online schooling

[lordtodd75]

Has anyone here gotten there degree through distance learning. I am looking at getting my comp sci degree through one of the online institutions, and since I have already had a bad experience with one of these institutions I am a little hesitant. Does anyone know of a good reviews website where I can get feedback from students about there experiences. The schools I have checked out are all regionally accredited because I understand how important that is. I just want to make sure I dont get caught up in a "diploma mill". BTW I was looking into the university of phoenix, but I think I am leaning toward baker college due to finances and the reviews I have read on the UOP.

[missioncontrol]

a lot of local colleges are offering classes online, have you looked into this option?

[ChadTower]

As someone who has done hiring in the past of people with cmpsci degrees, I'll say that a strictly online school like UoPhoenix would not get nearly the amount of credibility or respect that a more traditional university, or even a local community college, would get.  Even if it is a real 4 year Bachelor of Science degree I'd still look at it like a correspondance school.  It would rank below technical institutes like ITT Tech as well.

It's just way too easy to cheat to a cmpsci degree with a mosty online presence.

[JimmyU]

The thing about all-online schools is that they are for-profit.  This can lead to them not put your interests first.  I would look into community college as well since it is fairly inexpensive for what you get.

[lordtodd75]

@missioncontrol

I have looked into community college and they do offer classes online, the problem is they dont offer all classes online. I dont have the time to commute to the community college.

@chad

What do you think of baker college, It is also B&M. They are regionally accredited and they are non-profit.



I am already in the field as an IT administrator, basically I need that piece of paper to make that extra 20 grand a year. Dont get me wrong I want to learn and I would like to receive my degree from the best school possible. But it isn't like I will be going solely off of my degree to get a job. By the time I get a BA I will have 9 years experience under my belt. Given my situation do you still think it is a bad idea to go with online?

[ChadTower]

What do you think of baker college, It is also B&M. They are regionally accredited and they are non-profit.

Honestly, never heard of it.  I looked at their site a little bit.  Unless this candidate had something else that made them stand out from the others in the pool, I probably wouldn't look much more than the couple of minutes I just did, and the resume would get thrown into the low priority pile at best.

That is, of course, if I'm basing the evaluation on education.  Given that you're already in the field, you'd be evaluated with more of an eye towards your experience, but low single digit years of experience (as you seem to have now) aren't going to go that far.  Really, it's all about what positions you're going for and who else is in the candidate pool.

You don't want a BA in cmpsci.  You want a BS.  I can't say I've even seen many BAs offered in cmpsci.

[lordtodd75]

Wow, is it really that bad out there that 9 years of experience would be scoffed at. I know the field is "saturated" but come on, it cant be that bad. Most of the job postings I have seen in various places ask for 5-7 years experience tops. I suppose it depends on who is doing the hiring and I hope I don't run into anyone like you 

[ChadTower]

Wow, is it really that bad out there that 9 years of experience would be scoffed at. I know the field is "saturated" but come on, it cant be that bad. Most of the job postings I have seen in various places ask for 5-7 years experience tops. I suppose it depends on who is doing the hiring and I hope I don't run into anyone like you 

You don't have 9 years of experience, you "will have 9 years" "By the time I get a BA".

A lot of things can happen in the time it takes to get a 4 year college degree.

[missioncontrol]

@missioncontrol

I have looked into community college and they do offer classes online, the problem is they dont offer all classes online. I dont have the time to commute to the community college.

Take as many of the online ones you can, then after that one or 2 classes a semester until you get your degree...

I worked full time and went to school part time for the last 2 1/2 years for my associates in Information systems. I graduated with it last August, I am now working on my Web Technologies degree since it only requires 8 more classes. This time around I'm only taking 1 or 2 classes a semester and taking my time.

If your already in the field, your work might pay for part or all of your classes.

[ChadTower]

The only substantial complaint I have with my employer is that it offers too low a tuition benefit to be of any use.  It isn't even enough to take one class a year at a real university.

[missioncontrol]

damn, what kind of schools you looking at PBJ? Granted mine is a Community College, but the one class I am taking was under $200.

[missioncontrol]

mine pays for all mine, books, supplies and anything else...

There's a limit, but so fat I haven't hit it yet.....

[ChadTower]

damn, what kind of schools you looking at PBJ? Granted mine is a Community College, but the one class I am taking was under $200.

The community colleges here charge $700 or so per undergraduate course.  Go to a name University and jim's figure is about right.

[lordtodd75]

If I were to look for another job I wouldn't be looking until I finished my degree, that was the point of me saying "9 years". I am aware of how many years experience I currently have. I agree that it depends on the position as well as the candidate field. I really just wanted to know if anyone went to an online school in the past and what there story is now. Did it serve them well? Do they wish they hadn't? Why? Like I said I had a really bad experience with a trade school and I don't want to relive that but I also don't want to lump all of the online schools in with that school under the "not a real college" category. I am also aware if I am in the running for a position with a drexel grad with the same experience that I probably won't get the position. I do thank you for your input 

EDIT: Jesus six posts while I was typing this.

[ChadTower]

I miss the days of a few years ago when the tuition benefit in my field would be 5 figures... this $1000/year crap doesn't get you a parking permit.

[myntik1]

I would like to finish up my degree in Spec Ed but at 15 hundo per class (no books included), I may just have to swap it and go down the project management road.  It sucks to leave credits on the table but if I bang on my pm classes (which my company will pay for) I could probably double my salary.

I agree with Chad, find a school, anything nearby that you can go to. At my company we view strictly online schools as diploma mills and don't really put too much stock in them.

[shmokes]

Another problem with online courses, in many cases, is that they are go-at-your-own-pace.  For all but the most disciplined, that pace actually turns out to be don't-ever-accomplish-anything.  You're a busy person.  You work full-time.  If you don't have the traditional class you must attend at a certain time, with deadlines that must be met at certain times, are you really going to have the discipline to get that degree?

Then, of course, you are faced with the fact that most people who went to real schools don't take online schools seriously, so people who went to online schools never rise to positions of power, so nobody doing hiring (a position of power) ever ends up taking your online degree seriously.

On a related note, I have a brother who went to University of Phoenix when it was a brick and mortar school that simply catered to people who work 9-5.  He's now looking at going back to school for a graduate degree because he's finding that, even with impressive experience under his belt, nobody takes his degree seriously because they think it's an online degree.

Don't waste your time and money, IMO.

[ChadTower]

If you don't have the traditional class you must attend at a certain time, with deadlines that must be met at certain times, are you really going to have the discipline to get that degree?

I don't think there are too many "no schedule" real degree programs anymore... most of them run with schedules and deadlines that I've seen.  They want you to progress because you pay by the credit.

[tommy]

If you don't have the traditional class you must attend at a certain time, with deadlines that must be met at certain times, are you really going to have the discipline to get that degree?

You want to progress because you want to better yourself, get a better job and so on. Someone being there or someone telling you you need to be here at a certain time means nothing if you don't want to be there in the first place. If you have such a lack of drive then you have more problems beyond doing an online course and will just never do anything with your life. After all, this is something you're signing up for, not something that is forced on you.