Remember your teenage years when a life without school seemed like an impossible goal? One day, whether after high school or college graduation, you wouldn't ever have to sit in a classroom again. Homework would be an artifact of your youth.
Then you grew up and life happened. Maybe you didn't attend college or you didn't finish. Maybe you earned one degree and eventually realized you needed another one to get the job you wanted. Or maybe you just wanted to learn more. Whatever the reason, higher education is not the punishment you once considered it, and now the experience is different, too.
The Internet has revolutionized so much of our everyday life in the last two decades, and how we attend school is no different. More and more students are taking classes online, sometimes as part of a traditional schoolgoing experience, and sometimes as part of an online-only program. If you've considered earning a degree online and weren't sure if it's the right decision for you, read the experiences of these nine people who earned their degrees the virtual way.
Lonnie B. Hodge, CEO of social media agency Culture Fish Media
I attended the State University of New York, Albany while I was in the military. Being moved from place to place made residency requirements at most schools an impossibility. The New York Regents had a program that (now Excelsior University) credit-banked any recognized courses and a degree was awarded when you met SUNY's requirements for your major and the BA or BS program. My work at SUNY allowed me to apply for Officer Candidate School and I became an ordinance officer in the U.S. Army after six years as an enlisted man.
I never set foot on SUNY's campus. Almost immediately upon graduation I was accepted into a traditional MA in education at the University of Colorado and a few years on an MFA in writing at Vermont College. Upon graduation from VC, I won a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in writing (poetry) for work I created while studying at Vermont.
Teresa H. Berger, of public relations firm Innovate Services
I completed my MBA online with University of Phoenix. It wasn't easy, as I was working full time, but by attending online I had the flexibility to complete assignments whenever, wherever. It lent me the confidence and know-how to launch two businesses.
Ryan McKinnon, children's ministry leader and chaplain candidate
I completed half of my bachelor's online at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), and I am currently working on my master's online with Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I will be re-entering the Army as a chaplain upon completion of my degree.
Sarah Chenoweth, DNA analyst
I'm a DNA analyst with a local police agency in Maryland. I earned my MS in forensic DNA and serology online from the University of Florida 2003-2005. At the time, I was employed as a DNA analyst with the Prince George's County (Maryland) Police Department. In order to become a DNA technical leader (the senior-most position in most DNA testing labs), the FBI requires a master's degree and several specific graduate-level courses. No universities in the area offered a degree with this specific focus, making it impossible for me to attend traditional classes without leaving my employer.
After I finished the University of Florida program, I was offered a position as the DNA technical leader at the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Police Department's Crime Lab with a commensurate jump in salary. In the three years since I've been in this position, I've encouraged three of my co-workers to enter the same degree program, which should give you an idea of how pleased I was with the entire experience.
Kathryn Pottruff, Pottruff Consulting Inc.
In my mid 40's I decided that I wanted to get a master of science degree in project management from The George Washington University. My work as an independent consultant required that I travel frequently (about 75 percent of the time), so attending lectures in a conventional university setting was not an option. Much to my surprise, I found that the quality of education I received could not be matched in a conventional educational environment. Where do you get to collaborate online with classmates from Indonesia, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, India, South America and South Africa on real projects? The Internet offers an incomparable learning experience.
I must admit that at times I felt a little silly sitting alone in front of my computer while I broke out in unbridled laughter at something one of my colleagues had typed. All in all, I can't say that this approach would work for all disciplines, but for me, it was stupendous.
Marc A. Pitman, FundraisingCoach.com
I don't know if I'm an early adopter, but I earned my master's online back in 2002. It was a normal MA program, simply delivered online. The master's is in organizational leadership and the school is Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. I did check out their brick-and-mortar campus before I applied. I guess I felt more secure attending the online classes knowing a "real" place existed somewhere other than a boiler room.
I was traveling around the country during those years, so earning an MA online was an awesome opportunity.
Angie Robert, president of ConsultMyAgent.com
I got my MBA with an emphasis in marketing from University of Phoenix online. It was the best thing I could have done. It took 25 months non-stop while working full time, but it enabled me to keep my job and family intact. My job required a lot of travel at the time, and I never could have completed my degree at a traditional university and held down the job.
When I graduated, I got a promotion and a 10 percent raise. Since then, I am in the process of starting my own company.
Wayne Botha, Botha Consulting
I earned my MBA online, through University of Phoenix from 2002-2004. It was the best choice for me for the following reasons: flexible class hours; flexible course schedule; learning from lecturers around the county; you can continue studying while you are traveling; diverse classmates, [who enriched] the experience; ability to take courses that are not available in traditional classroom settings.
No one has ever questioned the credibility of my online degree or looked down on it versus an MBA [earned] in a traditional classroom. The online learning system has improved over the past few years. I would not have been able to complete an MBA through an on-ground university while handling a demanding job [and] being a father and husband. Online education is the best way to study for many working adults and I highly recommend [it].
Dewoun Hayes, CAP, professional skills trainer
I earned my AA in business and a BS in psychology through the University of Phoenix. I am currently seeking my MA in adult education and training with University of Phoenix as well.
I enjoy online learning mostly because of the convenience. I travel quite a bit, am a single parent and work odd hours; therefore, my schedule does not permit me to sit in a classroom (although I have tried it before). Many people are misguided by the fact that there is no face-to-face interaction with instructors or classmates, thereby placing the degree or institution at lesser value than a traditional classroom curriculum. I wholeheartedly disagree because there is more work involved with being an online student. To begin with, you must have discipline and time management skills in order to meet the participatory requirements.
The online environment provides the same advantages as classroom learning: the ability to interact with diverse individuals, improve writing skills, and develop team building skills, while learning in the specified field. The only difference is this is all done by computer. What makes it all worth it is hearing your name called, walking across the stage and receiving your diploma.
