Online Colleges

Anyone have any experience with these? I'm not so sure what is going on at work lately, but things seem a bit shaky. I like parts of my job and other parts just drive me nuts too. So I've been looking at on line colleges. I have an Associates in Interior Design now. I have found 2 schools that offer Bachelor degrees in ID on line. I'm not so sure how that works since I had a lot of hands on lab work in college before. Otherwise I'm starting mostly from scratch in something else.

So I thought I'd ask around and see if anyone else has gone to school on line? If so, where did you go and what did you think of it?

I'm hesitant on actually contacting the schools for info. When my husband was looking around, they kept calling the house every few days and I hate that. So any advice?

I've been wondering the same thing, since we travel so much, an online degree would be perfect for me. My question was, is an online degree recognized as being as credible and upstanding as a degree from a conventional college??

I have actually heard of a few people in my field where I work now who have earned online degrees. But I have thought about that too.

Why don't you consider a real college that offers online courses? Most schools do these days, my high school even did.

No, online degrees are not as credible in general as one from an actual college. Some places that offer them are little more than scams, some of them are pretty good for certain things, like that you'd get a vocational degree for or something. But as for a bachelor's degree, you'd be better off even going to a community college. Many of which offer online courses too! Some online universities are better than others, and if you do go that route at least find one which is accredited (University of Phoenix is one, but they have "campuses" now too)

I strongly advise anyone who asks me to only put money into schools whose courses are fully transferable to other schools (well, within reason). And which are accredited.

But you've already answered your own question by wondering if it'll be the same for you to not have the hands-on lab work. Especially in interior design, I have no idea how they grade you over the internet.

I went to a university that offered a lot of its classes on line. Also I know that most of the Community Colleges in my area do the same thing. Check out a well known school in your area, and ask around. The best place to go get this information would be your library.

I looked into the Art Institute Online but I cannot afford it right now. It is really neat and the way you turn things in and grade your work and have discussions is through a message board. Everyone is given the material to read over and shown examples and can ask questions and you have to log in a certain amount of time each week and keep track of what you are working on and when and you turn things in my posting them on the message board.

I agree you need to find a decent place to go, like the Art Institute for example. As long as you do that it really doesn't matter if you go to actual classes like normal or have an online degree. If anyone has any other suggestions for art colleges online, like for graphic design specifically or web design, pleasee let me know.

I know an online GIA degree (Gemology Institute of America) would get you a job selling expensive jewelry.

The more education, the better.

I thought about getting an online degree of floral design just for fun.

Supposedly you can go to University of Phoenix and get some credits that can be accepted by most state colleges, so you can always go to state colleges later.

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Why don't you consider a real college that offers online courses? Most schools do these days, my high school even did.

No, online degrees are not as credible in general as one from an actual college. Some places that offer them are little more than scams, some of them are pretty good for certain things, like that you'd get a vocational degree for or something. But as for a bachelor's degree, you'd be better off even going to a community college. Many of which offer online courses too! Some online universities are better than others, and if you do go that route at least find one which is accredited (University of Phoenix is one, but they have "campuses" now too)

I strongly advise anyone who asks me to only put money into schools whose courses are fully transferable to other schools (well, within reason). And which are accredited.

But you've already answered your own question by wondering if it'll be the same for you to not have the hands-on lab work. Especially in interior design, I have no idea how they grade you over the internet.

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I think it depends on the type of degree-- as long as one stays away from the scam vocational online colleges and the ones that will give credit for life experience, many online programs from real-life 3-D are very well respected. I didn't get my degree online, but one can get a Doctor of Pharmacy online, and it is not looked down upon and one would not have a problem getting a real job as a pharmacist with a degree from an online department. They make you go to a summer course of labs and such, that is how they compensate. I assume that any good program will have a virtual classroom, a mandatory practicum/lab sequence where one must visit the college in real life for a short period, and a way to interact with the professor and other students on a regular scheduled basis. It can't just be a "read this then take an online exam" type of deal. I know that in online pharmacy schools, they even set up internships for you... so that aspect is not a disadvantage, either. I don't know about other majors.

But yes, one way to make sure your online degree is reputable is to see if they program is accredited. Also, ask around to some profs in the field and see what they say about the program you are applying to. They often know the reputations of the online programs.

