2 Ways to get College Education Without Going to College

Do you want to know how to get college education without going to college?

As the years have progressed, the internet has more and more become part of our daily lives. Now we can check our mail, read the news, see what our friends are up to, and who won last night’s ball game all before we even get out of bed. But, you can now even get an education, all without setting foot outside of your house.

As technology has progressed, many colleges have begun to put entire courses online where people can watch them and learn. The great part about it though? They’re all free. So let’s look at a couple of options to get college education without going to a college.

 edX

Started in 2012, edX was started as a collaboration between Harvard University and MIT as a way to spread online education to the world. It has now spread to other schools and is gaining more ground in the university world. All you have to do is sign up and you can take courses from world-renowned schools.

They do have midterms and finals, but at the end, you get a certificate of mastery with that school’s name on it, which could be a big deal to employers.

I personally haven’t used this resource yet because I just found out about it (and it’s fairly brand new) and I’m busy enough dealing with real college, but I really want to check it out and I am sure to use it in the future.

iTunes U

Started in 2007 by Apple, iTunes U allows iTunes users to download free course videos, lab demonstrations, or language lessons.

 

While mainly used to manage multimedia content within colleges (you have to be a member of that college to be able to access that information), there are also many open courses that anyone can watch/listen to.

 

Last summer, I listened to an entire course on game theory from Yale and learned a lot that then helped me in my game theory class last semester.

While not as comprehensive as edX, iTunes U has what seems like a wider variety of courses and lecturers, ranging anywhere from talks on religion to a course on entrepreneurship through venture capital(this ones on the front page right now).

 

I highly endorse these kinds of programs because sometimes you don’t have the time or money to take a college course on your interests, but now the possibilities are endless!

 

It will also give you an edge up once you are in college/ are in college because it gives you a feel for how college courses are taught in America.