Archive for December, 2008
Posted by Jeff Davis on December 31st, 2008
When I first began my search into selecting an online school and furthering my education, it was important to me that the college I choose have a strong internet presence as well as a local presence. After all, there are many online colleges to choose from but not all offer a quality education. Call it personal preference or what you will but I preferred a more recognized school over a mere local educational institution. Not that a local school would have been a bad experience or anything, but it just would not have fit into my life’s schedule as well.
After much research, I determined that there were quite a few online schools that actually had a good reputation for offering a quality education but not all met my personal criteria. I based my final decision on factors that were important to me at the time such as class sizes, accreditation, cost, available online resources, and the simplicity of being able to get help and/or support if necessary. Most of my ideals leaned me towards selecting the University of Phoenix and so I chose to pursue my degree within this environment. Locating an excellent online school that will meet your educational goals should really be no trouble if you do your research and find out all the answers to your questions beforehand.
Based on the items mentioned above, this has been my personal experience and I found a wealth of resources available on the internet in helping me make to make a final decision. There are numerous guidelines available for further consideration but the college websites were full of pertinent information and staff support is just a phone call away. I found my online college experience to be educational and self-rewarding. I would highly recommend attending an online college to anyone who is considering of returning to school.
Posted by Jen Zeman on December 30th, 2008
Having an online school close to home was not a driving factor on where I would attend; however, I did consider in-state schools before considering out-of-state schools. For me, it was more of a comfort factor. I was working at a local community college when I was looking at schools to transfer my associate’s degree credits to. While at the community college, I had a great deal of information available to me about local universities and the programs they offered, so I felt a great deal of familiarity with local universities. With this information, I found UMUC and the perfect online degree program. Knowing I could easily transfer almost all my credits to UMUC was reassuring – I wouldn’t have to spend time and money on a bunch of additional classes. Plus, the tuition wasn’t too far out of reach for me. Because I found the ideal online school within my home state I had no need to look out-of-state.
My advice to others:
- Start your search with local colleges and universities to see what online programs they have to offer and if they coincide with your desired program. But don’t settle if they don’t! If local institutions are not offering an online program in the discipline you want to study, broaden your search to out-of-state institutions. A complete online program will not require you to attend or even visit the physical campus. I have even found that some online schools do not charge a higher tuition for out-of-state students attending online programs (i.e. you pay what in-state students pay).
- If you are currently attending a community college and need help searching, enlist the assistance of an academic advisor with your search. Most have a good grasp on what’s being offered at various institutions and can offer advice on your search.
- Make a list of important criteria for an online school before starting your search will also make the process easier. This way, you won’t settle for an institution that may not fulfill all your needs.
Posted by Sharon Cece on December 29th, 2008
The great thing about going to college today is the nearly infinite number of choices students have in attaining and experiencing their educations. From local community colleges to world-wide programs, the sky’s the “un”-limit.
I was fortunate in that I was able to attend college both locally and out-of-state. While I highly recommend doing both–or all, for I wish I had also attended college internationally (and who knows, still might)– students must also make pragmatic choices that serve their specific needs and life situations. Single students have more flexibility than married, full-time students have more intense scheduling issues than part-timers, etc.
Here is where online learning offers it’s greatest benefit: unlimited program options. Before online alternatives, as suggested above, one either had to attend school at a local college or completely transfer out-of-state. I did both, which were invaluable experiences. Yet, once I was married with kids I couldn’t just pick up and move back to Tallahassee to finish my degree. Therefore, “college online” satisfied all of my educational needs and brought the out-of-state right to my front door. What a concept.
That’s not to say locality wasn’t an important consideration for me. Initially I did lean toward local schools since those programs are always more cost-effective. Out-of-state students, even online, usually pay twice as much as local students. An added benefit to local colleges are the extra-curricular events, concerts, lectures and programs that are accessible to students; obviously, I couldn’t attend any of those as a distance learning student and so missed out on the experiences they offered. On the other hand, I did take advantage of those events and programs while I was a student living in Tallahassee, and so when I returned as on online student to get my degree years later I had a singular goal in mind–graduating! The other benefits were secondary at that point in my life, and financial aid and academic grants assisted me with the higher out-of-state fees.
Choices today are as varied as the many programs offered to students. It’s a great time to go to college!
Thank goodness for the web! I know many of you have always been able to use the internet to do research, but for those of us back in the old days, there were HUGE catalogs of books in the reference section of the library that a prospective student would have to page through to determine what schools to consider and ultimately choose. The internet has made this research very simple - but now there’s almost too much information.
My search was conducted several years ago, but I know I looked closely at at least 5 schools. I contacted them via email and phone and started interviewing them to find out the basic information I needed to know. I had a hit list of questions:
- What was the program like?
- What are the classes like (self-paced, workload, etc)?
- Is the school accredited?
- What were the faculty like?
- How many classes at a time?
- How long to complete?
- How much money?
- What were the residency requirements?
- Would my credits transfer?
- And many more.
I felt that most sent literature that answered my questions. I had to make a few additional phone calls to follow up.
