13 replies to this topic

[jc0481]

Hello there. I'm just looking for feedback on people that have graduated from a online university and what has been your experience from the work force. Has it been a positive experience or a negative one? Did you get a better job right away after you graduated or are you still looking for a better job?

Also if you can share what your major was. Thank you.

JC

[kombolcha]

My experience is not exactly what you're asking for, but I may be able to provide some valueable information.

I'm currently attending university of Phoenix and my program is BS in Business Management. I had never considered this school and until last year. Before I was attending California State University, Los Angeles, but because of the ecnomy, lack of teachers, classrooms and tutition going up every quarter 10% - 20% It was ****ing me off because I was a senior at the time. New rules would also be placed where I would somehow lose my registration priority because I now had to live within 15 miles to be considered a "local resident".
Anyways, I looked at a few private schools and tuition ranged from $20,000 - $100,000. Later I found out that several people at work had attended Phoenix and I asked them about it and they all had good experiences. I started my online program last January and i'm graduating mid July this year. Each university has similar schedules. at Phoenix, each course is 5 weeks long and Tuesday is the first of the week meaning the first day of class is on Tuesday and assignments are due Monday before midnight. During the week you are required to participate in class. My girl on the otherhand is attending Brandman which is part of the Chapman University system for the same degree, but her school utilizes blackboard (i'm sure many of you have used it before) It works, but to me, it's ugly and looks old. Her courses are 8 weeks long.
As for work, I have had the same full time job for six years now as an IT analyst. I'm going to find out if I make senior in a couple of weeks. When I get my degree this summer I will ask my boss for another raise, I'm not sure what options I have.

It is hell to balance school and full time work. If I really wanted to I can slack off a little and pass my courses with C - B grades, but I am maintaining a 3.6 GPA so I have nothing lower than a B grade. To maintain those grades, you will have very little to no time to go out with your friends, say goodbye to sleep. I have gained 20 pounds since last January because I work my 8 - 12 hour work days, then I come home and do school work and when i'm done and ready to go to the gym, it's already midnight and my brain is telling me to go F myself. To me, it's all worth it for several reasons. 1. I'm paying for it, so I might as well get the most out of it. 2. the high GPA will allow me to seek job opportunities that have GPA requirements. 3. It feels good to have good grades 4. I can brag if anyone asks.

The most important thing I can tell you is that you have to make the most of it. You have to work hard and even harder. You not only have to keep up with your studies, but assuming you're from the US, you have to look after your financials. Talk to your counslers, ask if they have opt out options for elective courses, if you can test out or do some other program. You have to go after those scholarships and grants. If you don't ask, you don't receive. So far I have received $4,500 in grants and I am awaiting for my CalGrant results in a few more weeks which can mean a live check written to my name in thousands of dollars. This means my total school debt of about $18,000 will be reduced to $13,500 when I graduate. I don't have to make payments on the remaining loan until April 2013, but I started paying $100/month the moment my loan was approved and because I made a year of payment before my pay start date, they reduced my interest a 1/4 of a percent. Not huge, but still something considering half my loan is subsidized and remaining is 6%.

[rkenshin]

Yes and no.

I graduated with my BS in IT this past summer from Online Schooling, however, the school does have an actual Campus in Ohio. I attended Franklin University for my BS. Great program, fantastic professors, although they did add to their program some more BS options that I would have rather have (my BS is in IT Networking, but I really wanted IT Security).

Now I'm working on my Masters of Science for IT (Networking/Security) and its through Western Governor's University, which is online only though. This is also a fantastic program so far with all my professors who have "minimally" a Master's and/or PHD's. Its also very inexpensive comparatively to other schools, and is accredited, as well as they include certifications in their program (that is, if you were to go into IT).

Its tough for either, but its nice to have the flexibility to go to school when you can and not be tied down to a classroom environment. You also have to be sure to dedicate yourself to the computer, message boards, online lectures, etc. There are a lot of Online Schools out there, some of which aren't very good. Make sure its accredited and offers you the curriculum you need and the training you need. You can easily get behind in the classes if you don't devote your time. I do like coming home from a full time job and working on school, or I work on school during my days off. The point is - if you can dedicate the time to it, I think its worth it.

I also got a job immediately in IT as soon as I graduated. I interviewed with probably a dozen companies, but it came down to my long term career goals, location, and salary. Although its an entry level IT job, my previous work experience will help my career (most of my previous experience is in management) advancement.

