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Interesting report on the value of a college degree from the WSJ.com
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Value of a College Degree featured on WSJ.com Article
The stigma of obtaining an online degree may dissuade some who might have otherwise benefited from furthering their educational horizons. Unfortunately, the inception of online degree programs was muddled by unscrupulous diploma mills that would confer a degree to anyone who was willing to pay the money (without doing any real academic work). These diploma mills tarnished the future of online degrees.
There are several qualities of online universities that forecast a legit, quality program. These are:
If the university offers the same program in the traditional sense, once a student graduates, he/she does not need to indicate they received the degree via the online format (although what I’ve observed personally is that, after going through all the hard work of obtaining an online degree, most graduates are proud enough to tell anyone they received the degree online).
I too was affected by the stigma of online degrees. I attended a large university that offered the same program in the traditional sense. I was still a bit skeptical after I graduated until I met someone who attended the same university for the same degree, on campus. I was satisfied when I compared his degree to mine (they were identical). I was more satisfied when we compared knowledge as I felt I knew just as much–if not more than–he did.
In the near future, there is no doubt that there will be no stigma surrounding online degrees. Indeed, I envision a future where more degrees are offered online than not. In the meantime, I hope this information helps you overcome the stigma of online degrees so you can attain your educational and career dreams!
NOT A SCIENCE PERSON?
One of the greatest things about taking classes online is the ability
to slow down a lecture and listen to it at your own pace.
TRUST ME.
I went back to school for a master’s degree in an entirely different field. I went from English and political science (liberal arts) to nutrition (science city). And I hadn’t taken any class resembling biology or chemistry since senior year…of high school.
Needless to say, when it comes to science (both the lessons and the language), I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. Wait, I take that back! I am now. :) And it was due to my being able to pause a professor’s lecturing and write down everything he said. Being able to stall a PowerPoint slide and truly look at the diagram is priceless. Being able to re-listen to a lecture again and again can really help it sink in.
Of course, you can record a professor’s lecture on a digital tape recorder (if in person). But that requires extra technology, your getting permission from the professor to record him, your being the man/woman who slows down class to ask a self-serving, “single me out” sort of question. From the comfort of your own home, you can do anything you want: slow down a lecture to let it sink in, replay a lecture (repetition is a great tool), eat loud food (beta carotene-filled carrots is great brain food), and more.
Online classes are a great option for someone who is stepping out of their comfort zone academically (e.g., from liberal arts to math/science), or for someone who is stepping into a university-level classroom for the first time. It takes the edge off!
Everyone thinks that their lives are busy. Everyone is probably right. I, for one, know that my life isn’t just busy, its hectic. I have to work to pay my bills so my children have the things they need, I have to go to school so that I won’t be stuck in a dead end job my whole life, and I have to take care of my kids because, as a mother, that’s what I do. I am always going, going, going. I get up when my husband leaves for work at six a.m. and I go to bed when everything that I needed to do for the day is finished. The way that I accomplish all of this is with lists. I love lists. Whoever invented lists deserves some sort of award, like the Nobel Peace Prize. I’m sure that lists have saved countless people from doing bodily harm to other countless people. I do not, however, have schedules. My circumstances are forever changing and I have to adapt accordingly. If I have to be somewhere at a certain time, I will consult my list to see if there is anything else I can do while I am in the area. I don’t plan specific times for doing homework. I just have to do it while everyone else is otherwise occupied, which means directing people to activities that I have delegated to them. Delegation is a great thing. My family knows that my going to school will benefit everyone in the end so we all pitch in to do what needs to be done. This is the main reason I go to school online. It fills my need to better myself while leaving me enough time to work and be with my family. I have a work schedule that requires me to be at the office only four days a week. The rest of the time is for me and my loved ones. Another big thing that helps me is getting up before everyone and going to bed after everyone goes to bed. I know that this will not help everyone but I actually don’t do well on a lot of sleep. Over the course of my blog, I plan on getting a lot more detailed so if anyone has any questions or comments, don’t hesitate.
Recently I have seen a few news articles stating that higher gas prices is leading to an increase in online college enrollments. Whether you believe this statement or not, that fact is that as gas prices rise, people will start to cut back on their driving to save money.
Enrollments for online degree programs have been on the rise over the past 2-3 years as the negative connotations of e-learning have been wiped away and now that gas prices have risen by over $1 per gallon across the country, this is only one a contributing factor for a rise in enrollments. People opting to study online find that they can better manage their time around family (trips, babysitters, children, events etc) since they disctate their class time.
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Utica College is a comprehensive, independent, private college founded in 1946 by Syracuse University. Since then it has been offering traditional degrees in Utica, New York. As part of their education-initiatives they now offer some of their course offering 100% online.
Online learning at UC offers students the opportunity to enroll in online learning that might not otherwise be available to them because of time and distance restrictions. Most of these courses can be accessed by the student wherever and whenever it is convenient.
Request free information today from Utica College Online and find out what a Bachelor’s, Master’s or MBA can do for your career.
One might say that I am a professional student. I received my first Master’s Degree in Secondary Education back in May of last year through the University of Phoenix online school. Then I decided to go back this past August to work on my second Masters. This time in ESL.
There really was no discussion for me in regards to whether I should go to the local university or enroll online. My local university is okay, but I am very busy. I work two jobs, am raising two great kids and am married. Going back to school in a brick and mortar building with the school dictating to me when I had to go was out of the question. I needed flexibility and I needed a school that had excellent teachers as well as the finest resources available.
If you decide to search the web for online schools, you will get a boat load of URLs. It’s important to understand that not all the schools are accredited. You want to choose one that is accredited statewide and nationally. These are the schools that will get noticed on the resumes.
