Schools that are really businesses...

[Korietsu]

Also, your school dean sounds like a shitbag. The line you've quoted, as a matter of fact, reminds me of your own posts: supposedly well-intentioned, but easily interpreted as thinly-veiled insults. So, someone who isn't attending college shouldn't be commended for trying their damnest to eke out a living?

It's insulting to everyone who truly has given their all and failed due to circumstances beyond their control.

Because I believe one thing, doesn't mean I'm sympathetic to what happens elsewhere. My quote was to emphasize the fact that if you're forcing yourself to harsher conditions from what you've had, stepping out into the real world, and toughing it out that it's to be commended, rather than coasting on through life with no purpose.

Those people barely making a living are working towards their goal, which is surviving day to day.

Those people giving up family and friends at home to go abroad to defend our country are working towards their goal of peace.

Those people who give up their time, money, and luxuries to better themselves in a field of academia are working towards their goal of higher education.

Goals that are hard to obtain aren't met by not giving up anything, or not working harder. They're met through perseverance, hard work, and many failures along the way. If you want something bad enough that can be brought to you through hard work, effort and time spent, you'll eventually get it, or you'll realize it wasn't worth the time to begin with.

This quote might be more proper.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

@Darus, well, I'll be damned. They are accredited. However, most of these guys aren't, and are a bunch of scam artists regardless. I know that the majority of the ones floating around Texas and emailing me aren't.

[kuronosan]

I find the spread of opinions here to be very interesting.

[0ni0n]

It's called diploma mill. Do you know that University of Phoenix sent you a pdf of your diploma when you graduate? They will revoke it and ask you to send it back via email in the event if you do anything against the spirit of the university.

[zoobernut]

I really think it depends on what you are studying and what you expect to get out of your education. One thing I learned was that you only get as much out of your education that you want and are motivated to get.

You could go to MIT and get a masters in physics and math but if you are not motivated to really utilize it and learn as much as possible rather than just skating through getting good enough grades to graduate your degrees are just going to be paper on the wall. While someone who is REALLY motivated to learn and extract as much as possible from their education could get a degree from a "franchise" school and do perfectly fine in life.

Personally I started out at a traditional university and I really did not like it because I am a hands on person and I really wanted to do more stuff in school while I was learning. I ended up going to an Art Institute ( the school with the red AI logo that advertises its culinary school all the time.) it is a franchise school, it is accredited but it is accredited by the other agency I forget its name but I think its national accreditation board versus the regional accreditation board. Anyway I studied video game art and design, it was expensive and the coursework probably was not as robust as it should have been, it was not perfect, However, I was really motivated and I really enjoyed it and I worked hard and it directly assisted me in getting a very good job that I really like after I graduated so to me it was worthwhile. Now if I was going to study a more traditional field of study I would definitely go for a 4 year university.

To clarify AI was not online there was a campus and I went to school every day.

Anyway that is my personal story about these "franchise" schools. For some it works out and is worthwhile but you really have to be motivated to pull as much from it as possible above and beyond the normal classes.

And for the record even if some might disagree with me I hold the AI schools leaps and bounds above Devry and UoP and other "Diploma Mills" AI actually had a very very high drop out rate and in my major when I started there were about 250 others that started with me and when I graduated all had dropped out except for about 15 of us.

[Dimmauk]

I went to ITT Tech for EET. $30K and 2 years later, I was making 60k/year. I tried going to "regular" collage, and the time its was taking, and classes not being available was pissing me off. This was also in the 1990s, so there wasnt online schools. That degree got my foot in the door to many places, and it still does. My problem now is EET is not as needed as it used to be.

[Mizango]

I had read in a business article a long while ago (so stats my be off a bit), that 98% of CEOs couldn't care less if an employee holds a bachelors degree from an online university or a brick and mortar university. I think it was 98%. It was really staggering.

Exactly.

We hire people that have gone to online schools as well as fired people that have BS degrees from Duke, NC State, Wake Forest, UNC etc... every week. This isn't a big a deal as people make it out to believe. I graduated from the University of South Carolina and am paid rather handsomely. We have an admin here that graduated from Kaplan Univ. online? and makes just a little less than I do, granted I've been here about 3 years longer than him also so that makes up for the gap.

Alot of school are morphing towards online degree programs in this world nowadays. Villanova offers classes and schooling online as does Wake Forest, UNC-Charlotte and NC State. I get their brochures and course schedules in the mail. It's not a taboo as you may believe. The days of Johnny being better because his parents could afford to send him to a 200K school are over.

Just a sign of the times and I for one welcome it.

[Mizango]

Update: Yes he graduated from Kaplan University online and never took one class in a typical "Brick and mortar" school outside of Highschool and welding classes before coming here. For consistency sake, he is currently making $69,5+ a year and he is going on his 4th year with us.

Again, there is a lot of stigma attached to online schools, but I have been giving thought to taking classes and getting my Cosmology degree or Astronomy. That is truly something I'd do for free.


Edit: Semantics dawg, semantics.

[0ni0n]

It really depends on the profession. Art, design, or tech, some business you can probably get away from an online degree. Engineering, medical or law practice, not so much. Plus, I know people who have gotten an online degree just put the name of the university they graduated from without stating it's all online course, so employers can't really tell. Surprisingly some reputable universities do offer online degrees.

[Mizango]

lol @ your doctor graduating from online college. Seriously, fuck that.