Kombolcha, I thought University of Phoenix was overpriced and they wanted me to re-take my GenEd's even though I already had my Associates. Unfortunately I will have somewhere around $30k in student loans when I'm done, as I didn't get any grants or scholarships, but that's after my BS and my Master's. Not bad, considering many students walk out with debt at almost six figures or higher! Insane!

[MangoCake]

with online or "through the mail" education I can definitely see its applications for certain subjects or for the individuals that are extremely strained for time.

But on the other hand, I have heard many horror stories and bad experiences concerning the likes of Westwood, Devry, ITT and other so called "Degree Mills" that even seeing the words "Online education" makes my mind divert right to those bad reputations that may or may not be deserved.

Not to say the above by Kombolcha falls under that catagory, but I am sure plenty of other people have had or heard many similar horror stories from the places aformentioned in my post?

But back on topic, I don't think I would ever take any classes online, aside from maybe some gen-ed classes; especially if it was a choice between A. take them online or B. drive a total hour and back for every class of said gen-ed.

But that is just me, education is really a matter of finding what will be best for you and put you on the path towards the objective YOU are trying to reach, the only advice to be gotten from others on it is to steer clear of non-accredited schools or ones that literally offer no education value whatsover in helping you work towards your future.

[kombolcha]

rkenshin, on 27 February 2012 - 22:41, said:

Kombolcha, I thought University of Phoenix was overpriced and they wanted me to re-take my GenEd's even though I already had my Associates. Unfortunately I will have somewhere around $30k in student loans when I'm done, as I didn't get any grants or scholarships, but that's after my BS and my Master's. Not bad, considering many students walk out with debt at almost six figures or higher! Insane!

I was afraid their tuition rates were right up there with the other private uni's but it's not so bad. Phoenix accepts state grants and scholarships, so that has helped me to pay for the out of pocket expenses required by my program. I think they're bull**** fees but it is what it is.

MangoCake, on 29 February 2012 - 04:59, said:

with online or "through the mail" education I can definitely see its applications for certain subjects or for the individuals that are extremely strained for time.

But on the other hand, I have heard many horror stories and bad experiences concerning the likes of Westwood, Devry, ITT and other so called "Degree Mills" that even seeing the words "Online education" makes my mind divert right to those bad reputations that may or may not be deserved.

Not to say the above by Kombolcha falls under that catagory, but I am sure plenty of other people have had or heard many similar horror stories from the places aformentioned in my post?

But back on topic, I don't think I would ever take any classes online, aside from maybe some gen-ed classes; especially if it was a choice between A. take them online or B. drive a total hour and back for every class of said gen-ed.

But that is just me, education is really a matter of finding what will be best for you and put you on the path towards the objective YOU are trying to reach, the only advice to be gotten from others on it is to steer clear of non-accredited schools or ones that literally offer no education value whatsover in helping you work towards your future.

I did a lot of research before going to Phoenix and it was for those reasons, the horror stories. I noticed a pattern with many of the complainers online and they're being very baised because they failed to do their research or read the fine prints.
When I first started talking my recruiter, I asked detailed information about cost and the degree program, I asked for it in writing and I would highlight sections I did not fully understand and meet with him in person to discuss it in detail. Once I was comfortable, I asked if they would assist me in filling out loan applications, grants, and scholarships which they did. I also submit my transcripts from my old school and they accepted every course I took which completed all my lower division/general ed courses.
They also have workshops I can attend at any of their locations, most of them are free, some are fee based because you're receiving tutoring. When you do papers, they have an online writing center where you can submit your paper and have it peer-evaluated within 2 days (but they only read the first 3 pages).

Once you're in the class and active in the classroom discussions and assignments it scares you. I mean it really boggles the mind and has you questioning things again because some of the people's grammar is so bad it makes you wonder how it possible they made it this far. You have to have the right attitude and discipline. I apply myself and learn the material and make sure I understand it and try to apply the things I learn at work to become more productive, to motivate myself, knowing the right questions and how to ask them to get answers you can work with. It does not matter what school you go to, anyone can breeze through, but one day it will come back to bite you so hard in the ass; you can only pretend for so long before you're really put to the test and you fail miserably.

In short, it's what you make of it. A friend of mine graduated with ITT and he's a systems engineer making 100k+ and I also have a friend who dropped out from ITT and is in debt because he thought it was the easy way out until he realized you have to pull your weight and now he's angry and bashes ITT any chance he gets because he failed.