My choice was the University of Phoenix. Several reasons governed my decision. First, I had already completed one degree with them. I was used to their system and felt it did not require me to take a training class.
Second, this school has been around since 1976. They were one of the first universities to provide classes online. They have a reputation of being the best. I agree. Their teachers are top notch for the most part. The University of Phoenix, or Apollo Group, has stringent rules for becoming a facilitator. According to Apollo group website,
“To qualify as a University of Phoenix faculty member, you must meet the following minimum criteria*:
*Each candidate’s experience and academic preparation are reviewed to meet the established requirements developed for each program and specific course. Some degree programs require more specific qualifications”
I trust their teachers and I have learned a great deal from them.
Third I get to make my own hours. The teachers post the syllabus and I get to choose when I post to the class. I can do this 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It matters not when, as long as I follow the rules set by the teacher. If I want to wait until my kids are in bed, then I do it after 11 pm. If I work up early and cannot get back to sleep, I can go online and do school work. Try to do that at the local university.
Fourth, I meet many people in my field of study from all around the world. I feel as though I have many friends in Japan, Jamaica and all across the USA. We can network and get to know one another through our class discussions. Talk about social networks.
Fifth, financial aid applications are a breeze at UOP. You fill out forms online at the school and then you are directed to the FAFSA site. They do the rest. Now it sometimes can take awhile, but once you get the first check, the other fall in line in a timely manner. You don’t have to go to the financial aid office and get the paperwork. You don’t even have to mail it back to the university. With electronic signature, it is all done online. All this from the comfort of your own home. Talk about saving gas money!
Lastly, because I am an online student, I have had to write many papers. I have found my writing skills have improved immensely. I am proud of the work I create and know when I receive my GPA, it is because I have worked hard at following the APA format and completing my assignments exactly in the manner requested by my facilitator.
Online school requires time management skills and determination. There is no one breathing down your back to make sure you get your work done on time. Well, except your learning team members. If you are not self-disciplined, online study is not for you. But if you want a quality education and the opportunity to work at your schedule, I would highly recommend online school. You no longer have to say, “I don’t have the time.” It’s the best move I ever made.
Many people feel that enrolling in an online program is not compatible to an on-ground learning experience. Yes, there are many differences between the two methods of instruction, but one thing that does not differ is student participation. In the online environment it is more critical to participate in the discussion- it is usually a significant part of your grade.
Discussion boards helped to foster a community of learners that share ideas, knowledge, suggestions and debate. The conversation in a traditional classroom can range from spirited to low-key or non existence and so can the discussion in an online classroom. The average online course will have weekly discussions that require students to participate by submitting a reply to a posted question or scenario and then responding to their classmates’ posted answers to the same question. This process allows for the students to share their learning as well as comment on others by offering positive feedback. Positive feedback can be in the form of encouragement and agreement to a classmates posted retort or it can be by sharing an alternative perspective. One thing that all classroom participants must understand is that it is okay to disagree or have a different opinion from their classmates. Usually classmates tend to agree on the discussed topic, it is common that the instructor has the diverse opinion. But remember, the instructor and students must use the course material as a guide and resource.
Another important part of the discussion board is to frequently visit the forum. The student will be given a deadline to post and respond to the unit’s discussion board. Within that time frame it is recommended that a student visit the discussion at least three times. This may not always be an easy task to have the accessibility or time to accomplish this, but as a commitment to yourself and your classmates, if all involved attempt to frequent the board and share, the dialogue will remain engaging and educe others to contribute.
If the online learner can schedule three times out of the unit to post to the discussion board, the dialogue between classmates and the instructor will be constant and on-topic. A way to ensure your participation in the unit’s discussion is to:
This formula for “active participation” may not be an easy task to commit to. If you are able to meet these minimum recommendations, you can gain so much from the experience. Give it a try! There are probably many ways to stay abreast of the discussion and be a part of the classroom conversation.
Choosing the best online program starts with realizing exactly what discipline you want to study. Many colleges offer several different forms of business degrees online, but if business-type disciplines are not interesting to you, don’t settle. For instance, I was interested in becoming a paralegal so I researched the Internet for schools that offered bachelor’s degrees online for legal studies and I found one at the University of Maryland University College. For my master’s I wanted a liberal studies program and found one at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Broaden your search outside of your resident state if you have to (I had to for the master’s degree). As online programs continue their gain in popularity, colleges and universities are offering a larger variety of programs online to meet the variety of needs and desires of students beyond the typical business degree. As you find programs that interest you, research the requirements of the program to determine if it is truly right for you.
Next week’s posting will discuss the financial aspects of going back to school.
Not unlike your MP3 player, mobile phone, and digital movie downloads, online education offers instant and constant access to the halls of higher education. Aside from a few hours of maintenance on the servers every term, these online doors don’t lock and students can be found roaming the halls of their cyber school at all hours.
A large attraction to online education is the accessibility online learning offers. As long as you have the minimum requirements needed to access your classes and materials, you can study and submit your assignments from any location you choose. Some people don’t perform well in a traditional classroom setting. These individuals may find they would thrive in an online educational setting. The same holds true for the student who requires a specific study environment that wouldn’t be attainable if they were held to a rigorous schedule that only allowed them a certain window of time to study and participate in classroom activities.
Summer classes don’t seem half as bad if you access them while you enjoy a cool breeze on a hammock. Your plans to visit with relatives over the holidays can still happen. Now you have some work to escape to when you’ve had enough “reminiscing,” and they aren’t allowed to make you feel guilty for it. You won’t feel bad about sitting down to “class” when snow is covering the streets outside your door.
Education has evolved. From a café to the beach, online education has become an accessible and portable option that makes quick work of attaining educational goals. So go ahead, make your plans, just don’t forget to include your educational goals and remember to pack a power source.
