[Arethusa]

I am planning on going back to school in a few months... and will be choosing the online option for convenience sakes, especially since I work...
I was wondering if anybody else out there has any experiences with them? If so, were they positive? Or negative? Did you manage to get a decent job after graduation? Did future employers see online schooling favorably?

Thanks

[Mickey4333]

Arethusa, Actually I was in a online ADN to BSN program through Grand Canyon University. It was the first time taking an online class that I actually had to pay for (which I was using PELL grant and a student loan). I enjoyed it very much. I was working full time. And with this school, you take one class and it lasts for 5 weeks. Thinking back now, I know I was manic for a good share of this. I had straight "A"s. Only had 5 classes to go. And I crashed. I tried very hard to finish my class but could not concentrate or focus and ended up with an "F"!!! So I had to withdrawal. This was about 6 weeks ago and I can tell that I am not quite ready to get back in it. But I will eventually and if I was to go for another course of study sometime again, I would try very hard to do it online. You can get into class anytime you want (24hr/day), it involves no driving back and forth, and you don't have to sit in a large group of people. Good luck and let me know what you decide, Mickey

[Grey Matter]

Hello! I am currently on online university because of mental health/physical health issues. I did some over the summer with a university in my state, and it was great for me!

Some things to keep in mind: These classes have 6+ hours of homework a week, lots of reading, and video lectures. I know a lot of people think it's easier than physically being in school. I find it to be harder. Definitely prepare yourself for the work load. Getting a big planner helps with scheduling times to do coursework, etc. I enjoy it because, even though you have deadlines, I can work at a pace I am comfortable with. And I still get my credits.

Good luck!

[Perna]

Yes, I got a degree through one; make sure it is accredited by someone most jobs in your area will accept; a lot of the online and TV-advertised ones are just in it for the money and you cannot get jobs (look for your regular state university and see who accredits it and then look for that or "adjoining" accreditation in an online school from where it is "based"):

U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs

For example, I went to the University of Maryland University College, part of the State of Maryland's system and proud of its accreditation (instead of hiding it; if you have trouble finding how a school is accredited or if you don't understand/squishy words, run):

Accreditation - UMUC

[Mickey4333]

I did both my LPN and my ADN programs at college. For me it was much harder then doing it online because you have 2 or 3 classes at one time. To understand all of this material you have to read and reread all of this material. It gets very overwhelming very quickly. And it has to be done in a very short period of time. Quiz/test questions are pulled out of the lectures or the assigned text reading. I have never had a test in any of my online class. Yes we are assigned lectures and text book material to help, but these are not mandatory. The majority of my grades come from research-type-papers (which they also help one to learn how to do). Most of my research I obtain from internet sites.
Don't get me wrong, I am sure that there are other online programs that are much different than this one. Hope this help, have a great day

[Gus1234U]

watch out for those Student Loans, esp. if your school makes you pay whether you complete or not~!

[seeker1950]

I was working as a teacher full-time when I worked on my M.A. I took a few courses online thru the university I attended, though I also attended many in person. I truly LOVED the online classes!...not having to commute to campus, search for parking, drive in dark on the way home. I also liked that I could work on the class assignments any time of day. The interaction I had with the other class members and teacher were great as well.
As Perna says, you will have to be sure the institution offering the program is accredited, at least for your area of study. It's great if it can work for you!

[Arethusa]

Thank you all for taking the time to read & comment... I really appreciate it..
have some more questions..
Does anyone have any experiences with the University of Phoenix online? Would you please share? Thanks
Does it matter which organization that the college received its accreditation from, as long as it's one of the six that are endorsed by the government?
I get the difference between for-profit and non-profit schools but what do employers think about them? Does it make a difference to them?

Thanks once again

[Grey Matter]

The University of Phoenix is... not really a university. At least from what I've heard/been told. I would look into your state universities (if you're in the US) and see which offer online only classes. That's always a safe route to take.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I'm finishing my degree online (through state schools, so 100% legitimate colleges). I have taken 4 online classes before (anatomy & physiology, anthropology, English and a religion/film class), and in my experience, online classes are at most HALF the work of regular, in-person classes. For example, for the English class I took (which was a 3-credit senior seminar), all I had to do was read a number of short stories and parts of a few books, write 10 journal entries of about 500 words each and a 7 page paper. With the same professor, doing a 3-credit, 300-level class in person, I had to do 20 journal entries and an 8 page paper. The difference in amount of work is part of the reason I wanted to finish online. I'm just not academically motivated, and so for me, having less work is easier.

[Mickey4333]

SingDance, just curious, what degree are you working on?

[seeker1950]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Thank you all for taking the time to read & comment... I really appreciate it..
have some more questions..
Does anyone have any experiences with the University of Phoenix online? Would you please share? Thanks
Does it matter which organization that the college received its accreditation from, as long as it's one of the six that are endorsed by the government?
I get the difference between for-profit and non-profit schools but what do employers think about them? Does it make a difference to them?

Thanks once again

Arethusa...I have no direct experience with Univ. of Phoenix, but a fellow teacher's husband achieved his M.A. from Univ. of Phoenix. He was/is an an administrator with Columbia Gas Co and making a great salary.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Mickey4333

SingDance, just curious, what degree are you working on?

Psychology BA.

