CORRESPONDENCE COURSES OR DISTANCE LEARNING CAN BE GREAT. IT’S ALL A MATTER OF WHAT YOUR COURSE OF STUDY IS. (credited or non-credited can make a difference) First of all, let me say that I am all for education. Doesn’t matter what kind or how you get it, you’re never too old or too young to learn anything. At least that’s what I thought.
Here’s my learning experience: I can’t say that my education was a total waste, but what I learned is only a small part of what I wanted to learn. I have been writing for many years and have had a number of items published. However, I wanted to do more. I wanted to join the ranks of those writers who have no problems getting their feet inside those large iron doors of the publishing world. In short, I wanted to be able to make a bit more with my writing than I do now. Figuring that a lack of ’’creative writing education’’ was what was holding me back, I decided to take a course. Going to school for an accredited degree was not what I wanted. Going to school was something I knew time would not allow. I was working full time and writing at night (at home).
My next option was a correspondence school. Checking the ads in many magazines I chose one which offered a ’’Freelance Writer’’ course. I enrolled. My expectance was high. In addition to learning the legal ropes of such a venture, I thought I’d be learning something about writing that I didn’t know - something that would improve my style and therefore impress agents and publishers. What I actually learned was a far cry short of what I wanted. Yes, I did learn something important that every beginning freelance writer should know. I learned about the legal aspect of freelance writing; I learned the ’’publishers language’’ (the words and meanings of the phrases they use daily) and I learned that I spent a whopping $689.00 for almost nothing. Part of their advertising for this course states: ’’The material presented in this course will serve as a good foundation for building and developing your talents.’’
Maybe this course was designed for someone who has never written anything or someone who has no idea how or what to write. It certainly isn’t for those looking to improve their skills. (It touched briefly on punctuation, sentence structure and grammar - something I already knew - I majored in English and my mom is an English teacher) (There was NO lesson on spelling / there is a list of the 100 most misspelled words) (There was NO lesson on creativity - or how to enhance and flair-up your project) (There was NO lesson on the proper use of adjectives) They do give you a book (that is not used in your testing) that deals with Parts of Speech. However, there is a bright, big red sticker on the cover that says: FOR REFERENCE ONLY . . . DO NOT SUBMIT EXAM) Clearly, then, this book would be overlooked by many who might be trying to complete this course within the allowed time. Allowed time? yes, that’s right.
There is a time frame for all courses. You know that saying: snooze, you loose? If you do not complete your course of study within the set time allowance, you are notified by the school that unless you submit the tests for and up to that time frame, you fail. (and you thought home study was at YOUR convenience?) There were MANY lessons on terms such as: sidebars, bylines, arrangements of headlines etc. I can never and will never say that I learned nothing with this course. What I do say is that what I wanted to learn is not what I did learn. My writing style is still the same but my persistance has changed. I no longer work outside the home, I work at my computer daily knocking out what I hope to be something someone wants to publish. So far, my persistance has been paying off - but that’s not what I learned with this correspondence course. Would I recommend distance learning? Yes. There are some major schools (including the one where I took my course) that offer college-credit courses for those interested. Yes, I would recommend them for anyone wanted to ’’officially extend’’ his (or her) education. ( A friend of mine did this and earned his Masters Degree in Criminal Law) What I would also recommend before signing up for any non-credit course is to check out exactly what the course entails. Don’t let the ’’lessons’’ description in the ads fool you. Call and ask questions. I wish I had! If I had called, this is a course I would never have taken. Instead, I would have used the money spent for something more useful. I’m writing this review hoping it will not be taken in the negative. My purpose for this is to ’’educate’’ those interested in long-distance learning. Would I do it again? Perhaps. But this time, I would be more careful. I would have a pen and paper handy and call the school with many questions. I would know, before enrolling, exactly what the course entails so there would be no surprises.
Am I angry that I spent so much for so little? Not exactly. I did learn something. Let’s say I’m just more disappointed. Let’s also say that my experience might help others in their search for easier education. Be sure of what you intend to learn. Read the fine print. Call and ask questions. (remember the adage: the only stupid question is the one never asked) Be 100% positive of the details of the lessons before you sign on that dotted line. and once again, after you read the fine print and ask the questions and check out all the details, be sure this is what you really want. One final note: I hesitate mentioning the name of this school because I didn’t want to influence any reader, however since I’ve been asked, I’ll tell. ICS (International Correspondence Schools)