OT: Online colleges and institutes of higher learning....

What are your thoughts and/or experiences?  Would you recommend them? Who would you recommend them for (first time students, non-traditional students, students returning to the workforce or recently forced out of the workforce).   

 I have my BS from UoP online.  I did two years brick and mortar out of high school, but left because I started making money working and frankly - I was stupid.  lol

I loved UoP online because I lack the patience and tolerance to attend a class in person - the online program allowed me to work at MY pace - which is a bit quicker than others.  I am a speed reader, have a near photographic memory and pretty good writing skills.  For a regular in class time of 4 hrs a week and 4hrs to write a 10page paper, I can read the info, assimilate the content and write the paper in about 2 hrs total - takes more time if I have to do a fully annotated bibliography. 

I don't know that I would recommend it for first time students, however.  There were things I learned and understood from the in person - but for a working professional - chances are you're in school for the shyt you actually do in real life (my case in returning to school) - so online is much better because you're not really learning much - just confirming and proving you know what you already know.  I went back and majored in Management - thing was, I'd been in the field for almost 5 years already at the time.  So - most of the things covered were things I did or already did for work, so it was a breeze.  

I have a bit of expertise in this area and will give you the advice I give everyone as an advisor.   If you want a real education, go to a real school.   School reputation is extremely important and these online schools some of them have terrible reps, particularly UOP.   I can't tell you how many exposees have been done on that school, GMA about a month ago just did a great one on it.

That school is regional. (yes I know they say they aren't but they are) Yeah some people get jobs after it, but the majority of people just get stuck with huge bills and a worthless piece of paper that they think are legit degrees until they move to other cities and find that it's useless in most cases.

I use to do a lot of job fairs/HR seminars and they always referred to UOP degrees as junk degrees.

I have 4 neices that did  UOP and not one of them can find a job in HR, Psychology, or nursing.  One of them is working at a grocery store, one at the bus station, the other got a job at the bank, and the last is still unemployed with those high ass UOP bills.

Yes traditional brick and mortar is longer, yes it's a lot more work, but it is a real guaranteed education that you can go anywhere in the world with and won't be told your degrees is worthless.


UOP people don't hate me i'm just telling my experience from working in the education world.

 Lee - it all depends on the field and the need for the degree in it. 

Now - nursing, psychology and such - aw yea - you better believe it ain't holding water.  But for Business - especially for someone already working in the field and ALL you need is the damn paper - it's the best bet. 

I had 5 years experience - stellar record - just no paper.  My job now doesn't give a flip about where you got your degree (as long as it's accredited).  The business world is about what you can make happen, and what you've done before to prove you can make shyt happen -lol.  Once you're past a certain age, GPA isn't important either - so long as you passed.  

Regular corporate America - 'real education' doesn't come out of school - it's all in the field.  

JMO

If you are working in a corporate job and they don't care if you get your degree from a school onine that  is one thing.  Like you said you had 5 yesars experience, and a stellar record so you were already in a pretty good position you just needed to make it official.

BUT..... I have sat in on many corporate job seminars as a HR rep and they don't want those "junk degrees."  I will kind of agree and say you have a better choice with a UOP business degree over something specialized like nursing and psychology, but they are not equivalent.

I know you know this but before I was a professor I was an engineer, and while there were a few UOP people in the field they were not in the higher level programming sectors.  Because when it comes down to it an employer will hire a brick and mortar over a wire and monitor much more often. 

In California, your institution of education is still very important especially in technology, regardless of your age. Yes, experience plays a huge part, but schools still hold a LOT of weight. 

 Not doubting the school makes the difference in some fields and in some cases - I just knew for ME - it wouldn't at the point I was in my career. 

I work for a company with proprietary software and proprietary financial processing - other than the basics - they have to teach you everything about how they work - outside of that, it's people management and client relationship management - which is NOT in any book - and to top things off, my division serves a niche industry - so there's really no rule book to work from. 

We just look for a degree to make sure you spent enough money to keep the job cause you have high ass student loans to pay...... 

Funny thing is that is the case with a lot of jobs.   You go to school get an education to turn you into and educated, well rounded person.  Then when you get to the job you realize you don't know **** and have to be trained on everything anyway, then your left thinking why the hell did I spend all that dam time in school?

I have an answer for that question it just happened to me just last week.   They needed a certified person to work in a austic day care, so I took the job for the day.  The women that have  been working there for 12 plus years have such a chip on their shoulder about  subs.   I get into a conversation with them to find out just what it was all about.    The fact of the matter is they hate Joe Smoe coming from off the street with a dam degree getting paid $30 more dollars per hour than they make after having been there 12 years.    

It all boils down to education,  I had never stepped foot in that dam place, didn't even know where the bathroom was, these women had to tell me eveything and i'm their boss for the day.   That is some bull**** but that is how it works. 

Yeah employment experience doesn't come from a book, it's pretty much about the practical app.   You get on the job, you learn the job, you get good at the job.   But in most cases all that education does not even come into play, but without it,  you are stuck at a much lower earning ceiling than those who have it. 

My work has always been finacial (various areas) with significant IT responsibilities thrown in.  On the finance side (audit, accounting, financial reporting, planning and budget analysis etc) on line degrees were not respected. 

I'm sure this is at least in part because of the hugh number of colleges from Ivy League to community college within a small radius.  UoP would not have held water for my hiring despite a local presence.  I don't know its quality, but the perception is not good in my field. 

On the tech side there is more flexibility for distance learning.  You've got to be sure your chosen school is respected in your market.

To go the distance learning route I would find a traditional university, well respected in your field, with distance learning options.  This way your degree does not say online school.  Its just a standard degree from the U of Whatever. 

Most of these programs have some residency requirement like two weekends a semester.   I have only researched these at the grad level.  Undergrad may have similar programs. 

I agree!  "find a traditional university, well respected in your field, with distance learning options.  This way your degree does not say online school.  Its just a standard degree from the U of Whatever.  ".

It's a win-win, the online/distance flexibility paired with a tradionally recognized & respected university.

 I like it!  University of MD has UMUC.  Fits all of the above.