I thought that a phone call to a school was a good idea. They offered information I didn’t think to ask. The counselors were very helpful and professional.
I felt that I had all the information I needed to make an informed decision. As times have changed, and schools have come and gone, I am pleased with the approach I took.
I have some students who didn’t take the time to fully research the school they chose. They find that the school format doesn’t work for them and they go to another school. This trial-and-error approach might not be 100% avoidable, but if you learn about the different approaches each school takes, you can make an informed choice as well. Finding the program that works best for your learning style and discipline is essential to success.
Posted by Pamela Gustafson on December 25th, 2008
In 2001 I went fishing in a small pool of online classes, not knowing at the time what kinds of fish I wanted to catch, but I knew this: I wanted to learn fresh new ideas. I started taking an online class from a technical school, to get a taste of what it would be like to be a network specialist. Teachers are always complaining about computers not working. The first fish I caught was a class to become certified as a Microsoft Administrator. I found out quickly that I didn’t like the taste of this fish! There was little human-to-human interaction in the regimen and it didn’t fit my style. While I was successful in the class, most of my classmates were recent high school grads. It was the wrong pond for me, though it was a good experience and a lot cheaper than taking a university class. I learned that I needed to combine my interest in computers with my first love of helping children grow and develop.
I didn’t really need to do a search or request information. The information came to me in the form of flyers from various universities. The universities know that true educators believe continuing education is imperative and they capitalize on this knowledge by marketing to teachers. The information they voluntary sent was helpful and I took the bait and signed up for classes. Shortly after that, I found another fishing pond — in my very own school district. They offered online classes for all teachers in the district. While the classes were not for credit, they helped me to develop skills to use computers effectively with students.
Currently, I have decided to go deep sea fishing! I am interested in a set of skills that will allow me to be employed as an online elementary or middle school teacher. I’m not interested in a degree. The University of Wisconsin—Stout offers an e-learning certificate that can open doors for online teachers. There’s now an explosion of public schools offering this option for their students. After 34 years of dragging my tired body out of bed and working a 9- to 10-hour day, I long for the day when I can crawl out of bed, limp to my computer in my pajamas (diet pepsi in hand), and correct assignments emailed or posted online. The Ocean of Opportunity available to me can also reach my own students. Let’s hope they go fishing for something valuable, too!
Posted by Jeff Davis on December 24th, 2008
It really is important to do your homework, especially when you are considering pursuing an online education where the final results will benefit you for the rest of your life! When choosing an online school, there are many things to consider such as whether the school is accredited or not, what programs and degrees are offered, and help with financial aid. Asking good questions can help guide you into making the right decision.
Before enrolling in an online degree program, I had requested information from 10 different online schools. Only 6 provided me with enough information from which I was able to make an educated decision (no pun intended). That helped to narrow down the online colleges field and so began my contact of the admissions office at these remaining schools which I deemed necessary in order to gather the final pertinent information needed for making my final decision on which online school and degree program is going to work best for me. Among the questions that I still needed answered were items like: the school and its history, financial aid, etc.
I feel that it is important to note that this decision was not one that I wanted to rush into since it would have long-term dire consequences in both my professional and personal life. To me, education is more than just getting a degree, but also about what the degree provides in terms of value such as the skills learned and the available career opportunities it provides.
Finally, let me say that nothing can really replace a good education. Education helps you in your overall development and broadens your outlook on life. As I look back on my research of information, the requests that I made, and the final choices that I made, it was arguably one of the hardest searches in my life but definitely the most rewarding.
Posted by Sharon Cece on December 23rd, 2008
The $64,000 question (or perhaps the $64 million by the time my kids finally go to college) is “What college should I choose to attend“? It is an extremely important question, since your alma mater will be part and parcel of your life forevermore. This blog is case in point: even though I’ve graduated from FSU I’m still representing FSU in this forum and a number of other ways. Which I know has you begging the question, Why FSU?
As it happens, I applied to a number of colleges both when I was starting out at 17 and again when I decided to finish my degree at 38. Now, admittedly I chose a county college 25 years ago primarily because I was broke and, well, it was cheap. Good, cheap education– by and by something no 17-year old can turn down. A few years later I transferred to FSU out of sheer adventurous spirit, the Sacagawea of the Educative Expedition.
And, as I’ve pointed out in previous articles, left with 96 credits under my belt sans degree.
Okay, fast forward, oh, fourteen years or so. I’m ready to take the plunge and finally finish that degree. Back to the $64,000 question.
Number one in the list of my “choosing” criteria was locality. Since I now live in the Academic Mecca (Duke, UNC, NC State, Campbell University, East Carolina… just to name a few) I was fairly sure I would pick a program from the local zone to finish my degree. I sought information from three of those and had sticker shock from two; the third, NC State, was conveniently located and cost effective, but did not offer the program I was seeking.
Concurrently, I inquired about FSU programs, never believing I would end up back there but did so out of sheer sentimentality; as well I considered two other “online” schools, one a well-known online university that is in fact featured on this website. So all told, I requested information from six college programs– three brick and mortar, three online.
