Following are some general guidelines to help apply to you online learning program of choice . . . be sure to contact the school(s) directly to find out about specific admissions requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.  

When applying to a program, you can generally expect to submit an application and processing fee, a personal essay (or "statement of purpose") about your educational/professional goals, official transcripts for any previous coursework, letters of recommendation, and whichever test scores (SAT, GRE, and so-on) are required by the school.  You may also have the option of submitting your application online, eliminate waiting in lines, mailing costs, and the possibility of missed deadlines!  But while this option may be less tedious and more convenient, be sure your application receives the same amount of thought and effort a traditional, hard-copy application does.  Attention to detail still counts; don't hurry and always be on the lookout for errors!  Here are some other tips to keep in mind:

• Have a list of all the schools your are interested in, along with their application forms and mailing addresses, at the ready.  Also make note of all deadlines.
  

• File only one application — don't follow up your electronic application with a mailed hard-copy.  This could cause confusion on behalf of the admissions office, delay your acceptance, or even cause a duplicate student record to be created.
  

• If the online application doesn't have enough room for all you need to list, avoid using obscure abbreviations and find out how to submit an attachment instead.
  

• Anything submitted separately from your original application needs to have your full name and Social Security number clearly visible so that the paperwork ends up together, all in your file.
  

• It's a good idea to print out your application and proof it for errors, before hitting the SUBMIT button (or mailing it in).
  

• Compose your essay and other answers to questions in a word-processing program first.  This allows you to review, spell-check, and save your responses before hitting the saving and sending your final answers.  (Saving your responses also makes things easier if you are filling out multiple applications to different schools.)
  

• If you are applying to various schools, take advantage of filling out one just application once — commonapp.org offers you this convenient option, regardless if you wish to apply via traditional mail or online.
  

• If you have not heard back or otherwise received a confirmation of receipt from a school within one or two weeks of submitting your application, call the admissions office to confirm it is on file.

Entrance exams are another — sometimes overwhelming, part of the college application process.  What's the difference between all these tests?  What do they test for?  When are they offered?  How long are they?  Where can you register?  Read on for a list of the standardized tests commonly required by colleges and universities, complete with hyperlinks for more information (minimum test scores required for acceptance vary by school):

TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL CAREER SCHOOLS
Admission requirements will vary for vocational/certificate programs.  Some schools may have open admissions, where there are no formal requirements for admission; others may require a high school diploma or GED, SAT or ACT scores, an essay, or other submissions. If you are interesting in finding a postsecondary college or trade school visit this trade School Directory or a similar online resource to search for technical and vocational schools and colleges at Directory of Degrees, includes campus and online school listings, as well as degree programs offered and some nice search and sorting options. 

UNDERGRADUATE
CLEP:  The College Level Examination Program assesses general and subject-specific knowledge for undergraduate students.

ACT & SAT:  The Scholastic Aptitude Test and American College Testing Assessment are both used when applying to undergraduate programs to measure your aptitude for college-level study..

GRADUATE
GMAT:  The Graduate Management Admission Test is typically required when applying business and administration graduate programs.  This exam assesses verbal, mathematical, and analytical skills. 

GRE:  The Graduate Record Examination is generally required for graduate-level, non-business programs.  This test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical thinking.

MAT:  The Miller Analogies Test is usually required for students applying to psychology graduate programs, testing skills in reasoning.

TOEFL:  The Test of English as a Foreign Language is often required for those whom English is their second language.  Comprehension of verbal and written English is measured.

For more ideas and suggestions regarding applying to an online school, try these links:

For information on online schools and programs try Online College Courses for a directory of online degree programs and course subjects, has school links and quick information forms.

Supercollege.com is all about helping you to get into the college of your dreams — free resources, great tips, useful strategies.

The Princeton Review can help you learn more on how to apply for college and stand out from the crowd.  What are colleges looking for in an applicant?

GRE myths - busted!  What your scores really mean, when it comes to grad school admissions.

Admissions counselors talk — about online applications.

Get a jump-start on your admissions essay.

Statementofpurpose.com. What's your story?

All about recommendation letters.