Question about online colleges.

I know many here have gotten a 4yr degree from an online school, and was wondering if having a degree from an online school has ever held them back, where as a 4yr degree from B&m school would of "looked" better.

If I stay at the B&M school I am looking at another 2-3yrs(Currently working full time and have to shuffle class around work), where as WGU it could be much faster b/c my AAS and some certs + other classes would Xfer, and then I could look at perusing a masters.

I was talking to my boss the other day about switching to WGU vs the local university, and he told me do not go for an online school in general. I went on to say WGU is accredited etc, and he just keep reinstating do not go for an online school. Has anyone ran into this instance where a company's has this bad stigma about online schools?

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Iristheangel

One last thing before I pass out for the afternoon. According to a recent survey by nocheating.org, 75-98% of college students have admitted that they have cheated over the course of their academic career. The most likely majors to **** are engineering and business majors.

Source: 75 to 98 Percent of College Students Have Cheated

NetworkVeteran

but as normal colleges are starting to shift degrees online

I agree this is a positive trend.

Iristheangel wrote: »

As far as cheating is concerned, it's always possible in every educational medium you choose.. What it comes down to is this: If you took knowledge away from your education, then it'll show on the job or in the interview. If you cheated, well... you're screwed either way. You'll go down in flames either in the interview or on the job.

Bank security isn't fool-proof, and yet we install safes, motion sensors, security alarms, and security guards. I'd prefer online schools to provide lectures online but require tests to be taken at testing centers for accreditation. That is what my local university (top-10) does. It seems obvious that a testing center or proctored lecture hall can provide a higher degree of security.

Iris wrote:

According to a recent survey by nocheating.org, 75-98% of college students have admitted that they have cheated over the course of their academic career.

"Everyone else is doing it, so why can't we?" At most colleges major exams (mid-terms, finals, etc.) are proctored. Homework assignments are not. I normally hear this (somewhat exaggerated) argument as a justification from those trying to **** on certification tests.

At least with WGU, you have to walk into a testing center and present two forms of ID in order to take the tests...

I only stepped in because the above claim seemed dubious. I'm glad you earned a degree and you're proud of your school. I hope your path works well for you.

MiikeB

HLRS wrote: »

I agree with your boss, no offense to WGU, but anyone can hire an impostor and pay them to do your studies.
If you was a HR manager would you hire a person who completed a online school vs other person who went to BM?
I look at online school student who wants an easy way out so it would reflect a job, person is lazy or something.
Also it would look weird If I live in Florida and I went to School in Utah but I live in FL.

Remember its extremely hard going BM school. Doing essays everyday. I don't see WGU crying how hard their materials is. so it seems its easy. it was real hard experience for me. You live only once so you want do it right and not re-do 4 years of college over again, so safe bet is going BM like it has been done over 400 years

Lets present two scenarios:

Guy1 goes to BM school at 18, graduates at 22, gets his first job and then goes looking for another job at 24. Has an BSIT from Virginia Commonwealth University, an average but not unheard of school.

Guy2 gets his first job working on a helpdesk at 18, moves to a jr sys admin job at 20 then decides to start WGU. Graduates at 23 and then starts looking for another job at 24. He has a BSIT from WGU, an onine school.

Who do you think is going to make more? Someone with a BSIT from an average BM school with two years experience or the guy with an online degree, some certs since it was WGU and 6 years of experience?

At 30, one guy has 8 years experience the other 12. I dont think anyone really cares where your degree came from with that much experience.

kgb

I don't know why anyone is even responding to what HLRS says... Look at his post history... He doesn't have a clue

goatbull

Can someone who graduate from WGU tell me if it is as demanding as going to a regular BM school? I will think that something that is too is questionable. The question is if someone just begin a new career in computers is WGU the right place for them, are they going to get the training they need? and be able to pass the important certifications?

Valsacar

If you don't already have a background it'll be a bit harder, there's no one spoon feeding you answers. You have to study on your own almost completely, there are mentors there to help you with specific questions, but it's pretty much all on you.

Iristheangel

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

I agree this is a positive trend.

Bank security isn't fool-proof, and yet we install safes, motion sensors, security alarms, and security guards. I'd prefer online schools to provide lectures online but require tests to be taken at testing centers for accreditation. That is what my local university (top-10) does. It seems obvious that a testing center or proctored lecture hall can provide a higher degree of security.

"Everyone else is doing it, so why can't we?" At most colleges major exams (mid-terms, finals, etc.) are proctored. Homework assignments are not. I normally hear this (somewhat exaggerated) argument as a justification from those trying to **** on certification tests.

I only stepped in because the above claim seemed dubious. I'm glad you earned a degree and you're proud of your school. I hope your path works well for you.

I'm sorry I phrased it incorrectly. I should have phrased it as "At least with WGU, you have to walk into a testing center and present two forms of ID in order to take some of the tests." I took all my exams in a testing center including the GE ones due to issues I was having with their online proctoring system.

As far as the cheating thing, I wasn't using that as a justification for cheating. I do not condone cheating in any form. My point was in reference to HRLS' generalization that he would automatically view an online graduate as a cheater and lazy as opposed to BM students. That stereotype is incorrect and unbalanced since study after study has shown that most students in BM institutions have admitted to cheating when surveyed. I don't think this is a good thing at all. The average cheater has a higher GPA of around 3.41 while those who don't **** have a average of around 2.85 according to another study. Rutgers did another survey where 87% of college students admitted to cheating and 70% admitted to cheating on a test at least once.

