Do you have an online degree?

[BeenHereB4]

Hi there everyone. I need some help making a decision. I am looking into getting my degree (finally) and the only thing that really fits with my nutso schedule is going to school online.

I spoke with the people at Kaplan, filled out the financial aid "stuff" and found that financially, it would work for me. For some reason though, I just can't commit yet. Going to school online feels like it would be some sort of lesser degree vs. a brick and mortar school.

I'd love to hear anybody's experiences with attending classes or obtaining a degree online. May help me decide whether to push the button and get going here. Thanks so much for any responses!!

Oh, in case anyone thinks this is useful, by way of background, I have about 60 old college credits (most of which will not transfer over as they are technology related). I am looking to get my BS in Nutritional Science and would like to move on one day to take the RD exam. I am already on my way to getting certified as a personal trainer and thought the Nutrition education would go hand in hand nicely so that I can help my future clients with both the exercise and diet aspects of their overall fitness.

Again, I appreciate your taking the time to read my post and to respond.

 

[allison443]

Are you thinking of Kaplan University, or online classes from a bricks-and-mortar school? Is Kaplan online only?

 

[wvjules]

Search online degrees on here. They come up a couple of times a month.

I would say NO to Kaplan, UoP, Strayer and others like them.

 

[ajk912]

I wouldn't do the online schools but no one knows if you do your local university and just take online classes. Nearly alll the classes at my school are offered online..sometimes you need to go in every few weeks to take a test, but other than that it's 100% online. If you want it to be.

 

[BeenHereB4]

Are you thinking of Kaplan University, or online classes from a bricks-and-mortar school? Is Kaplan online only?

Kaplan U online is what I was looking at. I was only able to find 2 online schools that actually have the program I was looking for (Nutrition or Dietetics).

I didn't think to search the board for this type of question, but I will do so now. Thanks!

 

[torinsmom]

I second looking for an online program at a brick and mortar college. I am getting my Masters in Education from St Catherine University in Minnesota. I also did about 1/2 my credits towards my second degree(Birth-K education) online, the other half in weekend classes.

 

[Angelhalo]

I would take online classes at a "real" aka brick and mortor school rather than getting a degree from an "online university" I have worked in HR and a lot of companies don't really respect those degrees.

 

[vettechick99]

I am getting my School Counseling Masters from University of West AL. They are a "regular" school but have several online degrees. It's very convenient. I am given the assignments and do them at my own pace (with a deadline of course). I take one class a term, sometimes two. I have 2 classes left and to finish my internship, which I am doing here at my work.

I would have applied to my alma mater, but it's a 90 min drive each way and since I have a job and family, that's out of the question. This is the next best thing! Just do your research and make sure the school is accredited in that subject area. I had to make sure that GA would accept my degree and I could become a SC here. If I couldn't, my degree would have been pretty worthless (and I'd be out about $13k).

 

[torinsmom]

Here's one at East Michigan University

http://extended.emich.edu/dietetics/index.aspx

University of Northern Colorado

http://www.unco.edu/ddp/

There are lots of places to get Masters Degrees online, not so many for bachelors.

Marsha

 

[BeenHereB4]

Here's one at East Michigan University

http://extended.emich.edu/dietetics/index.aspx

University of Northern Colorado

http://www.unco.edu/ddp/

There are lots of places to get Masters Degrees online, not so many for bachelors.

Marsha

The bolded portion has been my experience too. Thank you for the other links, I will check UNC now. EMU I contacted twice and nobody ever called or emailed me back. Geesh!

 

[BeenHereB4]

I am getting my School Counseling Masters from University of West AL. They are a "regular" school but have several online degrees. It's very convenient. I am given the assignments and do them at my own pace (with a deadline of course). I take one class a term, sometimes two. I have 2 classes left and to finish my internship, which I am doing here at my work.

I would have applied to my alma mater, but it's a 90 min drive each way and since I have a job and family, that's out of the question. This is the next best thing! Just do your research and make sure the school is accredited in that subject area. I had to make sure that GA would accept my degree and I could become a SC here. If I couldn't, my degree would have been pretty worthless (and I'd be out about $13k).

First, congrats on almost reaching your graduation date! And thank you for the info. I will do some more research since if I take the RD exam, I assume they will ask about my schooling. Perhaps calling the examiners is a good place to start. Thank you again!

 

[AlexandAndysMom]

I work at a School with an online only division and I also graduated from one online degree and am almost finished with my Master's from here as well. All of it has been online except a few classes which I just chose to take on campus.

Depending on the University depends on what the online education is like. I know that many of our employees and instructors here have gone to Kaplan and have come back with very kind words about their programs.

As far as it being easy and a breeze because it's online, don't listen. It requires (in my opinion) more time, better comprehention skills, way better time management skills, and a desire to look deeper than the words in the text. You really have to want it to succeed, as there isn't anyone telling you to get up and go to class or to remind you your assignments are due. And where I am, they really try to make the classes online much like they are in class, but they give you the tools to go deeper.

I am totally satisfied with the online classes that I have had! (and only 7 more months and I will be finished!!)

 

[vettechick99]

First, congrats on almost reaching your graduation date! And thank you for the info. I will do some more research since if I take the RD exam, I assume they will ask about my schooling. Perhaps calling the examiners is a good place to start. Thank you again!

Thanks! It seems like just yesterday I was asking about schools on here, too. Time really does fly. I'm excited to be almost done. I can get a new job and a big fat raise!!

GL!

 

[smb6]

I attend a regular school, but have taken a good bit of my classes online. This has worked really well for me. And the classes I have had to take in the classroom usually offer several different schedules making it easy to find a class that works for you. I have been doing this the past two years (while working and raising kids) and am finally looking forward to graduation this December!

 

[LilyWDW]

Over the last couple of years I did a lot of research about getting my MBA. I could not afford to move so it had to be done either at my local college or online. While I personally decided to do it at my local college, I also came to realize that the best online degrees were through schools that also had an actual campus. None of these online universities could, in my opinion, offer me the education I could get from other universities.

Personally, I applied to Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Fort Hays State University, and East Tennessee State University. Like I said, I ended up picking my local University (ETSU) but I was accepted to all the rest. It became a money thing for me (Texas A&M and Oklahoma State would have been double the tuition), but I knew all my choices were very well thought out.

 

[BeenHereB4]

Thanks everyone for their input. I have decided not to jump so quick to make a decision and continue to research my local universities to see what they can offer in terms of online classes, etc. I had no idea that some of these actual universities offering online classes. It will be a long weekend of research and talking things over with my family. Thank you again!

To everyone how is nearly complete with their education, online or otherwise, congratulations! That says so much about your commitment to bettering yourself.

 

[FoxberryJam]

Just within the last 2 years or so, Drexel University has been offering online classes. I have no experience with the online classes themselves, but Drexel is an excellent school, I'd personally put much more stock in an online degree from there than from Kaplan and the like.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Most employers that I have or DH have ever worked with will not consider pure online degrees from places like Kaplan or University of Phoenix real degrees.

When resumes come in with those listed as the only college education, those resumes go into the HS diploma only piles - usually to be forgotten.

Online degrees can be great....as long as they are from real brick and mortor schools.

Most of those diplomas don't distinguish their online classes from their campus classes - everyone gets the same diploma. You just graduate from the university, not the University Online school.