Anyone with experience with whole "college at home" deal?

[SeerSGB]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

 

[kes7]

Oooh. I've been wondering about this, too. I hope you get some answers.

 

[Lindley]

I didn't do it myself, but I know some of the Masters classes I was in at George Mason had an online section. The teacher had an interface which would beep at them when someone online had a question. Occasionally, the class would drag to a halt when something went wrong and the IT guys had be be called in.

The online sections only had to show up at the campus for the exams, and project presentations.

Just make sure you keep up with it. I actually did a project with someone in an online section once, and he turned out to be totally incompetent.

 

[Amaris]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

Yes. I'm working with University of Phoenix/Axia College online. If anyone tells you "it's easy! you set your own hours!" they haven't worked this course, or at least not with any effort. While it's more convenient to take the college course online, there are constraints, and there's quite a bit of workload if you have a busy schedule outside of the course.

Also, U of P is expensive. It's $12,000 for a two year degree. I'm not sure if other universities work solely online.

EDIT:

Reading Lindley's post, I have to agree. While there is lots of work, the work itself is more time consuming than difficult. Most of the people in my class can't spell properly, the classes are rather unorganized for being "organized". In fact, I'm getting ready to transfer my credits to my local community college because I don't feel I'm learning anything in these classes.

J.

 

[SeerSGB]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

Yes. I'm working with University of Phoenix/Axia College online. If anyone tells you "it's easy! you set your own hours!" they haven't worked this course, or at least not with any effort. While it's more convenient to take the college course online, there are constraints, and there's quite a bit of workload if you have a busy schedule outside of the course.

Also, U of P is expensive. It's $12,000 for a two year degree. I'm not sure if other universities work solely online.


J.

On the constraint side: Constrain as in set deadlines, or constraint as in being online from "X" time to "Y" time to attend class?

 

[Amaris]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

Yes. I'm working with University of Phoenix/Axia College online. If anyone tells you "it's easy! you set your own hours!" they haven't worked this course, or at least not with any effort. While it's more convenient to take the college course online, there are constraints, and there's quite a bit of workload if you have a busy schedule outside of the course.

Also, U of P is expensive. It's $12,000 for a two year degree. I'm not sure if other universities work solely online.


J.

On the constraint side: Constrain as in set deadlines, or constraint as in being online from "X" time to "Y" time to attend class?

Deadlines. They also tend to insist you try to do your work a week in advance.

J.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I've had some friends who've done U of P. It doesn't seem like it's the best option as online schools go.

The thing with online schools is that you only get out what you put in. There is no hand-holding, nobody to make sure you are doing what you should. If you don't take it seriously, you will fail.

If you are a self-starter and can stay focused, you will be fine and do well. If you easily lose motivation and become complacent, I would not recommend an online degree.

 

[Amaris]

^ That's true as well. There have been 5 people from my class drop out already.


J.

 

[Kestra]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

I decided to go back to school, but being so far out of the city, my options were limited. I wasn't comfortable doing University of Phoenix and some other online options, so it took me awhile to find something that felt right. Ultimately I settled on The School for New Learning at DePaul University in Chicago.

I know DePaul itself is a good school, and I know people who have attended it. The program I'm in allows for classes in person (evenings) or online. It's a competence-based system where one has to fulfill specific competencies and you choose your own focus area. I'd go into it more but it's really complicated.

Ultimately, I'm only doing this because it seems like the best and fastest way to get to my ultimate goal: a graduate degree in psychology. At DePaul, I can take classes online, in person, or through any of their "normal" departments. I was able to transfer in a lot of credit and I'm hoping to take many more classes on campus if we ever move to the city.

Taking a class online is ... not ideal. I get frustrated with the limited interaction, the workload is astonishingly high, and you're required to participate actively in discussions. It's just all so ... frustrating. I don't like the software my college uses, so that's part of it. And I consider myself comfortable with technology and the internet and internet discussions and it's still really frustrating for me.

Okay, so that was long. Let's do a list of things you need to consider.

- Where do you want to end up? This is important for you to figure out. I wanted to be careful in what I chose because of the competitive nature of admissions to graduate schools. If you want a degree just to have a degree, it's different. Are you doing it to switch careers, to further your education, or something else? Think about who will be looking at your education and what they will be looking for.

- Accreditation. Find out what each of the programs hold and what it means. There's nothing worse than finding out you put time, money, and a lot of effort into something that's practically useless.

- Would you do better in an online setting or a community college setting? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get your education?

- Money. A lot of these programs are incredibly expensive. Compare costs, time to completion, flexibility, etc.

