Seeking a higher education?

[Narrock]

Go for it!

http://www.classesusa.com/featuredschoo ... asters.cap

My employer will pay 50% towards a Master's Degree program from any of these pre-approved online universities. I chose Jones International for a number of reasons. I'm going to enroll in their MABC (Master of Arts in Business Communication) with the Project Management concentration. Classes start November 7th. It's a 2 year program. Classes are 8 weeks long, and there's 12 classes to take. It's $19,600 for the program - $10,500 (employer contribution) = $9,100 (my cost) for the Master's degree. My parents offered to pay for my books. :P Plus, I can defer my current Bachelor's degree loan while I'm enrolled in this MA program.

[KaiineTN]

If you were interviewing for a job with me and showed me all these degrees and certificates that were primarily obtained through online courses, and your competition was a guy fresh out of a 4 year state college, he'd get the job, even if you had a considerably higher GPA.

If you want to go to school, GO TO SCHOOL!

I just think it's kind of funny, Mindia... a Master's Degree in Communications, of all things, done online?

[Narrock]

That's ok Kaiine. I understand your position because you're not too familiar with online institutions. They are growing rapidly in popularity for good reason. You will change your mind in time.

It's not Communications... it's Business Communication. Click on the MABC link so you learn about it and not make assumptions like you just did.

[KaiineTN]

They are growing in popularity because people are lazy and cheap. Business Communication is still a Communications degree, don't try to correct me as if I "missed" the word business when I read your post.

[Narrock]

It's not a "communications" degree, it's a "Business" degree. So, you did miss something apparently. Another thing you don't seem to understand is that online schools are quite a bit more expensive than your average state schools. I could go to Sacramento State University and get my Master's degree and save a ton of money. However, I do not want to battle commute-hour traffic after working a full day. You don't need to get on the defensive here... you were just incorrect on a couple of points. Here's a little hint: I've been researching this for months now. Anybody in charge of hiring who would give favoritism to somebody who went to a brick-and-mortar campus over somebody who went to an online campus is an idiot and should be fired for ignorance and stupidity and for doing the company a huge disservice.

Online universities were designed for the working professional and for people with children. That's it. Get it now?

[KaiineTN]

It's a Business "Communication" degree... Any way you look at it, anything with the word "Communication" in it, taken online, just sounds stupid, unless it's specifically designed for "business" communicating online!

Also, if an online school is charging you more than a school wih active student life on campus, you're just making some greedy fucker rich.

As for your opinion on "favoritism" when it comes to Degrees from online colleges vs "regular" colleges, that totally depends on the hiring company's values. It's not ignorance and stupidity to want people with a proper education, and by proper, I mean of course, being physically present at lectures, communicating and working together with class mates and developing your social and leadership skills as well as maintaining a decent reputation. There's a lot more to college than education from books, papers, and tests. Online schools also bring up some integrity issues, it's simply hard to trust someone coming from one, they have no personal references from the college.

Online classes give you significantly less experience (which is priceless) than being physically present at classes, and I'm speaking from my own experience here. It is NOT stupid or ignorant to favor other applicants for jobs based on that experience. It IS stupid and ignorant to consider both equal.

[Phlegm]

Are these online colleges accredited?

[Narrock]

It's a Business "Communication" degree... Any way you look at it, anything with the word "Communication" in it, taken online, just sounds stupid, unless it's specifically designed for "business" communicating online!

Also, if an online school is charging you more than a school wih active student life on campus, you're just making some greedy fucker rich.

As for your opinion on "favoritism" when it comes to Degrees from online colleges vs "regular" colleges, that totally depends on the hiring company's values. It's not ignorance and stupidity to want people with a proper education, and by proper, I mean of course, being physically present at lectures, communicating and working together with class mates and developing your social and leadership skills as well as maintaining a decent reputation. There's a lot more to college than education from books, papers, and tests. Online schools also bring up some integrity issues, it's simply hard to trust someone coming from one, they have no personal references from the college.

Online classes give you significantly less experience (which is priceless) than being physically present at classes, and I'm speaking from my own experience here. It is NOT stupid or ignorant to favor other applicants for jobs based on that experience. It IS stupid and ignorant to consider both equal.

lol Ok Kaiine. You're entitled to your opinion and I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest.

and no, it's a BUSINESS degree, not a COMMUNICATONS degree.

[Narrock]

Are these online colleges accredited?

Holy hell! Do any of you ever click on links provided for your edification and transfer of knowledge?

Here... I'll just cut & paste a paragraph from the Jones International website to make it easier for those of you who don't feel like navigating around the site:

ABOUT JONES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Glenn R. Jones, founder and chancellor of Jones International University (JIU), has devoted much of his life to his passionately held belief that education should be available to everyone, everywhere. The Jones companies have been working to further that goal since 1987, with the launch of Mind Extension University™ (ME/U™ ), a cable television network that enabled 30,000 students to take courses from over 30 colleges and universities via television.

