S/O why are online degrees useless?

[Anonymous]

Would it scare you if I said that there are online nursing schools releasing unprepared students into the market right under your noses in DC area?

[Anonymous]

I have a degree from a brick and mortor state university, but took a few classes online, independent study, distance ed etc. Those classes were for the most part MUCH harder than in person classes. My advisor told me I was one of 4 people who finished and passed online Spanish. Trust me, online classes are much harder, particularly when they don't have a virtual classroom where everyone logs on and shares ideas and gets input/discussion from the instructor. There's a lot to be said for a face to face class. The discusson makes it easier I think.

That said, as someone who worked 12 hr graveyard shifts in order to put myself through school, the reality is sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I liked the independent study classes because I could get the books and assignments between terms and get started on the reading ahead of time. I was usually ready for 2-3 tests by the end of the first week of classes and done with the classes entirely by the 3rd week which meant I could could focus all my energy on the regular classes that that had set deadlines.

It allowed me to take a full load when I couldn't have otherwise. Alternative learning experiences have their function and shouldn't be discounted entirely.

Also OP, it's not "a credited school," it's "an accredited school." Those little things will cause people to eat you alive and say see that's why those degrees are no good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a degree from a brick and mortor state university, but took a few classes online, independent study, distance ed etc. Those classes were for the most part MUCH harder than in person classes. My advisor told me I was one of 4 people who finished and passed online Spanish. Trust me, online classes are much harder, particularly when they don't have a virtual classroom where everyone logs on and shares ideas and gets input/discussion from the instructor. There's a lot to be said for a face to face class. The discusson makes it easier I think.

That said, as someone who worked 12 hr graveyard shifts in order to put myself through school, the reality is sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I liked the independent study classes because I could get the books and assignments between terms and get started on the reading ahead of time. I was usually ready for 2-3 tests by the end of the first week of classes and done with the classes entirely by the 3rd week which meant I could could focus all my energy on the regular classes that that had set deadlines.

It allowed me to take a full load when I couldn't have otherwise. Alternative learning experiences have their function and shouldn't be discounted entirely.

Also OP, it's not "a credited school," it's "an accredited school." Those little things will cause people to eat you alive and say see that's why those degrees are no good.

What's your degree in?

[Anonymous]

Soon everything will be online the computers science departments in gmu and virginia tech have entirely online classes where you must come in to take exams. There is no distinction noted on the diploma and transcript between online and sit down

[Anonymous]

One of my degrees is online, however there is no notation of that on my diploma or transcripts. Mine was through the same school as my undergrad and there is literally no distinction between my on campus and online programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my degrees is online, however there is no notation of that on my diploma or transcripts. Mine was through the same school as my undergrad and there is literally no distinction between my on campus and online programs.

But was it even worth going to your undergrad school?

[Anonymous]

My view of on- line schools is that while the school may teach the same topic as a good traditional college, the on-line class does not examine the material with the same depth and rigor as a traditional school would. So the degree is worth less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM to 2 young kids so an online program works best for me. I'm about to transfer my community college credits over to UMUC. I checked and it is a credited school. I'm about to invest a lot of money in going to school there - will it be for nothing?

You're a mom.

Let's say you have two choices:
A) to allow your teen to stay home and take on line classes from some virtual high school or
B) to watch your teen jump on a bus and head off to high school where REAL people can figure out if she's tired and therefore not performing well or if she's just not working to her potential b/c she's bored or if she's gifted in art b/c she made a beautiful sculpture that's on display

Get it?

If I were to hire someone for a position, and one had an on line degree while the other had a Master's from a state college, whom should I choose? In my experience, those with on line degrees don't value education. It's an easy way out. We've watered down education so much that no one - not even adults - can think critically. Furthermore, it's laziness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it scare you if I said that there are online nursing schools releasing unprepared students into the market right under your noses in DC area?

I am aware. My BIL's idiot baby momma was talking about doing this. Instead she decided on a program at one of those Strayer-type schools to be a medical assistant? Ugh.

Then she walked out on her 2 young kids. She's a charmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soon everything will be online the computers science departments in gmu and virginia tech have entirely online classes where you must come in to take exams. There is no distinction noted on the diploma and transcript between online and sit down

Exactly. People aren't going to be able to tell pretty soon. A lot of places are going to online education, possibly in an attempt to keep the cost of college education from being more astronomical than it already is? That's my theory at least.

[Anonymous]

I think the difference is whether the university is for profit or non-profit. University of Phoenix or Strayer -- those are bogus degrees.

[Anonymous]

Question for the principal who posted:

Would you hire a teacher who got her degree through UMUC of would you discount that degree?

[Anonymous]

I guess it depends on the degree. For Information Technology online is great. You have to be able to do you job. Nobody care where you leaned how to program, or mange projects.

The truth is the only person that cares about your degree is the first person that hires you.

After your first job or two most people that do hiring look at job experience.

[Anonymous]

University of phoenix online was extremely time consuming , they over compensated by mandating 5 written papers a week. have a friend who went to phoenix and had no problem getting in to georgetown graduate school. The main thing is to make sure that the online school is acredited by the us dept of education, otherwise its bogus. There are a lot of bogus online schools that have contributed to the negative perception of the legit ones.

[Anonymous]

Rumor had it this was part of the "philosophical differences" between Theresa Sullivan and the UVA BOV - the board wanted to move more aggressively into online education and she didn't. I think it has less to do with controlling costs and more to do with creating an additional revenue stream - even for non-profit universities. The academic mindset is that it dilutes the degree, the business mindset is universities are going to have to do it to survive. I personally have not taken an online course but I think it probably can be done well... with technology being what it is I think it probably will become a cost of entry for all universities before too long. It's a little unfortunate that the "diploma mills" came out of the gate early and gave online ed such a bad rap.