by blythepyrate

“What’s going to happen when I click Request Information on EarnMyDegree.com?”

Let’s get this straight right off the bat: I have a near-pathological fear of being spammed. When I was invited to write this post about requesting information on EarnMyDegree.com, I was delighted. But when I realized it might involve submitting my personal information, I was more than a bit leery.

The way I see it, I’m part of an expansive Internet cat and mouse game. As the mouse, I try to keep my personal information strictly private while numerous huge, angry, spitting cats prowl the InterWebs seeking to claw my precious privacy away with their trickery. I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like giving out my contact information on EarnMyDegree.com was going to result in a jolly good spamming, as the British would say. But, sacrifices had to be made. This is part of my job, you see. As the technical writer here at EarnMyDegree.com, part of my responsibility is to be an advocate for you, the website users. So for you, dear website user, I undertook this fearful assignment. Show your gratitude by reading on, won’t you?

Perhaps, dear website user, you share my spam phobia, and are likewise fiercely protective of your spam folder. I have endeavored to lay bare the not-so-shocking, true story of what happens after you click the big, usually green Request Information button that sends your contact information skittering through the Internets.

Here it is: the Request Information button, or Big Green, as we like to call it. You have to admit it looks rather sweet. Like a juicy green apple. Try to look away. Go on, just try it. You couldn’t, could you? You want to click it. Yeah, you know you do. It’s there for you to touch. After reading this, you’ll know exactly what happens after you click Big Green. So during future degree-searching, you can click it with James Bond-like confidence. No fear of spam shall stand between you and an online degree!

Once you arrive on EarnMyDegree.com and you’ve used the degree search tools to narrow down your choice of degree program and school, a page with a form specifically for the school program you select is displayed. At the bottom of that form is Big Green. Now click it! You won’t be sorry.

Once your information is submitted, you almost immediately get a confirmation email from EarnMyDegree.com. Shortly after that first email, you will begin receiving emails from individual schools providing more details about their programs. You might also be contacted by telephone, if the school provides phone support. And you’ll be talking to a real person, not a robot, as cool as that might be. I’m told the folks at these call centers are well-trained and really helpful, so be sure to provide a working phone number.

Contrary to my wild imaginings going into this, the consequences for clicking the Request Information button (aka Big Green) are not dire. My inbox was not flooded by annoying spammy emails. I did get emails, make no mistake, but they served specific purposes. For example, to confirm my information had been received or how quickly it is possible to complete an online degree. The ones from the partner schools were especially helpful explaining their application processes, or providing more information on how to apply for financial aid.

After a few days, I thought the mails were getting too plentiful. When that point came, I simply clicked the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the top of an EarnMyDegree.com email and I was automatically removed. No muss, no fuss. I was in control and I knew it. I felt totally empowered.

Here is where to find the unsubscribe link at the top of the email:

I could tell you in great length and intricate detail about the technology behind why the unsubscribe link works so wonderfully, but it might bore you. Just rest assured that if you want to be unsubscribed, we make that happen promptly. Note that Earn My Degree.com and our partner schools maintain separate email lists, so if you desire to have their emails cease, you’ll have to click the respective unsubscribe links.

So fear not, online degree seekers! You can click Big Green and sleep well at night, awakening to a sparkling clean, nearly empty spam folder.