> From: Zaphod Beeblebrox [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Okay, I really, really think that I need a degree. I've got umpteen > hours of general studies, but due to circumstances (called the real > world) I've never completed my degree. I know that there's a couple of > you out there that have been doing online college. I'm curious as to > your experiences and if it's been practical to do between work and > family life. > Also, what college are you using?
I earned my Masters degree in Computer Information Systems from Strayer University (they offer online programs, traditional on-campus programs, and various combinations of both) - I took all my classes online. I did go to the local campus for my thesis presentation but could have done it online as well. It took me about two and a half years, but I was in no rush. I earned my Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Alfred University and found the on-campus experience more rewarding (on various levels) compared to the online experience at Strayer. If I could do it over again, I would have went to the University of Maryland for my Masters degree if for no other reason than the human interaction -be it with professors or classmates. Physically being around people provides the opportunity to learn more than "the days lesson"... you can pick up so much from small talk before and after class, seminars, special presentations, etc. Strayer offered two formats for distance learning: synchronous (you are online "live", where you may or may not be part of an on-campus class) and asynchronous (you are not "live" but have access to the lesson audio, slides, handouts, etc). I chose the latter so I was not tied down and committed to a specific time every week. If I wanted the former I would have just attended the on-campus classes. I logged on to get the reading assignments, homework, slides and partake in the discussions (via the forums). You were required to login "x" times per week (time was tracked) and partake in the discussions and any questions that were posted. The discussions were good in that you could be as thorough as you wanted to be - providing links to resources and even posting examples when appropriate. Compared to in-class discussions this was a plus because you weren't consuming an entire class period with your own responses or questions. I was also commuting to work on the metro, an hour each way, which was perfect for reading/responding to the discussions so that part worked out great. I found the time commitment and balance of work and family to be very manageable as long as I scheduled "school time" every week. I usually spent an hour or so M-F doing the reading and partaking in the discussions. On the weekend I spent 4 or 5 hours doing the assignments, usually in the early morning so I could still have the day for other things. A couple things... 1. It is very easy to "get by" with the online classes because you can Google just about anything. If you are really dedicated to learning and not into wasting your money this isn't an issue and you do the work and accept the grades you earn. A lot of people cheat themselves by doing the least work possible - sometimes copying work, etc which I never understood but that's another conversation. 2. Do not buy your text books from the school you attend. They will try and force this (at least Strayer did) by having their own books bound which were nothing more than the text book you could buy online with a different cover! I saved HUNDREDS buying the books on my own. Even some of the professors will tell you what the differences are and if you really need the "school version" of the book. The only time I did not buy the book elsewhere was when it was bundled with lab books (Simulation and Modeling classes were two big ones). 3. If you already have a degree and are working on another one, be sure you don't take any classes you already took. Look at the class descriptions very carefully and compare them to classes you have taken. I was told I had to take a bunch of programming classes which I knew I didn't need... nor did I feel like I should have to test out of them. I went in and spoke with the Dean who finally excused me from 4 classes! That could have been a lot of wasted money. 4. If your employer offers tuition assistance, use it. I made the mistake of not taking advantage of this because I did not want to come up with the money to repay them if I left - not realizing that I could have banked the loan money and been fine if that situation presented itself. If you are paying out of pocket, pay as you go - loans are always available, especially for graduate students. My biggest regret is not taking longer to earn my Masters degree, instead choosing to take out loans to pay the tuition. I won't see the benefits for a long time because the pay increase for having another degree is not enough to offset what you pay in the end with loans. I will say this though, as a graduate student you are able to borrow ridiculous amounts of money that can be used for other school related expenses such as: transportation, housing, food, books, etc... and at the time the interest rates were so low that I felt like I shouldn't pass it up! I borrowed quite a bit of money that I didn't really need but where else are you going to get a loan at 2% interest? :-) Let me know if you have any specific questions... sorry for the long post, I thought the information may be useful to you. Tango. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Create robust enterprise, web RIAs. Upgrade & integrate Adobe Coldfusion MX7 with Flex 2 http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;56760587;14748456;a?http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/flex2/?sdid=LVNU Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:223422 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