I did most of my degree the traditional way (started college at 18, directly after high school, lived in the dorms and all that good stuff). Originally I was going to finish that way as well, but then my family was going to move to California, and I was going to move with them, so I asked for permission to finish my degree through other schools/online (I only had 6 classes -- 18 credits) left at that point, and now I'm down to 5 classes...and then I decided that I wasn't going to move with my parents, and that since I had permission to finish online, I was going to work full time and go to school part time as my social life at school would pretty much be nonexistent this semester since most of my friends graduated in May, and the girl I was going to live with ended up living at home because she didn't have money to live on campus.

The first online class I took was anatomy&physiology II, and that was because it was the only A&P class I could find over the summer, and in order to start my nursing classes I had to take it since I had withdrawn in the fall from A&P I and retook it in the spring. That was the summer after my freshman year of college.

The other 3 online classes I have completed were all this year. I took the anthropology class to get my last required credits in the social sciences (just elective credits, they could be in any social science), the English class to make up for the class I dropped this past spring semester, and the religion class is part of the of the 18 credits I got approved to take elsewhere.

[Perna]

The University of Phoenix is okay, but I have heard it is not as "supportive"/social as some others. Ideally you probably want to find a school with classes like this forum is where people participate and are friendly etc. Classes where people truly interact are much easier to enjoy and learn from than ones where you are left too much on your own.

If I were you, I'd take a basic online class from your local community college or state colllege/university and see if you like online studies and do okay, etc.; a class from a "real" school near you will usually transfer elsewhere and/or you could toy with the idea of taking some courses online and some in person, etc.

[Mickey4333]

SingDanceRunLife You say you are going for Psychology BA. Will you eventually try going for MA? My son's girlfriend has a BA (Psychology) and wants to get an MA but can not find a Masters school within 100 miles that will accept her. Right now she is working as a computer consultant making about $25/hr because she could not find any decent paying jobs with her BA in psychology. Do you foresee this possibly happening to you or maybe do you have any advice?

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Mickey4333

SingDanceRunLife You say you are going for Psychology BA. Will you eventually try going for MA? My son's girlfriend has a BA (Psychology) and wants to get an MA but can not find a Masters school within 100 miles that will accept her. Right now she is working as a computer consultant making about $25/hr because she could not find any decent paying jobs with her BA in psychology. Do you foresee this possibly happening to you or maybe do you have any advice?

I actually have no interest in going into psychology -- to be perfectly honest, I chose psych as a major because it was easiest/required the least number of classes from where I was after deciding I didn't want to be a nursing major anymore. That's not to say I don't like it -- I do...in fact, I wanted to be a sociology major with a psych minor, but that would've been another year of school.

I may get a masters someday (not in psychology though, that's for sure), but I'm not currently planning on doing it anytime soon. IF/when I get a masters, it'll most likely be in education

I'm currently taking online classes for a community college in my area. It ain't easy. If you know how to "teach yourself" the materials then you should be good, but I've been struggling with that a lot lately.

[Mickey4333]

distortedcreativity,
I do not know how your online classes are set-up or what classes you are taking. I was in an online nursing bachelors program, of which consists of doing a lot of research. We did not have "tests", our grades were mostly from the grades that we got on our "papers". For my associates degree, which included more "study" or classroom type work, included classes, such as A&P, Microbiology, Pharmacology, etc.. and then also the actual "nursing" classes. I took these classes all in classroom setting. I do not think that I would have passed them if I had to do them online. These type of classes require a lot of studying (and re-studying) on the subjects. And the "in-class lectures" help to give a better focus on what to concentrate your studying on. Good Luck!!!

Originally Posted by Mickey4333

distortedcreativity,
I do not know how your online classes are set-up or what classes you are taking. I was in an online nursing bachelors program, of which consists of doing a lot of research. We did not have "tests", our grades were mostly from the grades that we got on our "papers". For my associates degree, which included more "study" or classroom type work, included classes, such as A&P, Microbiology, Pharmacology, etc.. and then also the actual "nursing" classes. I took these classes all in classroom setting. I do not think that I would have passed them if I had to do them online. These type of classes require a lot of studying (and re-studying) on the subjects. And the "in-class lectures" help to give a better focus on what to concentrate your studying on. Good Luck!!!

The only reason why I took online class was to avoid all of my brains awfully created college anxieties. And we just moved to this new area a few months ago, and I don't go outside. I don't like it :|

[Arethusa]

thanks for all of your comments really appreciate it.

After much consideration, I've decided against U of Phoenix and am looking elsewhere, such as Western Governors University... it is regionally accreditated ... has anyone heard of it? have any experience with it?

[Aiuto]

I had received my Associates and Bachelors from University of Phoenix with ADA help on my Bachelors in Environmental Science. It was a good flow in my Bachelors because you have one class for 5 weeks. It is great because you can work at your own schedule around your other priorities. I am now working in Master's and have to attend classes which I do not like as much as Online classes. If you have any other questions about UofP let me know! Wish you my best

[Perna]

WGU's history is impressive: Western Governors University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I'd go there with that backing; only thing is it's age, it is kind of young and while that can be good/innovative, you lose some sense of "culture" which can help with feeling you "belong" and everyone is a cohesive group. Exciting, shiny, and new versus a bit more comfortable? Depends on what you want.

[Arethusa]

Thank you all for your responses and support

After much painstaking research I have found an online college. It is a regular brick and mortal university that also has an extensive array of online courses.
I will be taking a course in January (only one month away). I am going in as a transfer student and am pursing a BA in Communications.

Thank you again