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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 10:20:19
I'm considering an online degree. The field is right up my alley, everything's online (the tests are proctored via webcam, which is awesome), price is right (non-profit school), and the place is fully accredited and gets all kinds of money from various organizations, including the Gates Foundation.
I'm 26 now and it'd be awesome to have a degree at or before 30 (definitely before 31). I know age is just a number, but I'm looking to get into a respectable gig soon so then I can maybe get a master's later and be a little higher up on the totem pole and also be reasonably well-paid by the time I'm 40-45. This place offers a master's in my field, too.
Two of my friends are all for it. Online schooling is becoming a big deal (even state schools are offering online programs now), and they think it'd be great for me, especially since I can probably do it in 3 years, maybe a bit less.
One of my friends, who's really into the academic world (parents are academics, he's taking graduate classes, considering a law degree) thinks I need to go to a "real school." I have a couple problems with that. First, it would take longer, because I need to work and because its hard to accelerate programs at traditional institutions. Secondly, for this program, I'd have to move. I can get an associates in the field locally, but for the full 4 year degree I'd need to move. His suggestion was to go with it, and move for school.
I don't want to be anti-social or end up with a useless degree, but I do find the online learning appealing. I also think that at my age (not that 26 is OLD, but it is older than say, 18-22), I need to find a program that I can fit into my life, instead of trying to schedule my life around a more traditional program.
What do you all think?
Posted by Phillipa on December 17, 2010, at 13:08:57
In reply to Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 10:20:19
Old? What I wouldn't give to be your age again. What's the degree in they are great for medical field. Phillipa
Posted by Solstice on December 17, 2010, at 13:34:29
In reply to Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 10:20:19
I think what you're talking about doing is Exciting!
I'm quite a bit older than you. I had some college after high school, but ended up sort of falling into a fabulous career early in my college days - way before I had enough credits for a degree. I worked my way up and absolutely LOVED what I did. I made good money, had earned a reputation of competence in my field - it just couldn't have been better. Unfortunately, my line of work was crushed by the economic crisis. I survived the first year and a half of layoffs, but got bit at the very end - and have been unemployed now for 15 months. After spending some time with headhunters, it didn't take me long to realize that it was going to be very difficult to get back into my field until it recovers substantially - and it doesn't look like that will happen until well after the retail industry is thriving and expanding. At my age - without a degree - I was looking at being very under-employed despite my extensive experience. So I went back to college, initially thinking of just completing my degree. For obvious reasons, I was motivated to accelerate my degree too. I took my first two semesters online.
Here's what I can tell you.
Online classes are frequently MUCH more time intensive - and just plain ole HARDER than in-class courses. My third and 4th semester, I took all my classes on-campus, and the difference was amazing. Here are some things to consider:
1. On-campus, professors see you and you see them. Communication is MUCH easier. Online professors are frequently difficult to hunt down - you can wait forever for responses, and that can really cause you problems with getting your work done by deadlines. Miss those deadlines and it can hurtcha pretty bad.
2. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the social environment. On-campus gives you lots of access to things that will help tremendously - tutoring - help with research - fellow students who form study groups. Online classes, however, can feel very isolating. And it's frequently heavy on reading and writing... so if those aren't areas of strength for you...
3. On-campus is very friendly toward the working populace. Most classes have day and evening offerings. You need to check out your local college's class schedule to see when various classes are offered. I think you'll find it fairly easy to fit classes around your work schedule.
4. Most colleges do offer accelerated programs on-campus. They have summer semesters, and during Christmas break and spring break most college offer 3-week 'mini-semesters' where you get one 3-credit class out of the way. it of course works best for courses that don't have intense material.
5. On-campus college tuition is usually much less expensive than on-line schools. I took my on-line courses thru my local college, and they charge an extra fee for each on-line course. During my initial research, I discovered that colleges that operate entirely online are the most expensive of all.
Regardless of what you choose - I think you're doing a good thing for yourself. I just think you should check everything out before you decide which way is best for you. If you take your first two years at a community college - you'll have the advantage of a much more student-friendly environment (much smaller class sizes) and less expensive tuition. Then you can transfer those first two years of credits to university for jr & sr years. you'll be much better prepared for it doing it that way.
You may want to set up a time to meet with a college counselor. They can be marvelous at helping you figure out what will work best for you - and at clearing up any misconceptions you may have about what's availble.
Solstice
Posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 17:37:02
In reply to Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 10:20:19
Thanks for the input. I think I'm going to go for it. I live in a small town. The schools here are great if you're younger, unemployed, or have a flexible work schedule, but they're not big on night classes. I'd probably end up doing a lot of the work online anyway.
Since this particular school in non-profit, I think I may end up spending slightly less than I would if I got an associates and then went to a "real" school. Plus, I can do it a little bit faster, which will get me into a relatively secure, reasonably well-paying job sooner, which would be nice.
The degree is in a health-related subject.
Posted by Solstice on December 17, 2010, at 18:22:30
In reply to Re: Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 17:37:02
> The degree is in a health-related subject.
The health care field is about as secure as you can get right now. I'm excited for you! It sounds like you're lookimg at all the components involved in your particular situation.
If you don't mind sharing it, I'd love to know what area you're going into?
Solstice
Posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 19:03:38
In reply to Re: Online Degree?, posted by Solstice on December 17, 2010, at 18:22:30
health informatics
Posted by emmanuel98 on December 17, 2010, at 19:32:40
In reply to Re: Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 19:03:38
Good luck to you. I took an on-line class and found it really hard to keep motivated. I took regular courses on Saturdays and evenings at the public college and did much better. I was motivated, I met other students, I knew the professor and could talk to him after class. If there are any public colleges (community colleges, state colleges, state universities) nearby, I would check them out. Most students at public colleges work, many full-time, and the colleges are very accomodating to full-time workers.
Posted by Solstice on December 17, 2010, at 20:14:34
In reply to Re: Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 19:03:38
> health informatics
Great choice! That's an area that's bound to grow for some time to come.
Solstice
Posted by Maxime on December 17, 2010, at 21:29:54
In reply to Online Degree?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 17, 2010, at 10:20:19
I have designed online courses for university students. It can be a very a challenging way to learn. You must be very dedicated and able to learn on your own. If you are the type of person who procrastinates, I would say that online learning is not for you.
But I am happy that you are thinking of taking this big step!
Posted by Christ_empowered on December 18, 2010, at 5:47:47
In reply to Re: Online Degree? » Christ_empowered, posted by Maxime on December 17, 2010, at 21:29:54
Thanks, everyone (especially maxime for the latest post). The place I'm considering has been all online, all the time, since its inception. They run in 6-month "terms" and let you finish more or less as much or as little as you want in each term, within reason. I think I'll start out with a few classes, do those well, and go from there.
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