"Luk y u hatin' n shit dawg, I wuz da shiz @ Trauma Center: New Blood on the Wii. Give a nigga a chance yo. Is dis cuz im black?"

[Tomk]

I have been giving thought to taking classes and getting my Cosmetology degree or Astronomy.

I totally read it like this at first and was like WTF?!

[Mizango]

I totally read it like this at first and was like WTF?!

loool nah man, no Vince Young shit over here.

[Diamicles]

The online degree programs no longer hold the stigma that they did 10+ years ago. It used to be a way to 'buy' your diploma, but most have improved to the point where the coursework is about the same as what you'd do in a normal classroom setting.

As for the original question of online schools being businesses: Once the people in charge of colleges figured out they could make money off of people wanting to better themselves with education, they became businesses. That was over 100 years ago, catch up please. Online colleges are no exception.

The college experience is vastly different for everyone, depending on the degree and school you went to. I got a B.S. Physics from Central Methodist, a private school of about 1000 in rural Missouri. It is known as having one of the best science departments in the state, among private schools. The advantage of a small school was that the science department chair was my teacher for many of my classes, the math department chair was my adviser, and I spoke with both of them on a daily basis, in and out of class, about coursework and career opportunities. I obviously couldn't have gotten this sort of education online, but I don't see why someone who isn't interested in this sort of experience should be held in a lower regard because they attained their degree through an online program.

edit: Wow, that was long, TL; DR version: Don't knock online degree courses, that may be the best way for someone to be able to attend college.

[Kang]

Shit, I think most people going to college these days would be better served going to a trade school.

This right here.

The best way to get a decent job is to actually go out and get work experience, whether it be through a college co-op, internship or just volunteerig outside school.

I got a BA in history and writing and I couldn't find shit for jobs (I originally went for accounting but I had to take economics, which I'm not good at).

I then went to college for a trade (journalism) and I've learned so much because I actually DO things related to my field (not just theory stuff like some programs offer).

I'm actually posting this from the newspaper I'm doing my internship at.

I'm not saying that all theory-based programs won't net you work (like a lot of maths, sciences and psychologies), but it's better in some cases to find a way to apply the theory you learn to something practical.

[scaevola]

That's not the point of the matter. If you've got to choose between your degree, and eating/car/roof/etc, that means that you're going either A, going to cut back on car/food/roof/etc, and eat the lost time at work, or B, you're going to drop the class. That's the whole point.

hey dudes whats a salaried employee

[Gadritan]

It doesn't matter that your daddy pulled it off (and if he was that financially strapped, what was he doing having children?)

I agree with the rest of your post, but that statement was fucking retarded. Believe it or not, people don't always get to plan when they have a kid.

His dad busted his ass to provide for his family. I respect the hell out of that.

He could have been like so many other parents out there who just let the government help pay for their kids needs simply because they're too fucking lazy to work like they should.

[Koul]

I know with the corporation I work at online school is a very attractive option. most of the time a person will already be working here and will just be going to school for a higher paying job within the company so as long as you get the requirements, its not an issue.

the jobs are relatively good paying too ~80k full benefits

as some people are already saying it just depends on too many things to really knock it down

[Vuitton]

"hey boss, I need this class at 1-3, can we schedule around that?"
"Sure, you're fired, take as much time as you need"

lol @ "make the time"...I'll be over here living in reality.

???

This is what I do. Hell, I don't even ask any more. I just change my schedule every term and inform everyone when I do.

I don't even have an important job. I work as a legal clerk for a medium-large size law firm (~500 attorneys). I work full-time and go to school full-time. I have classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and it changes every term. I just come to work before class, after class, inbeween classes, and stay late in the evenings on some days. I'll come in on Saturdays to ensure I hit 40 hours. (Saturday or Sunday are my favorite days to go to the office as I have full access to everything and don't have to worry about disturbing attorneys as I work.)

So yeah, its possible to make time if you really want to do it. Maybe not if you work at McDonald's full-time, but I am sure there are lots of places that are flexible with their employees. (Airlines come to mind as you bid for schedules and can trade shifts.)

Its not fun or easy, but its possible.

Edit:

I agree with those who say trade school degrees are better for earning money. Some BA programs are good for this as well, but not many. The true purpose of the BA is for entry into an MA or PhD program. The degrees that can earn you money. MAs in the professional world, and PhDs in the academic world (assuming you're publishing books and teaching, or researching for a large corporation.)

What will a BA in History, English, or International Studies (my degree) get you? If you don't plan on continuing your education you get nice line on your resume and thats about it! Otherwise, you have a requirement for obtaining your MA or PhD, degrees which will distinguish you has a professional in your field of study.

(disclaimer: some BAs are valued on their own. Computer Science, Accounting, and other stuff like that I assume.)

[Darus Grey]

I didn't say it wasn't possible, but you're in the minority...most people's bosses will let them go before shifting schedules around like that.

[SephYuyX]

Dunno if it's been said yet, but;

All schools are businesses. College in general holds no point anymore. Used to be a HS degree was good enough, then an AS, and now a BS is becoming worthless. Pretty soon all employers will want Masters and PhDs.

School is just becoming more and more of a crock. I have an AS, BS and Certs, and for some employers that still isnt enough.

[Gadritan]

Not to mention that experience in the field >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any amount of degrees you may have.