JIU was founded in 1993 as the first university to exist entirely online. And, in 1999, JIU became the first fully online university to be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association (http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org, 312.263.0456), an accrediting body for institutions of higher education in the United States.

The majority of JIU's students are working adults, generally balancing both career and family at the time they decide to continue their educations. For many of these individuals, a campus-based institution is simply out of the question, between scheduling conflicts, business travel, and childcare issues. These are among the individuals for whom JIU was created.

Hallmarks of a JIU education

Flexibility

Everything you need to earn a degree is online and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need is a computer, access to the Internet, any standard web browser, and a desire to learn.

Quality

JIU's accreditation ensures that students receive an outstanding education and credits that are transferrable to other accredited institutions.

Relevance

Adults learn best when what they study can be applied to what they do. Our students can take what they learn in the classroom and put it to use on their jobs immediately.

Faculty

JIU students learn from a world-class faculty from leading U.S. and international universities. Content experts from such prestigious institutions as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UCLA, and Carnegie Mellon University develop all of JIU's courses specifically for the Internet.

[Narrock]

Accreditation
In the United States, accreditation is voluntarily sought by institutions and is conferred by six regional associations of schools and colleges, and by several national associations that limit their scope to particular kinds of institutions. An institutional accrediting body evaluates an entire institution in terms of its mission and accredits the institution as a whole. This body reviews more than the educational offerings of the institution; it also assesses such characteristics as governance and administration, financial condition, admissions and student personnel processes, institutional resources, and relationships with outside communities.

What is the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association?

The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Association is a not-for-profit, voluntary, membership organization that was founded in 1895 for educational institutions. The Association is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States. Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in the nineteen-state North Central region. The 19 states it serves includes Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming – and Department of Defense Schools and Navajo Nation Schools.

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, based in Chicago, accredits degree-granting institutions of higher education. Its mission is:

to establish requirements and criteria for the accreditation of institutions of higher education and accredit institutions found to meet those requirements and criteria;


to strengthen educational and institutional quality through its assistance to its affiliated institutions, its evaluation processes and its programs, publications, and research;


to advocate and exercise self-regulation in higher education through effective peer review;


to provide the public with accurate information concerning the relationship of affiliated institutions with the Commission.

What Other Institutions has the Higher Learning Commission Accredited?

A partial list of the institutions of higher education accredited by the Higher Learning Commission includes University of Notre Dame, University of Arizona, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Kansas and Ohio State University.

What is the Value of Institutional Accreditation?

For members of the public – and especially prospective students of an institution – the institutional accreditation provided by the Higher Learning Commission means that the accredited institution meets the Commission’s requirements and criteria and will continue to meet them. Accreditation provides public certification of acceptable institutional quality.

To Learn More…

To learn more about the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, visit http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org or write them at 30 North LaSalle Street Suite 2400, Chicago, Ill. 60602-2504.

[Ganzo]

If you were interviewing for a job with me and showed me all these degrees and certificates that were primarily obtained through online courses, and your competition was a guy fresh out of a 4 year state college, he'd get the job, even if you had a considerably higher GPA.

If you want to go to school, GO TO SCHOOL!

I just think it's kind of funny, Mindia... a Master's Degree in Communications, of all things, done online?

Would be exact opposite for me. Someone who had enough self discipline and comprehention to complete online degree, would get a job over someone who sat in class and was pushed by teachers

[Gypsiyee]

I have to agree - I'm pretty shocked that you would say that it's due to laziness that people take online courses... it's quite the opposite. It takes a lot of self discipline to keep a high GPA in online courses - I have lots of friends in college now, your typical traditional college, and they get drunk more than study, but they maintain a 3.0+ gpa just fine.. that's hardly what I would qualify a better education.

Online courses are more popular because it's mostly people who are working full time and going back to school, raising families and don't want to deal with the bullshit daddy's money lazy asses who sit in class looking down their noses at you for being in the class when you aren't 18. Granted not everyone does this, but tons do.

People have bills to pay, people have lives to live - not everyone can be a campus party-person - it doesn't make them lazy, it makes them knowledgeable of what's best for them. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that your lack of respect for online learning is due to the fact that you're about 19 (iirc) and are into the whole idea of college life currently. 4 year colleges aren't for everyone, and they certainly aren't for the full-time working adult with a mortgage and a family to take care of.

[Narrock]

I have to agree - I'm pretty shocked that you would say that it's due to laziness that people take online courses... it's quite the opposite. It takes a lot of self discipline to keep a high GPA in online courses - I have lots of friends in college now, your typical traditional college, and they get drunk more than study, but they maintain a 3.0+ gpa just fine.. that's hardly what I would qualify a better education.