I've seen your posts on here and I know how strongly you feel about getting a CS/EE degree from a top-tier college. My father got his BS, MS and Ph.D from CalTech. Between my family connections and grades, I could have gone that route and ended up at CalTech or another school like it. I met the requirements but I wasn't ready to start college when I turned 18. By the time I was able to go to college, I wasn't in the financial position to be paying 30K/year for a school like that, When I was finally ready to start, I found myself competing for spots in classes and not having enough class options due to the hours I worked. I couldn't stop working to pursue school full time since I had responsibilities to others. With my schedule, class availability, and hours that the classes were available, I was looking at a stretch of 8 years to complete my 4 year degree. It was depressing and I gave up on getting my degree. I chose to better myself by getting certifications which landed me my old job and decent pay. When I heard about WGU, I was apprehensive about it. After about a year of lurking on these forums and hearing how satisfied people were with their education, I gave it a shot. I don't regret it in the least. I don't think negatively of top tier schools but I wouldn't have gone to one if I had the chance to do it all over. I'm employed and making a salary that's comparable to yours based on other posts of yours. We both went different directions to get where we are.

@MiikeB - Well said.

@kgb - I don't really respond for HRLS. I responded for the random forum users who might read his post and assume every hiring manager is going to think that.

HLRS

Do you think a HR manager went to online school? doubt it, so their biased toward BM. They're in their 40s 50s. but it comes down to exp/certs too.

once I went on interview and the hiring manager went to same school as me, he Favorited me lol

Legacy User

First of all, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion. HLRS, your opinions towards online schools make you sound ignorant. I know some online schools vary from others but many BM schools are offering distance learning which in turn makes them an online school. I know someone that graduated from a BM university with honors and they asked me to review their resume. Apparently that college graduate can't properly formulate a sentence.

I don't want to hear about quality of online schools vs BM schools everyones experience varies. It all depends on what that individual takes out that experience and uses the tools they learned to apply it to a future position. Also, I know most fulltime working professionals do not have the time to dedicate to attend school full time. That is the beauty of online schools providing the flexibility of education.

Legacy User

Question regarding the OP will your current job pay for your school or offer a significant raise once you are finish?

Iristheangel

dmarcisco wrote: »

Apparently that college graduate can't properly formulate a sentence.

LOL. I hate when that happens.

Legacy User

It does drive me nuts when I read someone who claims to be a high and mighty college graduate and they sound like an uneducated idiot.

petedude

Devilry wrote: »

Online vs. B&M, it's the new [pick your local comparison] State vs. Tech school debate. You will always run into people who believe XYZ method is better than yours, just like you will find people who prefer experience over certs or CS over IT degrees. Do the best work you can, no matter what it will payoff in your career.

As I've probably mentioned elsewhere, I think the online vs. B&M bias is more prevalent in the coastal US states than just about anywhere else. The coastal states tend to be a lot more invested culturally and monetarily in their university systems, so that's where a good part of the bias stems from indirectly. You'll find in the deep South and in the Midwest employers don't have much trouble with online programs.

demonfurbie

^^ depends on the city as well

good luck getting a job with any degree other than the degree often in the the town

ie auburn, al 98~99% of all people employed in the city of auburn have degrees from auburn university

CiscoKidd

As it was said above, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I did my undergrad at a B&M school and my masters online (distance learning from a B&M school). Both experiences were beneficial for me at the time. Undergrad, I was fresh out of high school so I was able to go full time as I didn't have "real world" things to worry about. Grad school came later after I was working full time so online was a better option for me. Every online school is different, the one I went too I thought was great because the classes were live, so I was able to "raise my hand" and ask a question if I needed too. We did projects, reports, even presentation all on this online format. So personally, I liked that format since I didn't feel as big a disconnect from the professor or my classmates.

No matter what route you take, folks are still going to have their own opinion whether good or bad. If it isn't about online vs B&M schools, it would be about the school in general.

"Why that school over this school" or "I heard that school is a party school" or "Nobody has every heard of that school and you'll never get a good job with a degree from there..."

My best friend would probably agree with HLRS as he feels online schools aren't very good and its too easy to ****. He chose his own path that works for him, I chose mine, and we are both successful adults in our chosen fields.

Do what works for you because at the end of the day you are the only person you have to answer too. Research the school, talk to alumni and formulate your own opinion of the school and/or program. Online education isn't for everybody just like B&M schools aren't for everybody. Good Luck on whatever decision you make.

Legacy User

HLRS wrote: »

I agree with your boss, no offense to WGU, but anyone can hire an impostor and pay them to do your studies.

Makes me chuckle every time I read this. I wouldn't say highering an imposter but there will always be cheating regardless of the format BM or online. I know a girl from my old job who would charge $300 to write a paper for other students at a big name university. All they had to do was supply the resources and she was making a killing. College is what you make of it online or not. I know when I was interviewing I had thomas edison state college under the education part in the resume. Plenty of big companies said "oh wow your going to thomas edison I heard its a good school, how is it".

Slowhand

A lot of opinions have been voiced in this thread, and I think we've reached a point where we'll just end up going in circles or arguing about differing opinions. I'm going to put a pin in this one and let everyone get back to their jobs/video games/studies/underwater basket-weaving/etc.