[MangoCake]

kombolcha, on 05 March 2012 - 18:10, said:

In short, it's what you make of it. A friend of mine graduated with ITT and he's a systems engineer making 100k+ and I also have a friend who dropped out from ITT and is in debt because he thought it was the easy way out until he realized you have to pull your weight and now he's angry and bashes ITT any chance he gets because he failed.

Well that definitely makes sense, and I've heard the same thing with a lot of schools(Even big time universities.) A reputation of a school how high they are held by the world means nothing if the student does not put in their most(Get back what you put in etc...)

With that being said though, I still think through my own personal preference I would prefer a school that has deep roots that go back at least a few decades and have a long list of accomplishments and connections as an academic institution. But again, that is me and my own personal preference.

[Travelar]

I spent ~10 years in the military taking classes here and there when I had the time. After leaving the workforce and being out in the job market for a few years, I decided to go back to school. After looking at a number of places, I decided on the University of Phoenix. The choice was simple. They gave me the most bang for my buck, eliminating all of my general education classes by giving me credit for what I had taken and credit for military experience. To be honest, I was not overly impressed with the curriculum at the time. Granted, I had been working in IT for ~12 years and I was taking their IT track. I found it simple and the lack of labs and practical experience was a real bummer.

Fast forward a few years. I am now working on my Masters in Information Assurance (only 2 semesters left) through an online program at University of Maryland University College. I chose a different school for the diversity and my lackluster review of Phoenix. 8 classes in, and I have the same thoughts about this respected school that many of my colleagues have attended. I now believe that I've just been in my field for too long to get any real learning experience in my current path and have revised my thoughts on Phoenix.

So at this point I say, if it works for you, go for it. I found it a little overwhelming at first, but once I figured out how to manage my workload and time, it became much easier. I would have no problems recommending an online University to someone. Like anywhere else, you get good instructors and bad. The biggest thing that I have a problem with is gauging what the professor wants in a deliverable. For me, it is more difficult without the human interaction, but I think the professors tend to grant some additional slack because they know this too.

Good luck to you.

[+Yorak]

I can tell you that most government establishments will not even consider a candidate that graduated from an online university...sorry. Not saying they are bad or do not offer the same education you would get in person, but that is just the truth.

[threetonesun]

Out of curiosity, how much does the average online class cost? A lot of state colleges near me offer mixed learning classes (go to class or do it online), are relatively cheap (for college), and you could actually meet the professor and talk with other students which, to me, is a huge part of taking classes in the first place.

[JonathanVP]

I graduated from Keller Graduate school with a MBA and a MPM (Project Management). Keller is part of DeVry University and has both an online and onsite component which I took both. I am also attending an online law school and may take an online doctorate program afterwards. The online experience is not for everyone. The online experience requires both discipline and time management which can easily be overlooked but are essential traits for the job force.

In my experience, I have had a positive experience in the work force because of my online education. Even thought the online educational format has an ufounded stigma, many recruiters, hiring managers, and start ups are looking for people who can exhibit the maturity and the discipline to graduate and to apply the knowledge learned.

[threetonesun]

Also, I would add that's it's very regional. If you're in the middle of North Dakota, online universities make a ton of sense. If you're in New York or Boston, everyone is going to expect that you've gone to a physical school.

[kombolcha]

Travelar, on 05 March 2012 - 19:28, said:

So at this point I say, if it works for you, go for it. I found it a little overwhelming at first, but once I figured out how to manage my workload and time, it became much easier. I would have no problems recommending an online University to someone. Like anywhere else, you get good instructors and bad. The biggest thing that I have a problem with is gauging what the professor wants in a deliverable. For me, it is more difficult without the human interaction, but I think the professors tend to grant some additional slack because they know this too.

Good luck to you.