Many universities offer courses online and they are nearly identical to the 3-D courses. I wouldn't go to any program that was online only... I think in general, those are the ones you want to stay away from completely.

Education is not about prestige. It is about personal enrichment. Even if the degree doesn't work out it would still prepare you well for college.

Go for it. It is very cheap compared to real college. I regard it as very good college-prep.

Originally Posted by shengmei

Education is not about prestige. It is about personal enrichment. Even if the degree doesn't work out it would still prepare you well for college.

Go for it. It is very cheap compared to real college. I regard it as very good college-prep.

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Didn't she say she's already been to college and has a degree? She doesn't need college-prep, she needs something that will get her a job.

And one can get nearly anything online... it's not just for easy degrees or "vocational" programs or personal enrichment... although I have taken many courses (and even got another major) for personal enrichment, I totally see the need to GET A JOB.

OOPS. I somehow missed the "associate degree" part.

ETA: If you already have an associate degree, there are many colleges that have put distance learning options in all the more advanced classes (non-core curriculum). You can get a real degree from an prestigious college at home if you have done all the basic classes already. You might want to look into that

You may want to look into financial aid at regular schools, since you'd have to pay for an online one out-of-pocket, and it may not end up being any more expensive unless you wouldn't need to worry about paying for it anyway. The school I go to has a lot of classes both nights/weekends at regional campuses (cheaper, but just as good!) and also a whole lot of online ones.

I think as you look into it more you'll find that the better online universities actually have classrooms and "campuses"(not what I think of as a campus, but hey) now because you can't really do everything online, and a lot of regular colleges, especially large, near open-enrollment public ones, are offering more and more online classes as the demand rises. I've never taken one because they're not for me, but I know alot of people who love them.

I personally wouldn't go through one of those online colleges. A friend of mine is taking classes at one of the well known ones and it just doesn't seem like a regular college to me. From what I have seen from her, IMO, they are after money. They charge an arm and a leg for classes, and I don't trust that the curriculum gives you the knowledge you need. My college offers a few online classes, and WOW they are a lot of work. Much more work than going to class, that's for sure! One warning about the online colleges is that not everyone accepts it as a true degree. I am not sure about other fields, but in the medical field it is a problem.

Ok... I am going to be quiet now and go back to drinking my wine. I have typed this 20 times trying to spell correctly!

Originally Posted by squirtle

Ok... I am going to be quiet now and go back to drinking my wine. I have typed this 20 times tring to spell correctly!

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spellcheck Tanya, spellcheck!

The only classes I have taken online were GIA courses.

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

spellcheck Tanya, spellcheck!

The only classes I have taken online were GIA courses.

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Well you be a good little mod and spell check for me, Karen! I am taking medical terminology online right now for my summer course. It's hard online. You have a TON of work. I spent 5 hours studying for my midterm today. It's not very much fun

Really? I would LOVE to take a medical termiology class online right now....just out of curiosity.

I am taking it now. I wish I would have taken it before my anatomy classes it would have been helpful. Learning vocabulary has been a nice change of pace from my other classes.

Originally Posted by squirtle

Well you be a good little mod and spell check for me, Karen!

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Mentors need to spellcheck too

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

Mentors need to spellcheck too

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But you can edit my posts! You should look out fo rme when I am drinking wine! DId I misspell in my other post, let me go back and check. I don't have IE spell downloaded on my laptop.

Online colleges are slowly but surely becoming accredited. Mainly because many people find online to fit their lifestyle to help them get a head in their careers.

I began looking into them a year ago when I was at a job that didn't give me a consistant timeline (one day I would work til 7 pm, another would be until 4 pm etc).
A lot of these college ARE after your money...but really aren't regular universities as well? I had to fight with mine over a Phys Ed credit before I could graduate. Luckily I pointed out their flaw in the Student Catalogue and called them on it.

Also if you do decide to go with a university that offers degrees online (i.e. Boston University) double check with them about out of state tuition. Some of them will still charge you out of state tuition even though you're online, which adds to the cost of being a student.

Also research on scholarships, grants and financial aid regarding this. My brother is currently earning his degree online, by one that's accredited, but most of it he's paying out of pocket.