Once the application process was complete, the enrollment process seemed quite straightforward and streamlined. Capella has enrollment periods, so all applications needed to be in by a certain date in order to enroll for the next term.
From a scheduling standpoint, there was not a lot to consider. Scheduling the course was easy - I worked with my counselor over the phone to get scheduled for the first course. There was a course that all incoming students take, so that was the course I was enrolled in. For this course, there were no books to purchase, so it didn’t take much time to get up and running.
Every school will have a different process for getting students into classes, but generall these steps need to be complted: application, financial aid, enrollment. It’s important to find out how long the school expects that process to last and use that timeframe as a guide to ensure you’re applying in time to start classes when you plan to.
Once all the application and financial aid is in place, the enrollment for courses should follow pretty easily. Most schools will have counselors that work with you to ensure that you’re getting the courses that you need in the proper timeframes to complete the degree within the anticipated timeframe.
When I was selecting a school, I did consider whether the school had a local presence or not. In my area, there weren’t a lot of options for PhD programs. I could choose to do a face-to-face program at our public universities - one was close by, the other was about 90 miles away. Neither school had exactly the program I was looking for. The online schools I was considering had no local campus presence anywhere, they were fully online. So my options were somewhat limited, but that made the decision easier.
I know that it can be reassuring to have a local campus nearby. Several of the schools I teach for have online and face-to-face components. The students do feel a benefit from being able to go to a campus, see real people, and get the help they need.
In my situation, that wasn’t the case. That’s not to say that having some resources close by wouldn’t be helpful, but we’re so accustomed to doing correspondence via the phone or the web, that in-person contact seems to be a thing of the past.
I actually treasure the fact that my school is fully online and has no local campuses. It puts everyone on the same playing field. We all have access to the same resources. Knowing what I know now, I would still choose Capella.
Posted by Rodney Burris on November 19th, 2008
It was a really tough decision for me to choose to become an online learner, but I’m glad I did.
In 2003, I graduated from a rather prestigious university. I began there, four years prior, with hopes of becoming a doctor. A year or two into my schooling, I realized that Medicine is not the field I wanted, so I chose to switch. If any of you ever had the ‘hopes & dreams’ of your family riding on your shoulders, then you will know how difficult of choice this was for me.
My heart, I realized, was working in education; but everything I applied for that was of interest to me, required a higher level of education, post-Bachelors. I couldn’t believe it; for years I was told, “If you go to college, and do well, you’ll land a nice job.” Not so. A year after graduation, I found myself married to my college sweetheart, and jobless.
I decided that the best option for me was to take up an ACCREDITTED online education, as it would afford me the flexibility to work from home, and possibly still get a job. But I was still daunted by the stigma that none of my friends & families would appreciate me being enrolled in a ‘fake’ online institution. The decision, for me however, was solidified, once I learned my wife was pregnant with our first child. It was at that moment that I realized that I HAD to get a job AND, I HAD to increase my employability, through education, if I were to stay in the field of my choice.
So, overcoming many mental obstacles & family-social roadblocks, I enrolled in Capella University in 2004, after having researched many of their degree programs & course offerings. Interestingly enough, the program was much more challenging than I could have anticipated. — And I actually appreciated this, because the challenge made me feel like I was actually ‘earning’ my education, and not just taking the easy way out via online learning.’
All in all, my online degree program taught me a higher level of self-discipline & determination. It’s been 3 years since I graduated from Capella with my Masters, and I can honestly say, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Why? Because it allowed me to be a husband and a father while earning an education. Secondly, it has allowed me to proudly place “MS Degree” on my resume, which has resulted in numerous opportunities opening up.
Given the variety of educational offerings, formats & programs, I would recommend online learning to anyone.
Posted by Phyllis Stith on August 17th, 2008
I have just completed 2 full weeks of doctoral study at Capella University and I must say that I am overly impressed with the school’s level of organization across all levels. Although this is not my first experience with the online learning environment, I have discovered that Capella provides an effective and efficient program on all areas which satisfies my desire to have stress free occurrences.
I found the registration and enrollment process to be easily comprehendible because the school gives each student a “To Do” list in electronic format that allows them to track needed documentation that are mainly submitted online although transcripts from previous schools have to be faxed. Therefore, the student is always aware of any requirements that have been unfulfilled. In addition, each student is given an enrollment counselor who is readily available to walk students through the enrollment process and to answer any questions or concerns. Moreover, the school lists all of the financial aid forms online which does not require additional searches from outside sources. It is also important to note that it has proven to be very efficient in disbursing refunds because I received a direct deposit during the second week of class.
The school also has a mandatory orientation class (non-credited) that is structured in such a way as to help students maneuver through the online environment at Capella. As such, students are given tutorials on everything from course room functions to grading methodologies. Additionally, the orientation provides strategies for effective communication techniques that should be used in the online environment. The orientation is also self paced so that students can have the opportunity to review material as much as needed before taking the final assessment which will be used by the school to determine the student’s ability to succeed in the online learning environment.
Although the actual class did not start until August 4th, the course room was available to students on August 1st. This was very beneficial to me because it gave me the ability to get a jump start on my assignments. In addition, every assignment is clearly posted for every week of the quarter which means that I will be able to manage my time effectively in the weeks to come.
Finally, I have discovered that my first class is highly structured and consists of various types of learning activities to include: required textbook readings, streaming videos, threaded discussions and online journals. Thus, Capella offers a well rounded educational program and I earnestly look forward to continuing the journey towards the PhD with this institution.
For these reasons, I conclude that I have chosen an excellent school that is committed to promoting higher education.
