the fact that a high school diploma obtained in another state may be legal there, but not where he or she lives or works.
The worst thing about education tricks is that they injure the very people who are most deserving of help, those who are trying to better themselves and do what is needed to get ahead. It is recommended that students act in their own defense first and contact local public school counseling offices or boards of education for advice first.
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