Anyone have experience with online universities?

"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
10/10/2015 at 11:24 • Filed to: None

So I’m thinking about going back and getting my degree in software development because frankly there isn’t any money in EMS here in Illinois and I have a family to support. So I was looking into schools like Devry and ITT tech but I was wondering if any of you had any personal experience with schools that are primarily online?

Terminator for your time

DISCUSSION (6)

TheRealBicycleBuck > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/10/2015 at 11:45

While some people will say they are all the same, there is a big difference between a degree from an online, for-profit company like ITT tech and a traditional brick-and-mortar school. Think about the prestige of the Ivy League schools. There’s a reason they are prestigious. The same holds true at the other end. There’s a reason people are less likely to hire someone with an online tech degree.

For just about any job, the employer will have applicants with bachelors degree from a university. That will be your competition.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/10/2015 at 11:48

Online is fine. For profit is not.

Anxious Jim > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/10/2015 at 14:11

Good question. I happen to have experience with both. Good points about brick & mortars. However, I think it might be a tiny bit less relevant when you’re talking about software development, because much of that work is done on the keyboard anyway.

Also a great point by dsigned - online is fine; for-profit are sometimes called “diploma mills” for a reason.

I tried a class from Phoenix University, and the professor was such a worthless prick that I began to contact the state attorney general to get my money back; alas, I ended up writing the $1500 off. He was unresponsive to emails, and I asked him to call me. He literally told me that “he doesn’t call students” and I wound have to call him during office hours. Well that’s no problem, so I did. Left 2 voicemails on different occasions. He never called me. I could go on, but I won’t. I will surmise it by saying I had the worst college experience with Phoenix of any school. In any event, press on, my friend, and good luck.

Source: 2 degrees from different colleges, and my son is attending a brick-and-mortar as well.

Sir Halffast > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/10/2015 at 15:15

Do NOT do an online for profit. Many of them, including ITT and Corinthian are under investigation for fraud. DeVry falls in that category, don’t know if it’s yet been investigated though. Phoenix just got banned from offering/advertising to DoD employees (soldiers). Corinthian just got shut down and is currently facing millions of dollars in fines.

You don’t have to go to an actual campus for study, but for your own sake, make damn certain that the university backing up your online degree is a real university.

FlimFlamMan > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/11/2015 at 01:37

Software development is absolutely a degree that can be obtained via online. However, finding the right fit (I.e. accredited, cost, etc.) is going to be something you need to research to see if it will be a good fit for YOU.

Let’s face it, man. The majority of us can’t afford or even uproot to attend an Ivy League school (or similar) for a “pedigree” education (especially when older than typical college aged folks). Are you planning on working full-time while obtaining your degree as a full-time student?

I was facing a similar situation 5 years ago as I wanted to earn a degree in network technology. I considered the B&M route, but time and transportation were a constraint. I did not live very close to a university or an extension of one, and driving to the closest one after work a few days or more a week would be extra tough to pull off.

Ultimately, I chose online, and there was one main reason.

You can do all of your school work from the comfort of your own home, work, or wherever. No need to go to a library anymore as the school you potentially choose should provide access to online databases that contain articles, peer-reviewed articles, magazines, and books for your research as part of your overall tuition (as well as other tools). This was a huge for me because it cuts out a LOT of time and money spent for transportation.

Con’s?

Unless you manage to get a scholarship or Pell(?) grants (partial or full ride), it is going to cost a decent amount of money. I got loans (subsidized and non) and payed for some out of pocket.

Some people are snobby about where you got your degree. Personally, I don’t give a shit about what the snobs think. They don’t have to believe that I busted my butt to earn it. The same general rules/procedures apply (I.e. papers in APA format, etc.) No skating here, which brings me to an important point. It is what YOU make of it, and you have to be disciplined in getting the work done thoroughly and on time. Just like at a B&M institution.

My wife recently rose to the level of CHRO for a large organization, and is in the process of earning her doctorate via an online university. She earned her BS and Masters via state B&M schools and can honestly say it is just as rigorous (if not more) online. I’ve seen the curricula and it looks tough (as it should be for chasing a PhD). She doesn’t give two shits about where you got your education. What you know, working hard, and producing solid results is all that matters (a good personality helps a lot too).

It is likely going to be expensive. My BS in Network Technology (Cisco) took me 4 years (duh! lol) and cost me about 40K. I earned it from Capella University, which is accredited, but still gets dinged for being a “diploma mill” like U of Phoenix, etc. And again... I don’t care if anyone likes it or not. It’s what worked best for me.

Honestly? There were a couple of courses that were not well-designed. There was one “professor” out of many that flat out sucked (poor communication, etc.). A couple were... meh. Tell me you wouldn’t get the same thing at a B&M school. Well... maybe not at Harvard... whatever.

Bottom line. Does a degree from an elite school hold value? Sure! Do you have to have one to be successful? Hell no! The first job I got after getting my degree was at Deloitte & Touche. The group that hired me didn’t give a flying fuck that I got my degree at Capella. Some of them never heard of it before. If one goes around judging people by where they got their higher education, then they are quite simply a pretentious piece of crap that can go stroke their diploma to their hearts content for all I care.

Again... if you decide to attend a university online, do your homework to make sure it is a good fit. Like I said, it is what you make of it. If you go in with a bad attitude it will probably suck. There is no “hand holding” going on, so you have to study extra hard at times. For example, I hate math. Especially algebra. I took advantage of tutoring provided by the school and it saved my ass. Same for a Discrete Math course. Other times I just had to work extra hard to figure shit out.

I hope this helps a little. :^)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > FlimFlamMan
10/11/2015 at 11:05

This actually helps a lot. Thanks :)