An interview with Penny Lynn Karr, a student of Kaplan University Online.

Q:  What program are you enrolled in?

I’m in Human Services, it’s a Bachelors and it will take me 4 years. They give you the option for accelerated to take 3 classes per term but you have to have a certain amount of financial aid to do that. I take 2 classes per term.

Q:  What were your favorite classes and why were they your favorite?

I just started, just finished up my first term, but I think my favorite was psychology, I took it in high school too I just enjoy it I guess.

Q:  What will be the most important class/lesson from the program do you think?

Actually just learning about my job, I want to be in CPS, child protective services.

Q:  How much did it cost for you to complete the program?

It’s about $3000 per term or about 350 per hour.

Q:  Did you receive any financial aid or scholarships?  Which ones?  Were these easy to obtain?

Yes, they took care of all of it. All I had to do is fill out one thing online and within a week, I had everything. I have a Pell grant and two loans.

Q:  Did you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

Full-time student you can’t be part-time and get those grants I don’t think. I’m not sure.

Q:  Did you consider other programs?

No.

Q:  Why did you choose the one you did?

I was at AIU and they would not give me the human services program. I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to take to be in child protective services, but they were giving me business classes and I was doing really well but I had talked to Kaplan already and when I found out I was in the wrong classes and AIU didn’t have what I needed, so that’s when I transferred.

Q:  Would you recommend this school to someone else?

Yes, our teachers are very sweet, so far anyway. As far as research though, it’s kind of hard on the internet. It’s hard to find what you need, like articles, you have to go to a library. The librarian will help you usually though.

Like, one time we were doing a paper on hospice and we needed to research it, so I had to go to the library, they do have a reference section, but I wanted to get outside references I was trying to do that on my own. Usually they provide resources for you and if you want then you can do some on your own, I decided not to take the easy road and I went to the library.

Q:  What is the most difficult part of the program for you?

That is the most difficult, the research. We go from Wednesday to Wednesday, so our papers have to be in Tuesday at midnight. That is kind of difficult, especially because you got the weekend in there

Q:  About how many other students were in your classes, and do you ever get to interact with them?

Yes. We have AIM, the instant messenger, and we have what they call a coffee shop where we can chat with each other and then of course we have our seminars. You can choose to put a profile picture up and all of that. But there about 20 in each class.

Q:  For your particular program, are there any special licenses or certifications that you need to receive before getting a job?  If so, what are they and what do they entail?

I haven’t looked into that quite yet. I know you need the bachelors in human services and actually it varies state by state. I have talked to a CPS person and because she’s been in human services so long she did not have to have a degree, so it varies, there’s different rules.

Q:  How was the experience of online versus a classroom setting?

I pretty much like it because I can have quiet time. I have a hard time concentrating when there are other people in the room so that is my biggest thing about being online, I can concentrate and focus. We have the books right in front of us, whether the electronic ones or the paper ones.  To tell someone to do it online I prefer it because I have children and they can be at school and I’m at home. If they get sick, I can go pick them up. My time isn’t limited, if I want to get up in the middle of the night I can do that. I can talk to someone online at any given time. I can talk to the teachers. I can call Kaplan at any time to speak to an advisor. I can call them whenever because I have their numbers.

Q:  Any other advice for new students?

Just don’t slack, if you’re going to do it just do it. You’re there for an education if you’re going to be paying that much you might as well try. Strive to get the A not the C.

If you think Kaplan University Online may be a good fit for you, check out their list of programs and find out how to receive more information.