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Free Online Courses
Let's face it, nothing is free. When we hear the word "free," most of us automatically think, "What is the catch?" In these tough economic times, many of us don't have the money to enroll in school, and we start daydreaming about how great it would be to have access to free college courses. But, what school is going to allow you to just walk on in and take classes without paying tuition? The answer to this question is actually relatively easy: You don't go to the school. You go to its website instead. Many schools offer free online courses, which can assist you in your educational goals, without depleting your wallet in the process!
So, what IS the catch? Are these online schools fly by night places, simply door fronts that will no longer be there in the morning? Do they offer free online courses that don't actually provide you with proper information? Do they ask for credit card information, claiming that they will never use it, in the hopes of swindling you out of your hard earned money? You may be surprised at the answer! Many accredited universities offer free courses. Just by visiting their websites, you can view online seminars from schools like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Yale, Carnegie Melon University, Stanford University, Tufts University, Utah State University and the University of California at both Berkeley and Irvine. Many of these schools offer course assignments and lecture notes, as well as supplementary materials that you can print out at home. Stanford University even offers online course materials that can be downloaded to iTunes! Between these schools alone, thousands of courses and tutorials in a wide range of subject matters are offered, and these are open to anyone with computer access.
The downside to free online courses is that you are never technically considered a student at the school. When you complete a the course, you do not earn a degree, and even though you may have completed coursework, you are not considered a graduate of the university. Even if this is the case though, you will have gained a great deal of knowledge that can benefit you in your personal and professional life.



