Go for it!

I got a second B.S. and a masters as a non-traditional student with kids. I worked full time and took part time classes. My jobs also helped defray the tuition costs.

My children saw me working for something I wanted even though it was hard. I hope that's a memory they carry with them their whole lives.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, go part time/nights. Avoid online at all costs. They are almost all crappy and lie about job placement and salaries.

15 yrs ago maybe online degrees were "almost all" crap. For basic undergrad or non-technical grad degrees there is a high number of top 50 traditional programs that have online programs.

The people that say it is garbage are behind on technology and likely think you need a degree from a top 5 school or you are wasting time.

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.

Yes, encourage him.

Yes, go part time/nights. Avoid online at all costs. They are almost all crappy and lie about job placement and salaries.

Anonymous wrote:I did it. I wa sin the same boat as he is, I took clases both in person and online and my work paid for some of it.

The hardest part was realizing how easy it was and not doing it sooner. Sure it takes time but it wasn;t that bad.

Most schols now offer online classes, the poepel who are bashing that have no idea and are of an old thoguht process. People do nto care how you got it they jsut want to see you are committed to doing it.

There are plenty of local places like Hopkins, GMU, GW, Georgetown, MD, UVA, Marymount that offer most of it onlilne.

They offer it online because it's cheaper to offer (no facilities) and they make good money at it. For many disciplines, it won't replace the value of class discussion and one-on-one contact with classmates. Half of what I learned in my MBA program came from other classmates, not from books or the professor. I went to a top-5 MBA program, and they don't even offer online.

Now at mid-range, I think online can be fine, especially if the goal is to just get a diploma and the quality of the educational experience isn't as much of a concern. Likewise, if you just need to get through a few core courses before getting to the "real" stuff, then online can be OK for those.

If I was in your DH's situation, I'd do it through night/weekend classes. It'll be a good educational experience being there, and you'll get your money's worth too.

Anonymous wrote:This is a bachelor's degree and he has 20-30 years in which a degree can help him out careerwise. I'd go for it, although maybe he can go half-time when the kids are small.

Also, I didn;t go this route but many schools offer credits for your working years. It is a lot of work and you have to preseent in a way that shows you have an understanding of the courses you want your work experience to cover.

I did it. I wa sin the same boat as he is, I took clases both in person and online and my work paid for some of it.

The hardest part was realizing how easy it was and not doing it sooner. Sure it takes time but it wasn;t that bad.

Most schols now offer online classes, the poepel who are bashing that have no idea and are of an old thoguht process. People do nto care how you got it they jsut want to see you are committed to doing it.

There are plenty of local places like Hopkins, GMU, GW, Georgetown, MD, UVA, Marymount that offer most of it onlilne.

Anonymous wrote:

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

oxymoron

I think you might be old and out of touch. These programs are exploding in great schools now and are the wave of the future.

This is a bachelor's degree and he has 20-30 years in which a degree can help him out careerwise. I'd go for it, although maybe he can go half-time when the kids are small.

Anonymous wrote:Never too late. Support him through it, it will be well worth it. Even if it takes a few years, time flies by.
35 is young. What you don't want is to be 40, 45, 50 and say, "if I had gone back when I was 35...."

I agree! He should go for it!

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.

Online or night classes. The two of you can sit down and figure out how to balance working, studying, and taking care of the house and kids. It might mean that getting the degree takes a little longer, but it's definitely doable and I think its a great example to your kids of valuing learning. My mom finished her undergraduate degree the year after I finished mine.

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.

Ok, fine. You don't sound like a very nice person. You want to waste time and money on an online degree, go ahead, what do I care.

You are an idiot. I finished my BS through online and night schooling. Currently in fulltime MBA program and was accepted to both schools I applied to, Georgetown and Maryland. Not Top 16 schools; but still schools one wouldn't expect to see accepting such dubious online degrees.

The value is just having it so the company can promote. My dad was stuck at the VP level his whole career because he dropped out of college. Literally the last 3 CEOs in his company came up from his tutelage. My dad was qualified in everyday but on paper. This is the only reason I am in school now.

Anonymous wrote:75 hours. He's essentially starting from the beginning. If it were only a semester or so this would be a no-brainer. He has so much experience that I'm sure a degree would allow him to double his salary in just a few years.

Why would he double his salary?

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.

Ok, fine. You don't sound like a very nice person. You want to waste time and money on an online degree, go ahead, what do I care.