Online colleges/degrees...ridiculous finding one

[bboveri]

I'm going crazy.

I currently have an associate's degree in a field that I am no longer interested in. It's a technical degree.

I work rotating shifts (12 hrs, nights/days) and make pretty decent money. Going back to a brick and mortar school would require me to quit my job and continue living at home. Basically starting all over. And Im not sure I could bear to live here any longer. Parents dont get along at all.

So I've been looking at online degrees. Not much interests me, or the ones that do interest me all seem to have bad reviews.

Looking at www.onlinecollegedegreereviews.com, all the big online schools (phoenix, kaplan, capella, columbia southern) all get terrible reviews.

Any one have any ideas for an interesting career? Seeking a bachelor's degree that has to be done COMPLETELY online.

Just wondering how employers look at a degree earned online.

ITT tech has a BS in construction management which would be interesting, but I dont think their school is regionally accredited, making credits hard to transfer.

Anyone here complete an online degree and have a successful career? Or is anyone currently working on an online degree? I see the trend is more towards people getting their bachelor's at a brick and mortar, then earning a master's online, which employers don't seem to mind.

 

[liftalot79]

Your in for It!

I called to get info on a Few colleges and i was getting 10-12 calls a day for months from people, from colleges to Financial loans, to people that will help you find a College.

Hope this doesn't happen to you.

 

[steve30279]

I called to get info on a Few colleges and i was getting 10-12 calls a day for months from people, from colleges to Financial loans, to people that will help you find a College.

Hope this doesn't happen to you.

same thing happened to me.


My advice is to look at the "brick and mortar" schools in your area. Even start with your pre-reqs at a community college. Alot of schools atleast in the boston area( community, state and private) are going the online route, where you may only have to show up to a class room a few/ couple times a semester. They understand alot of people these days are going back for second degrees and no longer have the option of quitting work and going full time. So they are creating programs to entice that group to come back. you earn the same degree as the people who go full time taking all credits in a classroom. The employer will not know if you took your classes online or not.

I know you said ONLY online, but some large schools with good names make it so you can do MOST online. You may have to make sometime and fit a few classes in, but your not stuck taking classes from a non-accretited school

 

[kjreid]

Lean Six Sigma

Right now the big thing in govt and private businesses are the need for Six Sigma black belts. There are online courses through Villanova University that will give you three different certificates (six sigma, Lean Six Sigman green belt, and Lean Six Sigma Black belt) The six sigma process is used to streamline processes and root out any waste within a organization structure or concept. The courses are 100% online and will go towards a business degree. Something to look at. I am taking the courses because I need to start thinking differently. Right now I think and look at everything at work as a big picture(I know where I want to go, I just have to rely on others to get me there) I need to start re-thinking everything as processes to get me to the big picture. So far it is a very good class.

Other schools that have great online degree programs are Regis University and Bakers College.

 

[bboveri]

There are 2 community colleges within 20 miles of me and one branch of a state college. Problem is, nothing really interests me. Respiratory therapy might be sort of interesting, but those jobs seem more suited to females (no prejudism). And looking at the class schedules, I don't think I would be able to attend.

Im honestly at a stand still as to what to do.

I checked out six sigma and it doesn't really interest me.

Cal U of PA has a Bachelors of health and wellness fitness completely online. I may think about that.

Anyone know what sort of degree would be beneficial to work for a supplement manufacturer? Marketing? Advertising?

 

[Steve123]

Penn State has a pretty good program. It's through their Continuing Ed division and it's called Distance Education. They offer a few good BA/S programs. Good quality and the quality of a degree from Penn State should go without saying. UNiversity of Iowa I beleive is one of the pioneers in this online schooling thing so you may want to check them out too.

Also, +1 on the Six Sigma thing. I worked at a large US Mutual Fund company - the biggest one actually - and they place a very high premium on Black Belts. Personally I hate managing projects but if I liked it, that is exactly what I would do. The Black Belt along with the PMP would be a tough combo to beat!

 

[terryd5150]

Have you tried Western Governors University?


Fulled accredited, both nationally and regionally.

 

[SecondAct]

Like Steve said, if you're going for a full Bachelor's, make sure you go to one tied into a brick and mortar school with name recognition or else it isn't worth the paper it's written on from an HR perspective. Unfortunate, but true, and I'd hate to see you get stuck with a big loan and a useless degree.

The only exception is if you already have a job and are looking to move up and they don't care from where it came. Even then, I'd go with something with name recognition unless I felt my job safe until retirement. I helped a friend find one a few years ago and Penn State was offering online classes a few years ago, Auburn also I believe.

Usually the degrees don't even mention that you completed the work online. There is a really high level of arrogance in hiring practices of companies regarding online degrees. I find it silly as all college is pretty easy if you show up or read the material, but they get pissed you didn't have to tromp through the snow like they did 20 years ago and shitcan the resumes. I've seen it often.

 

[cjjrwe]

First, the school must be at least regionally accredited, there are 6 in the US, SAC, WAC, etc. National Accreditation is usuaully worthless. Find a big name bricks and mortar school, then see if they offer a BS or BA online. I would not go with an internet only online school. Many schools offer hybrids now, you can do both online and in class to earn your degree. And, if you are interested in a specific field, see if professional accreditation is the norm, e.g. AACSB for business, etc.

 

[bboveri]

Have you tried Western Governors University?


Fulled accredited, both nationally and regionally.

Looked at WGU. Nothing interests me.

Penn State has a pretty good program. It's through their Continuing Ed division and it's called Distance Education. They offer a few good BA/S programs. Good quality and the quality of a degree from Penn State should go without saying. UNiversity of Iowa I beleive is one of the pioneers in this online schooling thing so you may want to check them out too.

Also, +1 on the Six Sigma thing. I worked at a large US Mutual Fund company - the biggest one actually - and they place a very high premium on Black Belts. Personally I hate managing projects but if I liked it, that is exactly what I would do. The Black Belt along with the PMP would be a tough combo to beat!

Checked out PSU. Nothing interests me. This is tough. So limited to my options.

Like Steve said, if you're going for a full Bachelor's, make sure you go to one tied into a brick and mortar school with name recognition or else it isn't worth the paper it's written on from an HR perspective. Unfortunate, but true, and I'd hate to see you get stuck with a big loan and a useless degree.

The only exception is if you already have a job and are looking to move up and they don't care from where it came. Even then, I'd go with something with name recognition unless I felt my job safe until retirement. I helped a friend find one a few years ago and Penn State was offering online classes a few years ago, Auburn also I believe.

Usually the degrees don't even mention that you completed the work online. There is a really high level of arrogance in hiring practices of companies regarding online degrees. I find it silly as all college is pretty easy if you show up or read the material, but they get pissed you didn't have to tromp through the snow like they did 20 years ago and shitcan the resumes. I've seen it often.

I figured maybe I could possibly get a degree, get a job within, get some work experience, and then use that to seek another job.

First, the school must be at least regionally accredited, there are 6 in the US, SAC, WAC, etc. National Accreditation is usuaully worthless. Find a big name bricks and mortar school, then see if they offer a BS or BA online. I would not go with an internet only online school. Many schools offer hybrids now, you can do both online and in class to earn your degree. And, if you are interested in a specific field, see if professional accreditation is the norm, e.g. AACSB for business, etc.

Right. Regional accreditation is the number one factor in my search.

I'll just continue searching. Im sure I can find something that interests me. Thanks for the help, guys.