Looking back, all of the information I received was very helpful in making a choice (in other words, the costs of some colleges alone were enough to help me make a decision, that being a whopping YEAH RIGHT). It’s easy to eliminate a college simply because you can’t afford it! Which left three finalists. Well, really one finalist. FSU was probably my only choice deep down, and I requested information from the other schools simply because I felt it’s what a practical person should do, which is to consider many options. I felt six was a good round number for inquiry and I’m glad in retrospect that I did entertain other options, if for no other reason than simply to be able to remark with aplomb, “Why, naturally I considered many other schools and after careful consideration decided on…..”
Good luck!
Posted by Jen Zeman on December 22nd, 2008
When I started my search for an online degree program, I requested information from about three different schools, all within my home state of Maryland. I wanted to start my search local before considering out-of-state institutions, primarily because I knew in-state colleges and universities would accept more transfer credits and in-state tuition would be less expensive. The information I received included full admissions packets and I did find the information helpful since it helped me determine if the school offered online degree programs AND in the discipline I wanted to study (i.e. legal studies). As I have mentioned before, I was fortunate to find the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) offered an online legal studies bachelor’s degree.
I am very satisfied still to this day with the quality of education and the online experience with UMUC, so I do not have any regrets in not requesting information from additional schools for my bachelor’s degree. When I started a search for master’s degrees online, I broadened my search to include more out-of-state institutions and requested information from about three schools. I did this because I found most colleges and universities offer online graduate degrees mainly in business or education fields; I was looking for a liberal arts graduate degree. I found a few schools that offered an online graduate liberal arts degree and found a good program at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. The best advice is to know what you want to study and keep searching. A larger variety of online programs become available each year, so you are bound to find what you are looking for. Requesting information is not a commitment to any particular school, so gather as much information as possible and then develop a pros and cons list for each. This will help you narrow your search to the eventual ideal institution. Happy hunting!
When I decided to return to school and pursue the degree in an online learning environment, I had 2 key requirements: get the degree from a reputable school and do it in a way that was convenient for my lifestyle.
Getting a degree from a school with a good reputation is important. Accreditation is the first factor in the review - regional accreditation is a step up from national accreditation. Either of these accreditations give credibility to the school, the curriculum, the faculty and in turn, the degree. Without these factors, the degree is not necessarily transferrable and it may not be recognized. I also asked for reviews of the schools - getting personal and professional referrals was important. Finding someone who had successfully completed a degree from that school was helpful as well. Make sure the reputation of the school you choose is one that you can trust for the long term.
The other major factor was convenience. We all have different lifestyles and demands on our time. I wanted to attend a school that was fully asynchronous - so I could be online at any time. I also wanted a program that had structure - rather than an independent study. I needed to be held accountable for the work on a regular basis.
It can be hard to know what you’re looking for in a school until you try it. But ask questions, get feedback from others who have been in classes at those schools, and find out about their experiences.
Posted by admin on December 18th, 2008
University of Phoenix today announced that it was named one of the country’s top 20 colleges and universities favorable to military personnel in the recently published issue of Military Advanced Education. The honor takes into consideration the number of military students served, the availability of military scholarships, and other policies benefiting military members and veterans.
“University of Phoenix has always held the deepest respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country,” said Mike Bibbee, vice president, University of Phoenix Military Division. “This ranking further acknowledges our long-term commitment to providing members of the military with access to a quality education. We are extremely pleased to be included on this list and in the company of these other distinguished colleges and universities.”
More than 2,000 colleges and universities participated in this year’s survey, and
University of Phoenix was selected among the top 20 by an independent panel of judges from both the educational and the military fields.
Nearly 29,000 active-duty military and their spouses, as well as veterans, are enrolled in University of Phoenix degree programs. More than 7,200 military members or veterans graduated from the University last year.
The University understands the needs and demands of military service, including members’ frequent moves and deployments, and has created a special military division that employs more than 500 counselors, many of whom are veterans themselves, to help military students attain their academic goals every step of the way. To further provide access, University of Phoenix also works closely with information officers at hundreds of military bases around the globe to ensure the University is providing the support and information necessary to help military personnel determine which educational programs best fit their lifestyle.
University of Phoenix also makes education financially attainable through a variety of programs and scholarships for military members. The University extends tuition discounts to military students and their spouses, and partners with several government and military agencies to offer scholarships.
In addition, the University has initiated its own scholarships specifically designed for military members. These include the AMVETS Scholarship Program which offers 50 tuition scholarships valued at $4,000 each to active military, veterans and their families. The University’s Severely Injured Veterans Scholarship Program was created to honor military personnel who return home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with critical injuries.
University of Phoenix works with Heroes to Hometowns, a national Department of Defense program, to provide five full-tuition scholarships annually to help ease the sometimes difficult transition to civilian life under the umbrella of the Severely Injured Veterans Scholarship Program.
“University of Phoenix believes the heroic men and women of the Armed Forces deserve educational opportunities to enhance their future and that of their families,” Bibbee said. “Just as they feel it is their duty and honor to serve their country, University of Phoenix feels honored and privileged to serve these individuals and help them reach their academic goals.”
