Online Schools? What's your opinion.TIA

[jennifer-in-mi]

Hello Catheites.

Lately, I've been considering going back to school-online. A friend of mine, a few years back, got his theology/psych degree online and went from brick masonry to Christian counseling.

If I take this action, my new major is undetermined but health care field is a major consideration.

If you're willing to share, please share with me here or pm about your experience.


TIA.

 

[punka274]

I have been considering an online school associates degree also! I would love to hear any experiences anybody has had with them!

The major i have my eye on is Associate of Arts in Health Care Administration with the Emphasis of medical records...say that ten times fast

Ive been debating on this for a while now....for some reason i keep putting it off? Just not sure if its for me?

sorry i couldn't offer any help but maybe somebody will chim in here!

 

[Beavs]

Make sure you have the discipline and time to handle the course. For some people the lack of structure can be a real problem. Sometimes this can also be said of the instructors. I've had some great experiences with distance learning and some not so great experiences but alas, the same can be said of classroom instruction (which can have its own set of problems). All in all, my colleagues in my field (where an advanced degree is required) have found distance learning degree programs equally as credible as traditional in person degree programs.

I recommend doing you research first to find out what type of program and school is best. A web search will pull up a lot of quack degree programs from ACME schools and the like. I highly recommend checking out the Peterson's Guide which is a respected source on colleges, universities and graduate schools. You can select online learning as a search option.
http://www.petersons.com/

Good luck!

 

[jennifer-in-mi]

Thanks, Beavs, for the great info. There is a school right near me that I can do online and it is recognized.
I love these forums!! I knew I would get some great advice here.

 

[complik8td]

I tried it once and for me personally.... it was not a good choice. I enrolled w/Univ. of Phx. for a basic course.... can't remember the exact name of the course... but it was something simple. I was required to spend a LOT of time on the computer responding to the other students papers/answers, and of course complete my own assignments. I was spending nearly 30 hours a week on ONE simple course. To me, this was highly overwhelming. I hated it.

I decided to physically head back into the classroom (having NEVER attended college after I-won't-tell-you-how-many-years post HS ), and I graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Bus. Adm. & a minor in Comp. Sci. For me, the classroom experience was very much an integral and important component of my education. Much of what I gained in the classroom could never have been acquired online. Just my 2 cents.... GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

 

[baylian]

Hi

I was a short time ago pursing nursing. I needed prereq's and I managed to knock many of them out on line. I loved it. I did much studying late evening when the house was quiet.

I highly recommend it. It saved a ton in gas to the community college also.

Good Luck and Go For It!

 

[jennifer-in-mi]

I just got sticker shock from the tuition. Also, I decided to contact 3 major healthcare systems in this city if they would share some insight and input for myself. I already have a BBA in business management plus tons of accounting experience. Lots of footwork to do yet.
Please keep those opinions coming.

Thanks.

 

[RunninTeach]

I completed my Master's degree through the University of Scranton's online program. I fully agree with Beavs's comments. It may not be for everyone. Some people NEED to be in a physical classroom and have that face-to-face interaction. Though I do like that aspect of traditional learning, for me, it wasn't necessary. In my case, I was able to save on tuition, gas, and time. The online programs are VERY convenient for busy people, and as long as you are someone who can handle independent work/study and the program is fully accredited, I would recommend it.

Good luck!

 

[RunninTeach]

An afterthought just came to me.

I do want to add in a word of caution. Though the negative perceptions of online degrees seem to be shifting, I did get a couple of, well, actually insulting comments (one from a family member, another from a close friend) in which they suggested that my degree is not as valuable as one from a traditional program. Be prepared to possibly encounter that attitude in others as well. The important thing, though, is to know how online degrees are viewed in your particular field.

 

[jennifer-in-mi]

a friend of mine is getting her MBA with a focus in International Business because of her way cool job tha requires it in 18 months from a Christian college in their accerelated program. For me, not many schools-if any-offer what I'm NOW going for online. Both programs, my friend's and mine, will be for the same length of time but she has already started.