A recent survey shows persons inquiring about an online education usually call over a lunch break or when arriving home from work.
[USPRwire, Wed Jul 11 2007] The administration of Virginia College Online recently completed an unusual survey that reveals the applications and information seeking patterns of potential online college students. The survey, done in an effort to better serve potential students who contact the college, revealed some distinctive contact patterns.
Virginia College Online Director of Admissions Darrel Hanbury explains, “Although the college receives inquiries twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, we wanted to know what the crucial times were for the majority of individuals looking for more information about our online degree programs. The results of the survey weren't surprising. Many people seeking an online education have busy lives and most of them have jobs. Requests for information were highest during the lunch hours and “after hours,” that is, in the evenings after businesses were closed.”
The results indicate that many people are looking for educational opportunities during lunch breaks at work where they have easy Internet access, and after work, when they are most inclined to consider a career change or are working toward a promotion.
“Many people decide to research online schools after a particularly grueling day at work because they understand that a degree can help them move up the ladder,” notes Hanbury. “In fact, many companies now encourage employees to apply to online schools and, in some cases, will even allow some of their employees to use the company's Internet connection to attend classes during breaks.”
“Our survey made it clear that Virginia College Online fits the busy lifestyles of interested students; they can attend classes during those same hours that they use to find out about us. We never break for lunch, and evening classes are no problem when you attend an online school like ours. Students can attend classes anywhere at anytime as long as they have an Internet connection.”
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