What is a good online school?
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There is a huge difference between an "online university" and a brick and mortar school. These "online universities" (like University of Phoenix, AIU, Capella, etc.) are disreputable, and applications listing degrees from these institutions find themselves at the bottom of the pile. I actually know a Human Resource manager at a Fortune 500 company who throws them away.
If you must study online, you must definitely do it the smart way -- through a reputable brick and mortar school that offers distance education. Many state universities are now doing this. The University of Iowa, the University of Maryland, and Penn State University all come to mind.
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Degrees through these fine schools will be much more respected than any piece of paper issued by AIU or Phoenix. Earning these degrees will also likely be much cheaper!
Follow these links which provide accurate listings of all state and private colleges that are currently providing distance education programs.
Best wishes to you!
any that are accredited.
On consulting engagements with corporate HR directors, it really depends on the specifics.
If you are competing against Ivy League grads for a position on Wall Street, forget it.
The most common areas I've seen online graduates have success are:
1) They are already within a company, have an excellent track record, and need a regionally accredited degree to be considered for a promotion.
2) The "geographically challenged". If an employer is recruiting from a pool of applicants in the area (or looking to build a skill set internally), the only choice may be online degrees for certain skills or training. Think Idaho / Midwest.
However, online schools lack the prestige or name recognition of traditional on ground schools. For alot of military personnel, policemen, people with odd shifts, and working adults, online degrees are the only option.
One way to find out is to ask up front if the degree will be acceptable to the employer or grad school you are interested in.
After you have practical experience, your success and accomplishments become more important than the name on the degree.
Make sure any program you enter is regionally accredited. Regional accreditation shows that the school has passed a review process that will help ensure that your credits will transfer to other schools and that you are eligible to sit for licensing exams such as the CPA exam.
Check here before you enroll: http://www.chea.org/search/
There are some less than competent HR managers that will toss qualified applicants, but fortunately it is rare.
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