Online College?
Question:
And which schools would you recommend?
Answer:
I'm currently working on my Master's degree online through Excelsior College. Excelsior has a good program and is fully accredited. It has been a good experience so far.
It is not true that the courses are inferior or that you can't get help. You use the same college textbooks as any traditional school, and you communicate with your professor and classmates by email, discussion boards, chat boards, and online debates. The way most of my classes have worked is that each week the assignments for that week are posted, with required readings and assignments, which included class discussion questions which you post to the discussion board, and a good part of your grade comes from your discussion contributions because they don't want you to feel isolated and they want to be able to make sure you have read the material and understand what you have read. We have also had to work in teams to complete team projects, which can be great if your other team members are diligent and get their contributions posted on time, or frustrating if they don't--but that happens with any group of people who have to work together. Usually, you have one assignment due each week in addition to your discussion questions, and it can be posted anytime during the week, so yes, you have a certain degree of flexibility, and then you have a couple of long term team projects due each semester. In my last course, I had two major team projects, and an independent reading/research project which turned out to be a 14 page paper that had to be done in APA Format in additional to weekly assignments. For the most part, I have had great instructors who read through the discussions and added comments on a regular basis, and responded to questions by email within a day of emailing them. I have only had one instructor who did not, and I dropped the course and notified the school of why. They let me complete the requirements for the course on my own and had the Associate Dean review and approve my work so that I did not have to pay to retake the course, which I thought was more than fair.
It's also not true that all the students are older. Probably half of the students in my courses have been military students--many who are on assignment overseas--but then again, Excelsior is an accredited school that is qualified to accept military tuition assistance or whatever they call it, and not all online schools are approved for that.
I can't recommend other schools because I have not tried them, but I can recommend the online experience. Good luck.
They are very flexible, but you would miss out on the college experience entirely. It's better to have a teacher to ask questions of if that's an option.
I'm currently enrolled with the University of Phoenix. It is a very simple process and great if you want more free time for yourself. Look up University of Phoenix online and all the info should be there for you. How to connect to an enrollment counselor (who will answer all of your questions). What is nice about it is that the University does all the work for you as far as paperwork, financial aid, grants, signing you up for classes etc. All you have to do is supply them with some information. Once a student you will be assigned a financial counselor and an academic counselor who you can direct all of your concerns to personally. If you have any further questions I can supply information to you directly just email me at jscotts22@yahoo.com
I would highly recommend against attending an online college. There are many on campus options that cost less and allow for flexible scheduling. In the business world online degrees are hugely discounted and for most companies not worth anything at all.
Try taking a look at your local community college, it should be an inexpensive option and have evening and weekend classes if you are trying to work it in around a job.
I don't do online college myself but I do know major schools are designing online courses to make life easier. Its not right for everyone though. Its more for parents and people that want to go back to school but they are stopped by the dilemma of how to find the time to go to class, sit through class, and do homework as they get home with their regular duties waiting for them as they get home. So online courses are perfect for them and good to make life easier for them. They are bettering their lives doing something they thought was out of the question when they have family, and jobs already their #1 factor. I think these program instructors know they are onto a very good idea that will only improve as far as quality wise. But the quality of life these people are getting is nice to see. It gives people more hope that they can be anything they want to be.
I don't really think its for younger students that are starting out in the real world. If they have no reason to really be at home all the time then they do need to get out in the real world. Learn about people, meet new people, grow on every aspect that is out there.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. An accredited university which offers online courses is different. Even if the degree is mostly online, if there are requirements to actually complete course work and come to the campus for seminars and short courses, it is probaly ok.
More Questions & Answers...