DH is 35 and wants to return to undergrad

[Anonymous]

My H got his masters when our kids were little. He was not home nights for 2 years but in the grand scheme of things it was really not all that bad.

[Anonymous]

Additionally, with undergrad, it is "almost all" garbage education you can teach yourself using resources online or at local libraries. College is good for one thing and it is when you are young, developing a network and using the brand name of the college to get a job. After 5 years, no one cares where you went to school it is just a check box for the hiring department.

I wouldn't underestimate the "check box for the hiring department" aspect. My uncle worked his way up without a degree in a company to have a good reputation and seniority. He got up to management, but unfortunately, any time the company sold/merged/his boss changed, it came up that he didn't have a degree and it was a barrier to being promoted or even maintaining his current position, even though his work experience made him more qualified for many who did get promoted. He just didn't fly through HR. He said even if he had a non-name bachelors degree with a 2.0 GPA, it would have still worked out better in terms of checking off boxes for the HR department.

He ended up quitting because he got so much crap and career stagnation from the new management, and realized that re-entering his field, even with decades of experience was nearly impossible due to competing with others who had a degree. He's pulling in some freelancing consulting income and his wife works full time, and he's near enough retirement that he doesn't think it's worth it to go back to school. But he's hell bent on his kids getting a bachelors, even the one kid who wants to drop out and has never been academically oriented.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would start in baby steps. Your husband may not be able to hack school. Start with something attainable...an Associate's Degree from Montgomery College. Then, he can add to that by getting the bachelor's degree. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Additionally, with undergrad, it is "almost all" garbage education you can teach yourself using resources online or at local libraries. College is good for one thing and it is when you are young, developing a network and using the brand name of the college to get a job. After 5 years, no one cares where you went to school it is just a check box for the hiring department.

I wouldn't underestimate the "check box for the hiring department" aspect. My uncle worked his way up without a degree in a company to have a good reputation and seniority. He got up to management, but unfortunately, any time the company sold/merged/his boss changed, it came up that he didn't have a degree and it was a barrier to being promoted or even maintaining his current position, even though his work experience made him more qualified for many who did get promoted. He just didn't fly through HR. He said even if he had a non-name bachelors degree with a 2.0 GPA, it would have still worked out better in terms of checking off boxes for the HR department.

He ended up quitting because he got so much crap and career stagnation from the new management, and realized that re-entering his field, even with decades of experience was nearly impossible due to competing with others who had a degree. He's pulling in some freelancing consulting income and his wife works full time, and he's near enough retirement that he doesn't think it's worth it to go back to school. But he's hell bent on his kids getting a bachelors, even the one kid who wants to drop out and has never been academically oriented.

That is what I meant by check the box. HR or hiring managers just need to check the box that the individual has a legitimate degree. Later in your career hardly anyone cares about GPA or prestige of your degree. Unless you are the head coach of Manhattan College .

[Anonymous]

I work full time and am working on my MS with 2 boys ages 9 and 12, a 9 week old puppy, and a crabby fireman DH. It's worth it in the long term, but some days I'm just so overwhelmed. I just focus on the fact that a year from now all this will be over and I'll have a new job.

[Anonymous]

I did an online graduate degree with an online program, and so did one of my close friends (different school). Each of us had worthwhile experiences. You note the degree on your CV, and there's no indication that it's online or otherwise.

It's very do-able, OP. A LOT of work, and hard to juggle full-time job, family, as well as school, but worth it. I absolutely loved my program, BTW. Also, FYI, my program was with Penn State's World Campus, and my friend's program was with U Md's University College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,
He would definitely go for a respectable online program.

oxymoron

That's not necessarily true. There are a number of schools within the area that are very flexible and you can take many classes online. I got a masters at George Mason while working full time because I was able to take some classes at nights and online. It's doable, and it does not show up on your transcript that you took online classes to get your degree.

George Mason is not respectable though, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where you being sarcastic when you said thanks for your input to the person who said that a respectable online program is an oxymoron? If so, that's not a very good attitude. People are trying to give advice, and I think that poster was spot on, especially in the DC area where people judge schools.

Maybe he could find a program for he did one class a semester, in state. It would take a long time, but it wouldn't take as much time away from the family.