Online courses are more popular because it's mostly people who are working full time and going back to school, raising families and don't want to deal with the bullshit daddy's money lazy asses who sit in class looking down their noses at you for being in the class when you aren't 18. Granted not everyone does this, but tons do.

People have bills to pay, people have lives to live - not everyone can be a campus party-person - it doesn't make them lazy, it makes them knowledgeable of what's best for them. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that your lack of respect for online learning is due to the fact that you're about 19 (iirc) and are into the whole idea of college life currently. 4 year colleges aren't for everyone, and they certainly aren't for the full-time working adult with a mortgage and a family to take care of.

Age is directly related to the type of commentary you'll see here, Gypsiyee. I'm just waiting for Rust to show up and tell us all what a POS school JIU is and how worthless of a degree from JIU is...

[Zanchief]

Last time this came up it was YOU discrediting prestigious Universities, Mindia.

[Narrock]

Last time this came up it was YOU discrediting prestigious Universities, Mindia.

Better check again. Begone with you, troll.

[Drem]

i'd still rather take loans so i can just go to a real college. i wouldn't trade the atmosphere for working a real job and taking classes online. it would make me feel socially isolated, too.

and fyi, not all college students just get drunk every night. i've only gotten drunk twice this year ;/

[Zanchief]

Last time this came up it was YOU discrediting prestigious Universities, Mindia.

Better check again. Begone with you, troll.

University of Toronto... the ultimate in prestigious schools R O F L

OH SHIT!

[Narrock]

Wasn't that in response to what Rust said about MY school? That's what I thought.

Owned.

[Martrae]

Actually, JIU is a junk school. If you're gonna do an online course do one from a school that's been long established in brick and mortar with a good reputation.

[Zanchief]

Wasn't that in response to what Rust said about MY school? That's what I thought.

Owned.

Must have been a joke you didn't mean again, right Mindia?

[Darcler]

I need a classroom to learn. I procrastinate too much. I would put off doing online stuff, because I can just stop doing it and dodge my bills (again). I need the social interaction also. People I can have come over to help with projects, a place where I can stay after class if I have any problems with the subject.
I will not diss online college at all. Though there are things I dont like about it, like my cousin getting Gid and my other cousin to do ALL her math tests, just so she could pass. Does she know any of the material now? Nope.
But it does take discipline to keep yourself on track, which I do not have.

I'll take UNT or UTD over http://www.college.com anyday.

[KaiineTN]

All of my online classes have been far easier than the classes I've actually gone to. It just seems like the easy route... Managing your time and getting the work done when it needs to be is easy if your teacher has a clear and complete syllabus at the beginning of the class, which all of mine have had...

I don't see how self discipline ties into it, you mean to tell me there are people out there who spend hundreds of dollars on tuition and books for an online class and don't do the work? That's not lack of discipline, that's abundant stupidity.

And just for clarification, I'm not much of a fan of the typical college social life, I don't drink, I don't really go to parties, and I don't live in a dorm.

[Diekan]

Anybody in charge of hiring who would give favoritism to somebody who went to a brick-and-mortar campus over somebody who went to an online campus is an idiot and should be fired for ignorance and stupidity and for doing the company a huge disservice.

You're talking about HR people here. They're not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed - if you get my drift. Between a full day of showing around pictures of their stupid slobbering babies, getting cup after cup of coffee, gossiping about how "Sussie is a whore," and talking about American Idol - they MIGHT get around to SCANNING your resume for key words.

Collectively, HR people have an average IQ of about 50. There's more mental power on a short bus of tards than there will ever been in an HR office.

Most of the gimps probably wouldn't know the difference between an online degree program and that of a B n M school.

[Tikker]

Last time this came up it was YOU discrediting prestigious Universities, Mindia.

Better check again. Begone with you, troll.

University of Toronto... the ultimate in prestigious schools R O F L

OH SHIT!

[labbats]

I went to community college after high school, it was harder than high school.

I went to the University of South Dakota after community college, it was harder than community college.

I went to the University of Iowa after the University of South Dakota, it was much harder than the University of South Dakota.

I would honestly say that anyone graduating from a Big Ten, Big Twelve, etc. school could breeze through an online school. There's a reason people in charge of hiring lean towards bigger schools. They are harder.

While I respect your self-control to study and acquire a degree from an online campus, I would favor a big school degree if for no reason other than it comes with a knack for commitment of 4-5 years of your life, achieving a set goal, and some sense of social contacts.

An online degree shows me little of that. However, if you had a firm handshake, looked me in the eye, and showed me some character, that'd outweigh most of that. But I'm not in HR. Suzy with the 1.9 from Cal State Fullerton is. And she's the airhead that gave that COO Joe Hollander that insane blowjob and got the job. She's biased. Sorry dude.