I know this is a rambly post so feel free to ask me to clarify something or PM me if you have questions. I do have to say that going back to school is the best decision I have made and I love it. It's challenging, will probably be frustrating, but everything is so much different as an adult learner. I'm surrounded by other people who actually want to be there and learn as well. Plus I know more about myself, I'm more focused, and I enjoy what I'm studying. I hope you find a similar experience. Good luck!

 

[SeerSGB]

I'm looking into either getting a night-shift job or going back to school and getting a degree (don't ask what degree yet, I'm not sure yet). Right now it'd be better on the family if I did the college at home deal for the foreseeable future.

Anyone have experience with doing this? I've asked around, and the odd class here and there aside, no one I know has done it on a degree track. So I figured they might be one or two in these parts with experience in it and that can give me advice, warnings, what have you.

I decided to go back to school, but being so far out of the city, my options were limited. I wasn't comfortable doing University of Phoenix and some other online options, so it took me awhile to find something that felt right. Ultimately I settled on The School for New Learning at DePaul University in Chicago.

I know DePaul itself is a good school, and I know people who have attended it. The program I'm in allows for classes in person (evenings) or online. It's a competence-based system where one has to fulfill specific competencies and you choose your own focus area. I'd go into it more but it's really complicated.

Ultimately, I'm only doing this because it seems like the best and fastest way to get to my ultimate goal: a graduate degree in psychology. At DePaul, I can take classes online, in person, or through any of their "normal" departments. I was able to transfer in a lot of credit and I'm hoping to take many more classes on campus if we ever move to the city.

Taking a class online is ... not ideal. I get frustrated with the limited interaction, the workload is astonishingly high, and you're required to participate actively in discussions. It's just all so ... frustrating. I don't like the software my college uses, so that's part of it. And I consider myself comfortable with technology and the internet and internet discussions and it's still really frustrating for me.

Okay, so that was long. Let's do a list of things you need to consider.

- Where do you want to end up? This is important for you to figure out. I wanted to be careful in what I chose because of the competitive nature of admissions to graduate schools. If you want a degree just to have a degree, it's different. Are you doing it to switch careers, to further your education, or something else? Think about who will be looking at your education and what they will be looking for.

- Accreditation. Find out what each of the programs hold and what it means. There's nothing worse than finding out you put time, money, and a lot of effort into something that's practically useless.

- Would you do better in an online setting or a community college setting? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get your education?

- Money. A lot of these programs are incredibly expensive. Compare costs, time to completion, flexibility, etc.

I know this is a rambly post so feel free to ask me to clarify something or PM me if you have questions. I do have to say that going back to school is the best decision I have made and I love it. It's challenging, will probably be frustrating, but everything is so much different as an adult learner. I'm surrounded by other people who actually want to be there and learn as well. Plus I know more about myself, I'm more focused, and I enjoy what I'm studying. I hope you find a similar experience. Good luck!

Thanks for that.

Now that is a thinker: Cost

Is it more expensive than going the traditional route or is it about the same? I realize either way it's a damn bit of expense, but I've got conflicted info from the schools about the cost: some saying it's about the same, others say it costs a tad bit more in class fees.

 

[Lindley]

The least expensive option is to get an employer to pay for your education.

 

[Amaris]

Thanks for that.

Now that is a thinker: Cost

Is it more expensive than going the traditional route or is it about the same? I realize either way it's a damn bit of expense, but I've got conflicted info from the schools about the cost: some saying it's about the same, others say it costs a tad bit more in class fees.

If you think $12,000 is too expensive for an associate business degree, then avoid U of P.

J.

 

[Kestra]

Now that is a thinker: Cost

Is it more expensive than going the traditional route or is it about the same? I realize either way it's a damn bit of expense, but I've got conflicted info from the schools about the cost: some saying it's about the same, others say it costs a tad bit more in class fees.

It really depends on what degree you want. I know you said not to ask you, but everything is going to be specific to your situation. For example, my program allows me to bring a lot of previous college credit in, so I'm saving a lot of money that way. However taking certain classes that I want are going to give me half the credit at twice the tuition rate. But that's just because of the way I'm going through the program.

Overall I think you'd find that a class being entirely online may cut down on cost, but schools with higher acceptance rates also tend to charge a lot more. Some people feel like you're basically paying for a degree (not that you're not doing a lot of work, too).

As someone mentioned, having an employer pay for your education is ideal. That's how my husband got his masters degree. It all really depends on what's best for you. Community college, online classes, a "traditional" college, etc.

I will say that it took a lot of time before I found something that I was satisfied with, but I'm glad I was patient.

