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

If I were going to take an online class, it definitely wouldn't be through a proprietary school.  Not a single person that I know who went to one and was hired into the field they were studying.  They just wound up with a truckload of student loans. 

The one thing that these people are experts at is expediting the processing of financial aid paperwork so they can get paid.  IMO, they target minorities, the poor and people who don't have the grades to get into a "real" college and would fail if they were even accepted.  They sell them a pipe dream for outrageous tuition.  You don't even have a guarantee that the people teaching you are credentialed. 

Read what's going on here in Ohio:

 http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/miami-jacobs -student-suit-over-accreditation-goes-to-arbitration-632464. html

http://www.oxfordpress.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/da yton/education/entries/2010/08/23/miamijacobs_nur.html


There are some traditional universities are offering online classes as an alternative for students.   Whatever you decide, make sure you get your money's worth.

Here is the latest undercover on UOP.   There are tons of reports out there.  
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/profit-education-abc-news-undercover-investigate-recruiters-university/story?id=11411379

@ The one thing that these people are experts at is expediting the processing of financial aid paperwork so they can get paid.  IMO, they target minorities, the poor and people who don't have the grades to get into a "real" college and would fail if they were even accepted.  They sell them a pipe dream for outrageous tuition. 

Whoo girrrl, You're preaching now!  I have to agree!!  Have you seen the tuition rates?!  Unless you have tuition reimbursement from your employer, private scholarships or can pay as you go, I wouldn't do it.  They charge ivy league prices and try to push financing by loan agreements on you.  The recruiters come after you with a hard/soft sell too.  I look at the online schools as a big racket and trust the recruiters as much as a sales man at a used car lot.

Many traditional schools are starting to offer the option of compressed semesters for some of their in class and online classes to compete with the trimester and similar systems with online programs.  I think this is a better option than a fully online school for someone who has to lean on their education to get a job.

I think the best candidate for a UoP type degree is someone who was in Mack's position.  The working person/parent who only needs the paper to justify the promotion for the career that's already in place.

My own niece got suckered into one of these programs and I couldn't believe how much money they charged.  I tried to tell her, but she has a head as hard as a rock.  Years later she still owes student loans.

Same here Blessed.  I have 4 neices that did UOP and they are loaded down with those loans and no career.    People ask me about what school to go to a lot because i'm in education and I try to tell them if your going to spen ivy league money go to an ivy league school. 

WOW, this is right on time.

I was about to enroll in UoP to get a degree in Hospitality Management (this is the field that I want to get into when I retire from my present job in some years) HM is NOT my field of work, although I do touch on it about 5%.  So from what you all are saying...don't take online courses for a degree in a field such as HM?????

Smooches
Youlanda

Have you ever worked in hospitality?  

No I have never professionally worked in that field...I have planned many events, birthday parties, cabarets, weddings, etc.  This is something that I want to do when I retire.  

OK, I was thinking more along the lines of hotels.  I've done that and it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  Started out as a desk clerk, was night auditor for a while and eventually got promoted up into management.  The only formal training that I had was when the owner of the property sent me to a week-long class offered by the franchise.

Event planning sounds like it could be fun.   Good luck with it. 

DON'T DO IT LUVSDAISANDS