Don't Feel "Alienated" Because of Your Online Degree
Yes, There is Really Something Out There: The Truth Behind the Mystery of Online Education
For God Sakes I Am the "Child Prodigy" of Online Education!
When people ask me what college I attended? I simply say, Park University. Did I ever actually attend the school's main campus? No, but I hear its a beautiful place. But that's beside the point. I took classes from this regionally accredited college, via a satellite campus and online instruction. Once all the criteria for my degree was met, I graduated. My only goal between the ages of 18-21 was to graduate college, and by the grace of God, that's exactly what happened.
When people ask me what college I attended? I simply say, Park University. Did I ever actually attend the school's main campus? No, but I hear its a beautiful place. But that's beside the point. I took classes from this regionally accredited college, via a satellite campus and online instruction. Once all the criteria for my degree was met, I graduated. My only goal between the ages of 18-21 was to graduate college, and by the grace of God, that's exactly what happened.
Now that I am working on my master's degree, I attend another online institution called Touro University International, the college is a branch of Touro College, located in New York. The classes are challenging, yet flexible. We don't use traditional text books, but we spend a majority of our time conducting research via the internet based on background information provided to us by the instructor. This university has instructors from all different backgrounds throughout the country, one teacher of mines was even a graduate of Stanford University.
I will never return to a traditional brick and mortar college. I find that the flexibility of online education aligns with my hectic life style. I even plan on pursuing a PHD from Touro, if I get accepted. Many people may frown at the idea of receiving such a prestigious degree online, but there are many graduates of these universities who have gone on to work for colleges and fortune 500 companies. I am not trying to work at a university conducting research, I want to be a practitioner (someone who actually works in the field), therefore it is more reasonable for me to get my education from people who are actually working in the field, verses conducting research for a living. Many online colleges, such as Touro, hire individuals with doctoral and masters degrees who are currently working in the field. That's what I call quality education, because we are receiving first hand knowledge from experts in the field.
Some may argue that online education does not provide you with the same quality of education as the traditional brick and mortar college, but I beg to differ. Yes, there are many false intuitions known as diploma mills, that promise to provide you with a degree based on "life experience" within 30 days. If you actually believe that you can get a valid diploma without taking college classes, then that's the kind of diploma you deserve. But for those of us who are serious about our education and attending school online is the only option, then we understand the importance of conducting research. The main factor to take into consideration is the college's accreditation and reputation. THE COLLEGE SHOULD BE REGIONALLY ACCREDITED. In order to determine whether or not your college is regionally accredited click on the following link: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.as.
While there are many colleges that are accredited from agencies recognized by the Department of Education, if your degree is not regionally accredited, no employer will take you seriously. There are several regional accrediting bodies: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Schools accredited by these agencies often accept transfer credit from each other, but may not accept transfer credits from alternative accrediting bodies. I recommend not only researching your college, but also contacting a few alumni in order to find out how their experiences were with the college and after graduation. You can also conduct research by gaining feedback through chat rooms and online message boards. These individuals are often brutally honest about their experience attending classes online.
Yes, there are really reputable colleges located in cyberspace. Currently, there are probably more traditional colleges who offer classes online, than colleges who solely exist via the internet. Because of this, you should not have a problem finding a school that meets the criteria you are looking for. I have a lot of respect for people who attend college online. They are often mid career adults, who are working full time and trying to maintain a household, while juggling their educational responsibilities. They worked hard to earn their diplomas and therefore should not be questioned about the validity of their education, as long as they received their degree from an accredited institution with a good reputation. This simply shows their ability to "multitask" and "work under pressure to meet deadlines." This seems to me to be the attributes of someone, who would be very successful in corporate America. All I'm saying is Harvard look out!
For further research on attending an online university click on the links below:
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