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Tables of Contents for Get Your It Degree and Get Ahead
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Acknowledgments
x
Introduction
xi
Part I What You Need to Know About Your IT Education
An Introduction to the World of IT
3
8
So What, Exactly, Is IT?
4
3
The Jobs Are Out There!
7
2
If There Are So Many Jobs Out There, Do I Really Need a Degree?
9
1
The Next Step
10
1
Frequently Asked Questions
11
16
Can I really get a great job fresh out of school?
12
1
How much will a degree cost?
12
1
Is funding available?
13
1
Do I really need a degree? Isn't certification enough?
13
1
What are the hottest jobs in IT?
13
1
How much money can I expect to make?
14
1
Which field should I choose?
15
1
Do I have to take entrance exams? How hard are they?
15
1
How important is accreditation? How can I tell if a school is properly accredited?
16
1
I have a full-time job. How can I take time off to earn a degree?
17
1
Am I too old to start on this course of study?
17
1
Is IT a ``boys' club''? How hard is it for a woman to break in? To succeed?
18
1
I'm physically disabled. Will this affect my ability to get a degree?
19
1
My bachelor's degree is in a nontechnical field. Will that affect my ability to get into a master's program in IT?
20
1
I just don't love math. Will this hold me back?
21
1
Will a bachelor's degree be enough, or do I need a master's?
21
1
Is a master's degree enough, or do I need to go on and get a doctorate?
22
1
I don't have an undergraduate degree, but I'd rather enroll in a master's program. Is that possible?
22
1
I'm interested in the business of IT. Would an MBA be better for me than a tech-focused master's degree?
23
1
Can I do my degree online? Will employers accept an online degree?
24
1
Is there any downside to online study?
24
1
Will my skills go out of date? How can I guard against this?
25
2
Researching and Applying to an Undergraduate Program
27
16
Reality Check: Is This the Right Field for You?
28
4
Picking a School
32
1
High School Students: An Action Timeline
33
4
Entrance Exams
37
2
Entrance Essays
39
1
Returning to School As an Adult
40
1
Special Focus: International Students
41
2
Researching and Applying to a Graduate School
43
20
Reality Check: Why Go to Grad School?
44
1
Choosing the Right Graduate Program
45
5
Preadmission Timetable
50
3
Entrance Exams
53
2
The Personal Statement
55
4
Letters of Recommendation
59
1
Returning to School As an Adult
59
1
Special Focus: International Students
60
3
Understanding Degrees and Specializations
63
18
Undergraduate Degrees
64
3
Graduate Degrees
67
4
The Project, the Thesis, and the Comprehensive Examination
71
1
Areas of Study and Specialization
72
8
How to Use This Information
80
1
Financial Aid Demystified
81
28
Will You Definitely Need Financial Aid?
82
1
What Kind of Financial Aid Is Available?
82
1
Financial Aid Timelines
83
4
Is There Financial Aid Available for Older Students?
87
1
A Note on Timing
87
2
What About Scholarship Search Services and Financial Aid Consultants?
89
1
Financial Aid Forms
90
1
Federal Financial Aid Programs
91
3
State Financial Aid
94
7
Getting Money from Private Sources
101
6
Summary: Dos and Don'ts
107
2
Going Back to School As an Adult
109
14
You Are Not Alone
110
1
Advantages of Returning to School As an Adult
111
5
Some Important Questions Adult Students Are Asking
116
7
Using the Internet to Your Advantage
123
12
Using the Internet for Research
124
5
Applying to Schools on the Internet
129
1
Studying Online
130
5
The Importance of Accreditation
135
14
Why Are Fake Schools Allowed to Operate?
136
1
What Is Accreditation?
137
1
How Does a School Become Accredited?
138
1
Regional Accreditation
139
2
The Special Case of National Accreditation
141
1
Professional Accreditation
142
4
How to Use This Information in Making Your Decision
146
3
Working with Your Employer
149
8
Getting Time Off to Study
150
1
Will Your Boss Pay for Your Degree?
150
3
Okay, You Have the Degree. Now What?
153
3
Moving On
156
1
Credit for Prior Learning
157
8
Life Experience (Portfolio) Credit
158
1
Credit by Examination
159
2
Other Ways of Earning Credit
161
4
Part II Where to Go for Your IT Degree: The Best Colleges and Universities
The Top 199 IT Schools in the U.S.
165
296
What You See Under the School's Name
166
261
Part III Appendices
Appendix A Geographic Index: Schools by State
427
4
Appendix B Subject Index
431
12
Appendix C Top Picks
443
6
Appendix D Resources
449
12
Glossary
461
6
Index
467