Several potential students have asked me: "What are online colleges looking for in applicants?" The answer really depends on the school you choose. Some online colleges have open-door admissions policies, accepting anyone who applies with a high school diploma. Others are as tough to get into as top tier traditional school.

But, there are some common denominators when it comes to making yourself the ideal applicant. Among these are GPA, test scores, application essays, professional activities, and recommendation letters.

My most recent About.com article details how to make your online college applications stand out. Here's a blurb:

"Online colleges want to know that accepted applicants will succeed in their classes, without any face-to-face encouragement. Applicants who have high grade point averages in previous high school and college-level work show the most promise. Many virtual schools set minimum GPAs for incoming students. If your GPA is particularly low due to unusual circumstances (your aunt died and you adopted her child, mid-semester) make note of it somewhere on your application. Lower GPAs are sometimes overlooked when the applicant demonstrates other strengths."

Check out the rest of the article for more application tips.