It takes an incredible amount of discipline to do online schooling. It's simply too easy to slack off and trying to figure out time and workload management will be difficult until you're in a couple of courses. Travelar, one of my biggest problems I had is what I bolded in your statement. The first week of class every instructor will provide a "questions" thread and it's the only question I ever ask, what the professor expects of us and what he is looking for in our work.

threetonesun, on 05 March 2012 - 20:03, said:

Out of curiosity, how much does the average online class cost? A lot of state colleges near me offer mixed learning classes (go to class or do it online), are relatively cheap (for college), and you could actually meet the professor and talk with other students which, to me, is a huge part of taking classes in the first place.

at Phoenix it's $1,805 per course including resource materials/books. You can do both class and online, the traditional classes are about $100/200 cheaper.
That averages out to about $16,000 a year

JonathanVP, on 05 March 2012 - 20:22, said:

I graduated from Keller Graduate school with a MBA and a MPM (Project Management). Keller is part of DeVry University and has both an online and onsite component which I took both. I am also attending an online law school and may take an online doctorate program afterwards. The online experience is not for everyone. The online experience requires both discipline and time management which can easily be overlooked but are essential traits for the job force.

In my experience, I have had a positive experience in the work force because of my online education. Even thought the online educational format has an ufounded stigma, many recruiters, hiring managers, and start ups are looking for people who can exhibit the maturity and the discipline to graduate and to apply the knowledge learned.

I think that as more and more people are attending online universities, this stigma will go away. Like I've been saying, it's what you make of it, so if you actually learn it, understand it, capable of critical thinking, and application I think you will be just fine.

threetonesun, on 05 March 2012 - 20:30, said:

Also, I would add that's it's very regional. If you're in the middle of North Dakota, online universities make a ton of sense. If you're in New York or Boston, everyone is going to expect that you've gone to a physical school.

No. I live in Los Angeles and work full time and travel often. I used to go to class which meant leaving work at 4pm and sitting in traffic for an hour and half, **** me, I should have died or killed someone at least a dozen times driving exhausted. Now I can school anywhere, even on a plane or on vacation and not spend more on gas than I have to, and most importantly on my own time.

These stigma's need to go away already. I had negative views about online universities until I did my own research.

[threetonesun]

kombolcha, on 06 March 2012 - 03:04, said:

No. I live in Los Angeles and work full time and travel often. I used to go to class which meant leaving work at 4pm and sitting in traffic for an hour and half, **** me, I should have died or killed someone at least a dozen times driving exhausted. Now I can school anywhere, even on a plane or on vacation and not spend more on gas than I have to, and most importantly on my own time.

These stigma's need to go away already. I had negative views about online universities until I did my own research.

Saying you can go to school while on vacation is not going to help those stigmas.

People have lots of opinions about college these days, if you're happy with what you got, than that's fine. I maintain that if you're surrounded by good schools, you will have a harder time if you're going up against people with degrees from nearby or national known colleges. As the percentage of college educated people goes up, employers will be pickier about where those degrees came from.

In the end, the key factor would be, is what the cost of a UoP education worth what it will add to your lifetime earnings? If it is, then who cares how their viewed, if it's not... well then, you might as well educate yourself.

[kombolcha]

threetonesun, on 06 March 2012 - 04:02, said:

Saying you can go to school while on vacation is not going to help those stigmas.

People have lots of opinions about college these days, if you're happy with what you got, than that's fine. I maintain that if you're surrounded by good schools, you will have a harder time if you're going up against people with degrees from nearby or national known colleges. As the percentage of college educated people goes up, employers will be pickier about where those degrees came from.

In the end, the key factor would be, is what the cost of a UoP education worth what it will add to your lifetime earnings? If it is, then who cares how their viewed, if it's not... well then, you might as well educate yourself.

I see your point and we're both valid to varying degrees or perspectives. The example of vacation was to convey choice because after all, how many of us would actually study on vacation?

I'm surrounded by Peperdine, UCLA, UCI, USC, CSULA, CSULB, Loyola Marymount, CSU Pomona, Western, and so many more. In my profession I am not afraid that someone who attended a "good school" is going to take my job away. At the end of the day its experience that counts the most. People who have graduated from these "good schools" will tell you that it really doesn't mean too much anymore. Obviously that arguement is weighted depending on your profession. In my department at work, there are 8 full time people including myself. Four have graduated from state universities, one from ITT, one has only an AA, another with some college, and myself 4 months away to graduation. This year, two people were given merit raises as seniors, the first was one of the state uni graduate, but the other guy was the ITT graduate who's only been working for us for a year and a half. Our ERP director and Network admin are also graduates of Phoenix. I'm just trying to prove a point that it really doesn't matter in the IT world. For my masters program, hell, I'll go anywhere my workplace will pay for.

Just as there are more people with college education, there are many more who are not college graduates and even more who are high school dropouts. Bad for society as a whole, but more people to work for me as I make my way up to management.