By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
Then you grew up and life happened. Maybe you didn't attend college or you didn't finish. Maybe you earned one degree and eventually realized you needed another one to get the job you wanted. Or maybe you just wanted to learn more. Whatever the reason, higher education is not the punishment you once considered it, and now the experience is different, too.
The Internet has revolutionized so much of our everyday life in the last two decades, and how we attend school is no different. More and more students are taking classes online, sometimes as part of a traditional schoolgoing experience, and sometimes as part of an online-only program. If you've considered earning a degree online and weren't sure if it's the right decision for you, read the experiences of these nine people who earned their degrees the virtual way.
Lonnie B. Hodge, CEO of social media agency Culture Fish Media
I attended the State University of New York, Albany while I was in the military. Being moved from place to place made residency requirements at most schools an impossibility. The New York Regents had a program that (now Excelsior University) credit-banked any recognized courses and a degree was awarded when you met SUNY's requirements for your major and the BA or BS program. My work at SUNY allowed me to apply for Officer Candidate School and I became an ordinance officer in the U.S. Army after six years as an enlisted man.
I never set foot on SUNY's campus. Almost immediately upon graduation I was accepted into a traditional MA in education at the University of Colorado and a few years on an MFA in writing at Vermont College. Upon graduation from VC, I won a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in writing (poetry) for work I created while studying at Vermont.
Teresa H. Berger, of public relations firm Innovate Services
I completed my MBA online with University of Phoenix. It wasn't easy, as I was working full time, but by attending online I had the flexibility to complete assignments whenever, wherever. It lent me the confidence and know-how to launch two businesses.
Ryan McKinnon, children's ministry leader and chaplain candidate
I completed half of my bachelor's online at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), and I am currently working on my master's online with Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I will be re-entering the Army as a chaplain upon completion of my degree.
Sarah Chenoweth, DNA analyst
I'm a DNA analyst with a local police agency in Maryland. I earned my MS in forensic DNA and serology online from the University of Florida 2003-2005. At the time, I was employed as a DNA analyst with the Prince George's County (Maryland) Police Department. In order to become a DNA technical leader (the senior-most position in most DNA testing labs), the FBI requires a master's degree and several specific graduate-level courses. No universities in the area offered a degree with this specific focus, making it impossible for me to attend traditional classes without leaving my employer.
After I finished the University of Florida program, I was offered a position as the DNA technical leader at the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Police Department's Crime Lab with a commensurate jump in salary. In the three years since I've been in this position, I've encouraged three of my co-workers to enter the same degree program, which should give you an idea of how pleased I was with the entire experience.
Kathryn Pottruff, Pottruff Consulting Inc.
In my mid 40's I decided that I wanted to get a master of science degree in project management from The George Washington University. My work as an independent consultant required that I travel frequently (about 75 percent of the time), so attending lectures in a conventional university setting was not an option. Much to my surprise, I found that the quality of education I received could not be matched in a conventional educational environment. Where do you get to collaborate online with classmates from Indonesia, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, India, South America and South Africa on real projects? The Internet offers an incomparable learning experience.
I must admit that at times I felt a little silly sitting alone in front of my computer while I broke out in unbridled laughter at something one of my colleagues had typed. All in all, I can't say that this approach would work for all disciplines, but for me, it was stupendous.
Marc A. Pitman, FundraisingCoach.com
I don't know if I'm an early adopter, but I earned my master's online back in 2002. It was a normal MA program, simply delivered online. The master's is in organizational leadership and the school is Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. I did check out their brick-and-mortar campus before I applied. I guess I felt more secure attending the online classes knowing a "real" place existed somewhere other than a boiler room.
I was traveling around the country during those years, so earning an MA online was an awesome opportunity.
Angie Robert, president of ConsultMyAgent.com
I got my MBA with an emphasis in marketing from University of Phoenix online. It was the best thing I could have done. It took 25 months non-stop while working full time, but it enabled me to keep my job and family intact. My job required a lot of travel at the time, and I never could have completed my degree at a traditional university and held down the job.
When I graduated, I got a promotion and a 10 percent raise. Since then, I am in the process of starting my own company.
Wayne Botha, Botha Consulting
I earned my MBA online, through University of Phoenix from 2002-2004. It was the best choice for me for the following reasons: flexible class hours; flexible course schedule; learning from lecturers around the county; you can continue studying while you are traveling; diverse classmates, [who enriched] the experience; ability to take courses that are not available in traditional classroom settings.
No one has ever questioned the credibility of my online degree or looked down on it versus an MBA [earned] in a traditional classroom. The online learning system has improved over the past few years. I would not have been able to complete an MBA through an on-ground university while handling a demanding job [and] being a father and husband. Online education is the best way to study for many working adults and I highly recommend [it].
Dewoun Hayes, CAP, professional skills trainer
I earned my AA in business and a BS in psychology through the University of Phoenix. I am currently seeking my MA in adult education and training with University of Phoenix as well.
I enjoy online learning mostly because of the convenience. I travel quite a bit, am a single parent and work odd hours; therefore, my schedule does not permit me to sit in a classroom (although I have tried it before). Many people are misguided by the fact that there is no face-to-face interaction with instructors or classmates, thereby placing the degree or institution at lesser value than a traditional classroom curriculum. I wholeheartedly disagree because there is more work involved with being an online student. To begin with, you must have discipline and time management skills in order to meet the participatory requirements.
The online environment provides the same advantages as classroom learning: the ability to interact with diverse individuals, improve writing skills, and develop team building skills, while learning in the specified field. The only difference is this is all done by computer. What makes it all worth it is hearing your name called, walking across the stage and receiving your diploma.
By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
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