 

[Warp Coil]

Last year, I decided to go back to school. My employer has an educational assistance program available to all employees that reimburses 80% of college tuition if you enroll in a degree program. It seemed like it was something worth doing - I could walk away with a Master's degree pretty cheap! Since I work full-time, I had to find something that was flexible and allowed me to take courses when I had the time to do so. I enrolled at University or Maryland, University College. The school is pretty much designed for "working professionals" and so it offers classes in the evening, on the weekend, and online.

I've taken four online classes and only one face-to-face class thusfar. I have to say, I don't like the online learning environment. You essentially have to teach yourself everything because there's no one in a lecture hall talking to you or explaining it. Personally, I don't really learn well from reading a book. 90% of textbooks are dry and boring. I really need human interaction. I need to be able to ask questions on the spot. I need to enjoy the live discussions that spring up in a classroom, and the communal learning experience. You don't get that with an online course, and as a result, I find that I don't learn as much as I think I should. Exams are all take-home (of course) and you can just sit there and go through the book to find answers.

The workload in an online course is a bit high, in part because you usually have to respond to discussion topics that the professor posts online. It's the professor's way of making sure you're logging in and reading the material, and it counts as part of your participation grade. I find it silly and a waste of time, but since there's no real classroom environment, this is what they do.

I really want to take as many face-to-face classes as I can. I enjoy them more, I learn more, and I perform better. Unfortunately, UMUC seems to offer almost everything online and I'm having difficulty finding face-to-face sections for the courses I need.

 

[SeerSGB]

Workload isn't a problem, deadlines...it'll be a push at times, but they would be in a physical class as well, motivation have plenty of that .

Right now, the biggest hurdles to figure it out: Cost and figuring out which direction I want to take my life.

1) I can update my current skills-- which I'm already carrying certificates in-- and stick with the computer field. The work would be easier, I have contacts that might take me on, but I really am burning out on the field and can't see doing it the rest of my working life.

2) Make a career change and do something I'll enjoy, but take the risk of harder work and more risk of failure, no contacts so a harder job market.

 

[Kestra]

I've heard that What Color Is Your Parachute? is helpful for figuring out career switches, but I've never picked it up or taken a look myself. You might want to look into it though.

 

[Mr. B]

I did this. I'm just finishing a four year degree. I held a day job and went to night school while living with my folks. Tuition wasn't expensive and with minimal living expenses I was able to pay for school out of pocket. It wasn't so bad since I don't despise my parents.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

I haven't done college at home, I actually went to the school. I think it's way better to do it in a classroom because you get the help there you need.....sure, you can go look on the net for answers and cheat but that's lame. I just generally think a classroom setting makes for a better learning experience. When you are at home, a lot of things can distract you.

That's just my opinion. I know if I did school at home, I'd be tempted to watch TV, go on the net, play video games.....do things besides my work. In a classroom, I'm kinda forced to study hard and do my work.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I have not taken online classes myself (though some of my classes did have an online discussion component to them), but I have had a few friends that did online classes and it was...less than desirable. It seemed like they had a lot of "work," but learned nothing. While lack of motivation can be an issue for some, even those who were highly motivated people said they preferred classes in person. There is just a certain atmosphere to the classroom that you cannot replace online. Maybe if everyone had video chat or something, but not the way online classes are usually handled now.

As someone mentioned above, most of the work consisted of reading discussions and having to contribute to prove to the teacher that you existed. Imagine being forced to respond to every thread here, even if you have nothing to say or contribute to the topic. Now imagine that instead of interesting threads where actual discussions occur like we see here, you are on a messageboard about subjects you may care nothing about, where there is no discussion of substance occurring because the rest of the students don't want to be there and don't have anything to say either. You may learn how to make up bullshit meaningless responses, which can be useful in its own right, but you come away learning nothing about the actual topic of the class. You could always teach yourself by carefully reading the textbook, but not only is that usually boring and time consuming, but you don't get any outside perspectives or the experience and guidance that an in person teacher can provide.

I would take online classes if there were a few specific ones I had to take to advance my career, get a promotion or whatever. But if I actually cared at all about learning the material? I would take real classes. I work full time and take night classes to get my Master's degree right now, and although it takes work and patience, you get used to it.

There are some real universities that will provide some online classes. The two universities I went to both offered some, or ones that were mostly online and required maybe an hour of actual class on the weekend. These classes were better than most online ones I've seen, but usually the regular universities don't offer a whole lot of them. Maybe you can find a program in a state university that has a focus on online classes, I don't know what subject that would be in but I'm sure things like that exist out there. Community colleges might have some of that as well, but I don't have any experience with community colleges so I'm not sure.

 

[Amaris]

^ You nailed the whole online classroom experience. That is what is going on in my situation. I'm not at all challenged. All of my grades are As across the board. While I always excelled in school, this is ridiculous.


J.