Yes, actually I was being sarcastic. I don't think "oxymoron" person was trying to be helpful. I don't typically post here because I don't have time for useless snark. I was looking for insight from people that have something helpful to offer. I don't know when you last researched online universities. We said "respectable," so that doesn't mean University of Phoenix. GW, Georgetown, Northwestern and many other schools offer online programs. And you don't have to note that you took courses online on your resume.

Cornell also as online programs. Tell your husband to go for it. never too late. Just support him regardless and get ready for some stressful years, but worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,
He would definitely go for a respectable online program.

oxymoron

That's not necessarily true. There are a number of schools within the area that are very flexible and you can take many classes online. I got a masters at George Mason while working full time because I was able to take some classes at nights and online. It's doable, and it does not show up on your transcript that you took online classes to get your degree.

George Mason is not respectable though, sorry.

You are an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,
He would definitely go for a respectable online program.

oxymoron

That's not necessarily true. There are a number of schools within the area that are very flexible and you can take many classes online. I got a masters at George Mason while working full time because I was able to take some classes at nights and online. It's doable, and it does not show up on your transcript that you took online classes to get your degree.

George Mason is not respectable though, sorry.

I wondered how long it would take some asshole to come on here and say this. GMU is perfectly respectable. I think there are a lot of you out there who overpaid for their degrees and are bitter that people who went to less expensive schools are doing well, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where you being sarcastic when you said thanks for your input to the person who said that a respectable online program is an oxymoron? If so, that's not a very good attitude. People are trying to give advice, and I think that poster was spot on, especially in the DC area where people judge schools.

Maybe he could find a program for he did one class a semester, in state. It would take a long time, but it wouldn't take as much time away from the family.

Yes, actually I was being sarcastic. I don't think "oxymoron" person was trying to be helpful. I don't typically post here because I don't have time for useless snark. I was looking for insight from people that have something helpful to offer. I don't know when you last researched online universities. We said "respectable," so that doesn't mean University of Phoenix. GW, Georgetown, Northwestern and many other schools offer online programs. And you don't have to note that you took courses online on your resume.

Cornell also as online programs. Tell your husband to go for it. never too late. Just support him regardless and get ready for some stressful years, but worthwhile.

NP, my concern is that Cornell online does not carry any weight on your resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where you being sarcastic when you said thanks for your input to the person who said that a respectable online program is an oxymoron? If so, that's not a very good attitude. People are trying to give advice, and I think that poster was spot on, especially in the DC area where people judge schools.

Maybe he could find a program for he did one class a semester, in state. It would take a long time, but it wouldn't take as much time away from the family.

Yes, actually I was being sarcastic. I don't think "oxymoron" person was trying to be helpful. I don't typically post here because I don't have time for useless snark. I was looking for insight from people that have something helpful to offer. I don't know when you last researched online universities. We said "respectable," so that doesn't mean University of Phoenix. GW, Georgetown, Northwestern and many other schools offer online programs. And you don't have to note that you took courses online on your resume.

Cornell also as online programs. Tell your husband to go for it. never too late. Just support him regardless and get ready for some stressful years, but worthwhile.

NP, my concern is that Cornell online does not carry any weight on your resume.

Why be so detailed on a resume. Cornell is Cornell.

I went to night school part-time at a Johns Hopkins branch campus in DC. But my resume says I have a degree from Johns Hopkins. That's it.

[Anonymous]

The diploma won't say "Cornell Online" or "George Mason Online." It will say Cornell or George Mason. The online courses I took for my masters were taught by professors who were concurrently teaching an on campus section.

[Anonymous]

I think an online degree from a "real" college is fine. If he can, take some night or weekend classes in the classroom, as well, which should be possible if it's a local university with an online program. At his age, I think it's worth it to get that BA--it really can make a difference in terms of promotions, etc. My mom did a degree with night classes when I was younger (no oline programs back then, or at least not any reputable ones) and while we definitely felt it as a family and had to make adjustments, I always thought it was really cool, and it made her emphasis on my education even more credible to see that she truly valued education.

[Anonymous]

OP, my DH also has just decided to go to school to earn his bachelor's. Like your husband, my DH is 35 and has gone as far as he'll be able to go in the finance field without a degree. He has been VERY resistant to the idea of going to school, but once he made the decision to go back, he got really excited. This is his first semester and we're starting off at a community college since the classes are so flexible (online, accelerated courses, late-starting, etc). He's taking 6 credits just to see how things go.

Good luck to you and your DH!